Comments on: National Geographic Stress Portrait of a Killer

By: Dee

Dee — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:01:19 +0000

We are all the Same
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This DVD is one of the most valuable documentaries I have ever come across. This documentary of research about stress involving humans and other mammals is quite surprising. We are all the same. Stress from other domineering individuals and society affects the health of each of us. The ones that are being bullied, regardless of the species, will suffer and have poor health conditions and a shorter life span. The bullies enjoy a better quality of health and longer life span. What a strong message.

It took many years of research with humans and baboons to document and illustrate the harmful and destructive affects of stress that all animals on this planet are subjected to.

By: Arthur Dailey

Arthur Dailey — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:17:51 +0000

Stressed by an inflexible DVD!
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Although I like this DVD, I would never get this DVD again, as it doesn’t seem to let me select different parts to watch at any one time! It keeps telling me that that is forbidden. I have to watch it from the beginning and then restart the next time either at where I left off the last time or at the beginning. However, there are times when I simply want to review one section in particular. Such inflexibility in a DVD — up with which I will not put!

By: B. Henry

B. Henry — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:04:01 +0000

Returned immediately
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Did not fit my teaching needs that inspired the purchase. Very little about effects of stress on physical and mental health in humans, ways to cope better with stress. Great service from Amazon.com on return/quick refund, thanks!

By: Eric Ratliff

Eric Ratliff — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:06:02 +0000

brilliant
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Statistical and anecdotal evidence are convincingly presented to show the importance of stress to health and happiness. The information presented was so important to me that I reduced my work hours after watching this video.

By: Sanjay Jaiswar

Sanjay Jaiswar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:37:03 +0000

Not bad but need more details on human behavior
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I hope during the 30 years period of research, he would have simultaneously studied human behavior & their effects. We are already aware that the stress is the root cause of most of human problems. The study should give what are the internal reactions in human body & how to overcome those. They didn't mention about Adrenaline at all, produced by the adrenal glands playing an important role in short-term stress reaction.

But it's a good material to know more about stress.

By: Avi Solomon

Avi Solomon — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:34:48 +0000

Prof. Sapolsky’s superb documentary on Stress
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Stress researcher Prof. Robert Sapolsky (along with National Geographic) has produced a superb introduction to how Stress works and how best to cope with it.

A summation of his lifelong study of Stress, this video effectively delivers Sapolsky’s personal perspective on Stress that may help you live a better, longer life.

Essential viewing in these (relatively) ‘stressful’ times.

By: Technical Book Buff

Technical Book Buff — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:42:11 +0000

Makes a Great Point, but with a Caviat...
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The part that relates to real science, like the study of baboons, is excellent. The main thesis of this documentary is well taken, that chronic stress harms all creatures. However, I have real issues with the parts where they use anecdotal evidence of their theories on human organizational hierarchies.

The hierarchical societies of baboons are fundamentally different from our workplaces. For one thing, for baboon this permeates through their whole existence, while for most working people their jobs, well,is only their jobs. The DVD shows a British civil servant who whines about a stressful situation at work, and the assertion is that his superiors do not share this type of stress. Not so!

My own experience as an engineer who has been in the workforce for 30 years is totally opposite of the assertions in this documentary. The hierarchy of my typical workplace, which is typical, is like this: A few technicians work for an engineer, who in turn reports to a middle manager, who reports to a vice president who reports to the CEO.

In my experience, the technicians are the least stressed (the movie asserts that he is the most stressed like the subservient baboons). Even our CEO, which in this movie is likened to the dominant baboon, has to answer to the Board and the stock holders.

The typical technician appears at work in his tee shirt and jeans, punch the clock in and out, and if there is any overtime, he gets paid one and a half time his normal pay (the rest of the characters in this story work overtime with no pay.) He may take some c**p from the superiors occasionally, but he is generally not all that stressed in a typical work day. He spends his leisure time hunting and fishing and has a grand time doing that. He is a scoutmaster in his son's Boy Scout troop (gets his hierarchical jollies there.) If his health does not turn out as good as the rest, it would not be because of the stress of being at the bottom of the hierarchy. It would be because his typical lunch is a Philly cheese steak with a large order of fries (and he smokes too); while the rest of the characters in our story have their lean turkey sandwich on rye with a salad.

By: H. Timmons

H. Timmons — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:52:25 +0000

Not much more than you can see online for free
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I watched the previews and everything I could find online from this guy. I was disappointed to find that the DVD contains very little more than what was available for free on National Geographic’s website. Also, you can find him on TED giving a lecture on another topic. He is a great speaker and very interesting man, but this video wasn’t worth the money. I suppose I can feel good about paying for something that hopefully went to fund scientific research, or at least some portion of my money went to fund scientific research. I hope he got good royalties because he seems like a cool dude.

By: Robert L. Bayliss

Robert L. Bayliss — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:54:40 +0000

Stress Is Like Ice Cream.............
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So, how is stress like ice cream? Well, a little now and then is ok, a triple serving may only make you temporarily sick, but "all you can eat" might kill you!

I've followed Robert Sapolsky's work for 10+ years and he definitely is the #1 expert on the effects of stress on the brain.

Prolonged, sustained, excessive stress and your similar response to it, not only causes deterioration of your brain, but it also compromises your immune system; your ability to fight off diseases.

Thousands of years ago, we mostly lived until we either starved, were accidentally poisoned or we were eaten by another animal. Now, we have the distinct ability to slowly kill ourselves over a period of about 80 years with chemical laced foods, too much alcohol and prolonged reaction to stressful events. All are avoidable, if we make the choice to do so.

Unfortunately, most of the people who really need the information in this documentary will never see it and the vast majority who do see it will ignore it. Only those determined to live a quality life for as long as possible will pay attention to this video.

At the present time, 1 in 4 of us will die in a state of dementia or with Alzheimer's. If you want to increase your odds against that happening, then buy this video, pay attention to it, re-watch it several times and invest in a scientifically proven brain fitness program. Not just crossword puzzles and Sudoku, nor any of the popular Name Brand games that mislead you to believe that they will improve your brain or memory. Invest in yourself with a research-based program that has been scientifically designed for the human brain, extensively tested on humans, published and peer-reviewed. The cost for such a program is minimal compared to being an invalid who not only can't find their car keys, but doesn't remember what they are for! For an introduction to the proper type of program that you should use, I suggest you watch, "The Brain Fitness Program" DVD featuring Peter Coyote.

If this video has piqued your interest in repairing your brain, maintaining your brain and improving you brain, then you will probably also enjoy reading the following -

"Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" by Robert M. Sapolsky, Ph.D.
"Spark" by John Ratey" M.D.
"Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain" by Sharon Begley
"Brain Rules" by Dr. John Medina
"Can't Remember What I Forgot" by Sue Halpern
"The Brain That Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge, M.D.

Most of the above are easily read without a medical or scientific background. The few parts that do get a little "deep" are short and should not keep you from finishing the book and understanding the message of the author. Some of the above are also available in Audio format.

So, again, I suggest that you buy this and put the information to use. You can add life to your years and years to your life!

By: Rasih Bensan

Rasih Bensan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:05:42 +0000

Informative but does not cover how to deal with stress
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This DVD shows how animal and human bodies are affected by stress, the harm and dangers. The threats especially to the brain, cardiovascular system and chromosomes are emphasized. Pregnant mothers under stress can transmit stress hormones into the fetus whose nervous system changes and in adult life becomes more prone to stress, stress related diseases and depression. The information here is based mostly on a Stanford University professor's study on baboons, who specializes in the neuropsychology of stress.

However, very little time is devoted to what to do about i.e. how to manage and reduce stress so that it doesn't become so lethal.