The book prescribes a lifestyle that allows readers to enjoy the sun, while protecting themselves from its harmful rays. It explains the important things to look for in sunscreens, protective clothing, and sunglasses. It explains to readers how and when to go into the sun, and what regular medical check-ups they should schedule to help prevent undetected skin cancer. For parents, the book offers many tips on protecting kids from the sun. In addition to discussions about the changing environmental factors that influence solar exposure, the book includes information about sun protection education programs and recently enacted solar protection policies.

Amazon.com Review
Sunny days are meant to be spent outdoors--but the sun is decidedly a mixed blessing. With an explosion in skin cancer and an unending array of anti-wrinkle creams, proper care is confusing--and the facts heard through the media are often misleading. Sun Protection for Life explains in simple terms the dangers of improper skin exposure--the introductory chapter alone will have you reaching for the sunblock and hat, even if you're sitting indoors.

The book has a slightly doomed tone, but perhaps that's as it should be; malignant melanoma is deadly, and statistics chart a steady rise in incidence, particularly as tan-loving baby boomers continue ageing. As the authors are founders of Coolibar sun-protective clothing, one would normally expect some degree of product placement, but that's not the case in this book. There is a lengthy chapter on what degree of protection clothing provides, as well as what to look for when purchasing summer wear--but there are equally detailed descriptions of types of sunscreen, suggestions for different age brackets, and information on identifying potentially cancerous growths. The book ends with a resource guide, covering everything from international skin care sources to, yes, sun-protective clothing companies.

What's most impressive is the way in-depth detail is presented with such a matter-of-fact manner; it's easily understandable for anyone past the ninth grade. It also offers steady encouragement for turning the dangerous desire for a tan into a healthy respect for the sun, with regular examples from Australia's skin cancer awareness program that has made incredibly positive changes in that country's cancer rates. While you might not feel the need to join a nation crusade on the topic, at the very least you'll be grabbing a cap and a tube of zinc oxide before leaving home. Jill Lightner