This third volume of a trilogy by a California internist explores the chronic inflammation at the root of most “disease processes, pain, fatigue, and aging.” This book doesn’t always clarify medical and scientific terminology as completely as it could, but it will be worth the effort to engage with the scientific discourse to understand further the processes that lead to chronic disease. Medical professionals seeking enlightenment on the topic will greatly appreciate the thorough and exhaustive scientific explanations contained in the book.

The process, in a nutshell, is explained in a more accessible introduction: “Our poor lifestyle choices fuel it…. No end organ is spared… chronic fatigue, achy knees, blurred vision, hearing loss, root canals, brain fog, or sleep deprivation…” Chapter 3 also extols the virtues of healthy eating in an engaging parable about an old woman who “take[s] early morning walks into the woods [to] pick berries, leaves, and nuts, and then… use[s] them to make daily teas, stews and soups.” She invites the community to partake of her culinary creations. It is remarkable how much better her natural cooking makes her guests feel.

According to Buckingham, pushing back against inflammation is easier earlier in the disease process. Making matters worse is that many healthcare providers offer pharmaceutical solutions but don’t address the lifestyle and nutritional changes necessary to reduce inflammation in the body. At the late stage of disease intervention, it takes prolonged persistence to see results. If one is not able to access personally the services of a nutritionally savvy physician like Dr. Buckingham, it would seem that this book is worthy of reading while embarking upon one’s journey to more radiant health.

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