Books can speak to the sleepless, the stiff, the discouraged, the flabby and the nearsighted.
Out of the hundreds of books about health, fitness and the natural world, here are a few that may enlighten your holidays.
'The Age-Free Zone' by Barry Sears (Regan, $16): Fans of the controversial Zone diet will adore Sears' regimented approach to aging well. If you give this book as a present, make sure the aging recipient will be overjoyed, not crushed.
'Yawn: Bedtime Reading for Insomniacs' by Ellen Sue Stearn (Ten Speed Press, $11.95): Is there a sleepless special someone in your life? Give him or her this hysterical compendium of the dullest of the dull reading material. Topics include documents on the Asian longhorned beetle, ingrown toenails and . . . zzzz.
'Like a Natural Woman: The Black Woman's Guide to Alternative Healing' by Ziba Kashef (Kensington, $23): Reaching back to healthy diets and healing practices of western African ancestors, the author makes a case for alternative methods like acupuncture and healing touch in the lives of today's women.
'The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Preventing Disease' by the editors of Prevention (Bantam, $6.99); 'The Doctor's Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals' by Mary Dan Eades (Dell, $6.99) and 'The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Men' by Jack Croft of Men's Health (Bantam, $7.50): These small books pack a heck of a lot of information and make good stocking stuffers. The Croft book also gets points for being witty and well-written, with topics ranging from pneumonia to sloppiness.
'The Self Care Advisor' by the editors of Health magazine (Time/Life, $14.95): Concise and complete basic guide to good health makes a fine gift for college students or young families.
'The Complete Book of Laser Eye Surgery' by Stephen Slade, with Richard Baker and Dorothy Kay Brockman (Sourcebooks, $19.95): Slade, the first doctor to perform LASIK in the United States, describes benefits, risks, techniques and how to find a good surgeon. Before friends or family go under the laser, give them this eye-opening book.
'Caregiving' by Beth Witrogen McLeod (Wiley, $14.95): A compassionate and practical volume of advice for people who have the tough job of taking care of ill loved ones.
'Growing 101 Herbs That Heal' by Tammi Hartung (Storey, $24.95): For the clever herb lover who knows the difference between fennel and mugwort, this colorful guide explains how to grow, store, create and use herbal tinctures, teas, compresses, balms and ointments.
'A Man's Journey to Simple Abundance' edited by Sarah Ban Breathnach and Michael Segell (Scribner, $22). A collection of 50 essays on how to live a healthy life by being a man of value, not just a man of success.
'Yoga Builds Bones' by Jan Maddern (Element, $16.95): In just 20 minutes a day, build bone strength through yoga. This little book is non-threatening and focuses on practical yoga movements. More advanced students may enjoy the lovely 'Yoga: Mastering the Basics' by Sandra Anderson and Rolf Sovik (Himalayan Institute Press, $24.95), a complete guide to the system of yoga movements and principles.
'Games Girls Play: Understanding and Guiding Young Female Athletes' by Caroline Silby with Shelley Smith (St. Martin's Press, $24.95): Silby, a sports psychologist who has worked with Olympic athletes gives good tips for puzzled parents and coaches who need to know the best way to help girls participate, enjoy and perform in sports.
'Cross-Training for Dummies' by Tony Ryan and Martica Heaner (IDG, $19.99): Variety is the spice of life, and fitness. This book outlines the best cross-training activities for sports. Though not as entertaining as other 'Dummies' books, its simple approach is appealing.
'Science Says: A Collection of Quotations on the History, Meaning and Practice of Science' by Rob Kaplan (Stonesong Press, $19.95): Scientists in your life will savor the clever and eloquent quotations, such as this brief explanation of the fourth dimension: 'Time,' John Archibald Wheeler explains, 'is what prevents everything from happening at once.'
'Owls Aren't Wise & Bats Aren't Blind' by Warner Shedd (Harmony, $23): Sad to say, 'owls rate as something of dim bulbs among their bird brethren,' naturalist Shedd writes, debunking our fondest stereotypes about wildlife. Shedd expounds on all the things NOT true about wolves, deer, skunks, toads and porcupines. Anyone who loves animals will bark and hoot about this charming book.
'Mysteries of the Mind' by Richard Restak (National Geographic, $35): Amid breathtaking photographs, neurologist Restak's prose lyrically probes the mysteries of mental illness, learning, sleep and memory.
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Visit the Freep, the World Wide Web site of the Detroit Free Press, at http://www.freep.com.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
