best book I have read on this subject
I liked this book because the author effectively bridges the gap between mainstream and alternative medicine for cholesterol management. He is more accepting of statins than I like, but he rates them as a last choice after lifestyle and supplements. That's good. He also advocates a "start low, go slow" prescription plan which makes sense. Some information is totally obsolete, especially the parts about the costs of statins. Red yeast rice that is available in the USA no longer contains any lovastatin in most cases.

this information should be publicized
This book is a no-nonsense presentation of the facts about cholesterol. Finally I have seen something that actually tells the truth instead of twisting everything into a self-serving set of misleading statements designed to sell a product.

This book is a refreshing change. Dr. Cohen gives both sides of the research and carefully explains what the different studies actually mean.

He makes no broad sweeping generalizations about statin drugs. Some people can benefit; others can use alternatives.

He explains all the options and why.

Very important. Very informative.

Excellent guidance re: statins; only Fair re: alternatives
This book provides very useful information regarding the average cholesterol reductions based upon specific statin and dose being taken. It also provides interesting information regarding how beginning doses are arrived at and how the drug companies may be encouraging doctors to prescribe dosages that are actually in excess of a patient's needs. Provides both pros and cons and, if one assumes that the information is factual, provides an excellent base for the reader to develop own decisions.

As to alternative treatments, the book does not add a lot of valuable information but that is not why I purchased it anyway. I was most interested in the pros and cons of using statin drugs. For such purpose, it is an excellent source for information.

Helps sort out the confusing information out there...
I just got this book today, and I am amazed at how much I have learned already. Dr. Cohen provides crucial information about how your doctor may prescribe far too high a dose of statins, and how to recognize and deal with drug side effects.

The book also provides easy-to-understand information about natural alternatives (or complements) to statins, including Co-Q10, Red Yeast Rice, Plant Sterols, Policosanol, Niacin and others. I think this book will help me reduce my statin use and be able to control my cholesterol through other natural alternatives. There are a lot of products out there claiming to lower your cholesterol, and Dr. Cohen provides objective information and study data regarding many of those products, independent of commercial propaganda.

Update six months later - with the advice of this book, I was able to lower my cholesterol from 310 to 192 in two months, using a combination of very low-dose statins, Policosanol (from sugar cane), Co-Q10, Fish Oil and plant sterols, as well as regular exercise. My Ldl is considered "optimal" now, after being "extremely high" just weeks ago. My doctor wanted to give me 40mg of Zocor, and I achieved my ideal Ldl with only 10mg. So, needless to say, I think this book is worth reading if you are considering statin therapy or just trying to get your cholesterol down.

Thanks, Dr. Cohen!

Good on "What You Must Know" - Skimpy on "Natural Alternatives"
This is a tough subject. Some people consider statins as the ultimate wonder drug...others consider statins to be the ultimate evil drug. Lots and lots of BS in the newsgroups.

Cohen does an excellent job in explaining how to use statins while minimizing the possibility of adverse side-effects. His approach makes a lot of sense.

Unfortunately, there is no natural alternative "magic bullet". So don't expect to find any natural alternative even close to statins in effectiveness. He does weed out a couple of ineffective natural alternatives.