Too brief...

I didn't have that high of expectations for a health book after the ones I had in middle and high school. However, this one proved to actually be worse than the ones from my public education.

The book doesn't go into much detail except in the chapters that show different physical exercises. Now I understand as well as any American student that being fit is a key component of health class, but there are other things that need to be taught, especially to college freshmen (the group who is most likely to use this book). They need to talk about things like abstaining from alcohol, drugs, and sex since the education they get in high school isn't enough. They also need to talk about good decision making, which is essential for college.

The physical exercises are the normal ones you'd find in any gym class and aren't anything revolutionary. Some of the labs seem a bit bogus in my opinion (in particular the sit and reach test since it isn't fair for people with short arms). The included CD, called HealthQuest, isn't bad, but is basically an electronic way to calculate everything in the book. There is some emphasis on dieting, which I also feel isn't the best topic for a health book since, like exercise, it varies from person to person. A football player obviously needs more in his system than a 4'11" girl who doesn't play sports.

The pages are designed to rip out of the book but they don't rip out well. The edge usually looks like a dog just took a bite out of it.

The CD and the journal give this text the one star I awarded it. Because your professor will likely make you rip out the pages these books have no value used.

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