Because my hearing is somewhat impaired, I eagerly read "Save Your Hearing Now: The Revolutionary Program That Can Prevent and May Even Reverse Hearing Loss" by Michael D. Seidman, M.D. and Marie Moneysmith.

Nearly half of 76 million baby boomers say they are dealing with some degree of hearing loss. That's a 238 percent increase since 1990 when hearing problems affected only 20 percent of this group.

That means that if you are at midlife or even younger, you need to read "Save Your Hearing Now."

This unique book is more than just about how to save your hearing. It is a comprehensive total health "how to." Everything you need to know to protect your health and hearing, from exercise to diet -- what's new, what works, how to do it, where to get it - it's is all there.

The amount of research that went into this work to give the reader the absolute best information and help is outstanding. It's a meticulous blueprint for achieving a better quality of life.

Unlike other books on hearing loss that I have read, the authors provide a detailed one-of-a kind action program that will help you achieve a level of overall vibrant good health and hearing you might not think possible. The program is a systematic, easy to follow, step-by-step plan that makes it possible to successfully protect and improve health and hearing. If you now have hearing loss, you can learn how it may be possible to reverse it. The authors explain how others have done it.

Because diet is key to health, and certain dietary supplements play a pivotal role in maintaining and repairing health and hearing, the authors tell not only what to take, but why you should take it and how much to take. This is critically important. Advice to take supplements is useless unless you are told how much to take and why.

I am particularly impressed that the authors stress the importance and role of potent antioxidants in preventing hearing loss, particularly alpha lipoic acid and acetyl l-carnitine. Other major supplements scientifically shown to support good health and hearing are covered in detail.

You won't be confused or overwhelmed with scientific jargon because there isn't any. Even if you know nothing about supplements, presentation of information is so clear and "user friendly" that you will "get it."

The quality of resource material and supporting documentation reveals the ultimate usefulness and credibility of any health book. "Save Your Hearing Now" provides many excellent resources with phone numbers, names and addresses for readers to use for additional help and guidance. As a pharmacist, I particularly appreciate the extensive documentation that supports the authors' findings and recommendations.

Suggestion: If a midlife or younger friend has a birthday coming up, this is the most loving and life changing gift you can give.