Who is Fielding Gray? Should You Take Seemingly Medical Advice from Somebody Using Pseudonym?

Pseudonym--a name that someone (such as a writer) uses instead of his or her real name. Full Definition of PSEUDONYM. : a fictitious name; especially : pen name.


I really don't mind when a writer chooses to use a pen name, especially for fiction--I've used one myself. 

When I saw this book on the wall at my Reviewers Roundup group, I immediately went out to download the offered free copy [As an aside, if you're looking for one place where you can go and daily check out what's happening with books, do come to check us out!]


It's a fairly short book and so I read it quickly. It was important to me because I am now taking medication for back pain which started sometime during the winter and continued to increase until I was having spasms... I have another exam with a specialist this week...

Nothing that I could see or pinpoint was wrong, but there didn't seem to be any medical terms or backup information on what was being said. In fact, I noticed right away that there were links to other sites with little more than a recommendation. I could not tell that the writer had read and absorbed the information and was providing his or her own evaluation...

In fact, not only did I not find any credentials for this individual who was telling me he could cure back pain, I could not find a person by the name Fielding Gray.

In fact, the only place I could find this name was of a character in books written by a UK author who is now deceased...

There is no reference in the book that the write is using a pen name. There is one reference to see a doctor for some of the issues???

Now when I started to read this, I immediately thought it was what you would call a self-help book. I've thought about writing one regarding my Job Burnout, entitled Emotional Damages.   But in doing that, I would qualify myself as having gone through the experience and ensure that readers knew that I had no academic credentials upon which I was writing the book.

So, is this book worthless...No, as I read it sounded like someone who hade done research on back pain and it seemed to be fairly comprehensive for an overview... But there is really nothing in the book upon which you could ensure your back pain will be soon gone...

One suggestion given was that those who sleep on their sides should put a pillow between knees... Here's what I found from the Huntington Post when I was searching for pics...

Position:The Foetus position, otherwise known as the Thinker position, is characterized by sleeping on one's side, in a curled up position. Arms are curled on top of the pillow, or occasionally one arm will be under the pillow. The hands can be in a variety of positions, but Foetus positions are always characterized by at least one hand resting near the chin.

Read more:http://www.end-your-sleep-deprivation.com/sleeping-positions.html#ixzz33gfy5hl8

This article does mention putting a pillow between the knees as written by Fielding Gray... but what if I had not checked out more about this author... What if that author had advised putting pillows under your feet to make their height equal to your hips... Would you have done this? What if this made your back pain worse???

At the end of this book, Fielding Gray asks for a review on Amazon....Note it does not say a review anywhere you'll find them, perhaps they aren't anywhere else?... Soooo, I'm going to do exactly what this author requested, wouldn't you?

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