Early in this decade, psychiatrist Peter R. Breggin published the best book ever on the topic of treating mental disorders with drugs. "Toxic Psychiatry" created a firestorm in the publishing industry with its fearless attacks on most of the drugs used against such emotional woes as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and clinical depression.

Despite this Good Doctor's warnings, far too many of today's shrinks employ drugs instead of talk therapy on their hapless patients. There are thousands of reports of the damage done.

Now Breggin has trained his guns on Ritalin, commonly used to "correct" supposed chemical imbalances in the brains of young children. In his recent book, "Talking Back to Ritalin" (Common Courage Press, $24.95), Breggin insists that Ritalin causes biochemical imbalances in the brain, rather than cures them.

"Pediatricians, parents and teachers are not aware of these hazards because a large body of research demonstrating the ill effects of this drug have been ignored and suppressed in order to encourage the sale of the drug," he writes.

"Talking Back to Ritalin" is causing a furor among the pill pushers who turn immediately to drugs instead of other forms of treatment. This is an important book that warrants the attention of parents.

FOR CIVIL WAR BUFFS

For those intrigued by the War Between the States, two new titles may cause excitement.

Many historians believe the Irish Brigade was the best in the Army of the Potomac. "Others, with the perspective of history, have come to believe it may have been the best infantry brigade that ever was," writes Joseph G. Bilby in his new book, "The Irish Brigade in the Civil War" (Combined Publishing, $19.95).

The book deals with the fabulous 69th of New York and other Irish regiments of the Army of the Potomac. With cooperation from the Irish Brigade's National Guard, Bilby has assembled 13 period maps and 270 illustrations, including many photos from private collections.

There,s also a new book about a Confederate general, "James Longstreet: The Man, the Soldier, the Controversy" (Combined Publishing, $27.95). Many historians place blame for the South's defeat at Gettysburg directly on the head of Longstreet, who was the senior officer at Pickett's Charge.

The book contains seven assessments written by knowledgeable authorities on the War, including R.L. DiNardo, William G. Piston, and James R. Furgueron. Piston contributes two chapters, one on Longstreet's early career and another deals with the anti-Longstreet school of Confederate military history.

KENTUCKY BURLEY

I grew up in northern Kentucky and my uncle John was a burley tobacco farmer. In those days, raising tobacco was an honorable way to make a living, and Uncle John needed plenty of income, since he and Aunt Catherine were parents to ten youngsters.

"Tobacco Culture: Farming Kentucky's Burley Belt" (University Press of Kentucky, $27.50) takes a close look at the history and controversy concerning tobacco farms and their owners. The book, written by John van Willigen and Susan C. Eastwood, uses interviews from scores of farmers, giving a perspective not often found in books about the industry. The authors also participated in many aspects of raising tobacco, writing with authority on planting and harvesting.

While this book may not appeal to every taste, it provides a detailed look into an industry that faces possible extinction because of health aspects related to smoking. My Uncle John never used tobacco. But in summers he worked like a plow horse to bring his crop to fruition. Tobacco requires intense methods of work to achieve a successful crop.

As the authors point out, the attacks against tobacco have struck hard at the farmers. "They're sick of being attacked," the book reports. "You used to hear people say, 'You're a real tobacco man.' That was a compliment, and that identity was valued by many people. Now you don't get that same response."

MEDITATION PRIMER

Slow down, dammit!

That advice may be the best you'll ever get in these days of high stress as we run ever faster on the treadmill of life, while finding we're losing ground.

Clark Strand has a solution: Meditation. His latest book, "The Wooden Bowl" (Hyperion, $19.95) approaches Zen Buddhist techniques of meditation without the practitioner having to change his or her religion, "without having to adopt strange customs, hop on a plane to India, or change names and clothes."

According to Strand's teacher, mediation can't be taught, it only can be learned. He urges that one approach meditation as a hobby, believing that if it becomes something more, it may not be effective. In Strand's theory, mediation "ought to be a time when you can occupy your mind with something for its own sake, without getting caught up in any of your usual preoccupations: Am I doing this right? Are the others doing it better? I'll probably fail at this, just like everything else."

"The Wooden Bowl" is a wise book written by a wise author. It is written with grace and utter simplicity. And you'll gain from it. Such a deal!

Now in paperback is Strand's previous book, "Seeds from a Birch Tree" (Hyperion, $11.95), which explains haiku and how to write this special kind of poetry. Written with humor and a soothing style, the book should provide plenty of entertainment even if you never produce a single line of poetry.

________________________________________________