by Stefanie Powers and Judy Quine
Let's see. This leaves Vanessa Redgrave, Linda Hunt and Nell Carter as just about the only major actresses who have not published a fitness beauty book. As these things go Powers' book is relatively undisgusting; at least it's less of a vanity trip than might be expected. Her Superlife concept seems to have a lot to do with systematic deep breaths, stretching and practicing karate movements. (She gives miscellaneous advice on such things as safety—"Avoid unsafe areas if you can. They are surefire danger risks"—and airplane travel fatigue, for which she suggests getting up and doing little exercises in the galley area.) A lot of the book has a common sense appeal, but it would be more convincing if there seemed to be some science behind it. Powers and Quine, the co-founder of the Professional Karate Association, assert—among other things—that stress is a cause of cancer, that a hot water bath "melts away toxic wastes," and that it's helpful to go on a seven-day diet that includes nothing to eat but three pounds of grapes (all the same color) per day. One of the few authorities they cite, however, is a doctor of "orgonomy," with no explanation of what that is supposed to be. This is also a good argument for using videotapes in this kind of instruction: Having to consult the book while trying to learn all the movements Powers recommends could be frustrating enough to make you want to chop it in half with your hand. (Simon and Schuster, $17.95)
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