Book Description

When Lori Gottlieb was 11 years old, she did something girls that age often do: She started a diary. And like far too many other 11-year-old girls, she also began starving herself. Stick Figure: A Diary of My Former Self chronicles her transformation from a bright, healthy kid into a hospital patient on the verge of death, and it illustrates how a young girl can become convinced that anorexia is the answer to her preadolescent confusion.

With an edgy wit and keenly observant eye, Stick Figure delivers an engrossing glimpse into the mind of a girl in transition to adulthood. Fortunately, the 11-year-old Lori recorded her journey to recovery in her diary, and her story is funny, slyly insightful, and surprisingly universal.

An unflinchingly candid, bitingly funny debut, Stick Figure's compelling mix of irreverent humor, satire and autobiography offers dead-on observances about everything from mothers to the medical profession, gender roles to the absurdities of society's obsession with beauty. Martin Scorsese's company, DeFina/Cappa Productions, has purchased movie rights to Gottlieb's journal. ... Read more

Reviews (109)

As Amazing as "WASTED"!
Because I struggled with an eating disorder in high school and college (I'm now in my mid-20s), I've read a lot of memoirs on this subject with particular interest. A friend who also recovered from anorexia recommended STICK FIGURE to me, saying, "You'll see yourself in this girl. And you'll LOVE her as much as you want to help her." What she meant wasn't just the very realistic depiction of obsession and distorted thinking that occurs with an eating disorder, but the fact that because these are real diaries, we see the whole girl, not someone looking back and talking only about how many hours it took to eat an apple. In other words, we see a girl who's funny and smart and as impossible as your average adolescent, who just HAPPENS to also be falling into a devastating illness. (I wonder what the author is like now -- she was HILARIOUS as a kid.)

Most books about anorexics depict them as being incredibly controlling, compulsive, and monomanical about dieting - which they ARE - but that's usually ALL you see. Here, as in another great memoir, WASTED, you realize how complicated this illness can be. At times, Lori seems so "normal" -- even MORE "normal" than her friends and their dieting mothers. And you can really see how she's influenced by the attitudes around her, even though they don't "cause" her anorexia, they definitely contribute and add wry commentary on our media-driven culture.

Most people gave this book five stars, and if I could give it six stars, I would! I TOTALLY disagree with the two people who thought the book didn't depict Lori's recovery realistically -- I LIVED her recovery and really related to the book's ending -- it isn't all neat and tidy. If they thought she saw herself in the mirror and suddenly ate again, then they clearly missed what was going on in Lori's mind. What's so compelling about this book is how subtle the messages are -- you're in the mind of an adolescent, you're reading her journals, and every line seems to have some significance without hitting you over the head with a profound "epiphany."

Even for people who have no experience with eating disorders, I highly recommend this book. All the people in her life-- her parents, her brother, her friends, her teachers, her doctors -- actually make this a FUN book to read (tragic, too, obviously, but you'll laugh even as it's sad and frightening). The people in the book are "out there" yet so real at the same time (I think we had the same teachers!). It's not quite the Addams Family, but the Los Angeles family Lori grew up in isn't quite the Cleavers either.

If you loved "Wasted," you'll love "Stick Figure." And you might even learn something -- about yourself, about eating disorders, about the confusion of being a female teenager, and about the ridiculous pressures of our society -- along the way. But mostly, you'll just want to read it over and over again.

A very unique perspective on anorexia
This story is the memoir of a Beverly Hills woman's descent into anorexia at the age of 11. Her mother's constant "real women don't eat dessert" attitude, her perfectionistic nature, and the realization of how much power she could get by not eating were the main factors I saw that lead to the disease.

Strikingly first person, the story is written based on Gottlieb's childhood diaries. Therefore, it has a very unique tone to it. Her attitude that the rest of the world is crazy gives the reader a sense of what could be going on in the minds of other young girls with anorexia. It is exceptionally poignant; humorous at times and heartwrenching at others.

I literally wanted to jump in the book and knock some sense into her parents, based on the way they were "handling" Lori. Her mother's comments made me jerk with agitation at some points. Of course, it was 1978 when much less was known of the disease. Fortunately, the support today is much stronger for the families of anorexics, who can then better support the terrible situation of their loved ones.

What surprised me the most about this book was how Lori was such a brilliant student. In my mind, smart people don't get anorexia. It certainly shifted my thinking about who the prime candidates for this disease are.

I would recommend this book to anyone who deals with girls as young as 10. It is amazing how early anorexia starts, and this book gives a great new perspective on the disease, and of some of the warning signs.

Almost a mockery.
I have read many books on eating disorders. While I somewhat appreciated the lighter side of this book, as eating disorders are very serious issues, it almost seemed as though she was mocking people with eating disorders. That's just how it came across to me, and I'm not sure why. The story didn't seem to have a real ending- she shows no signs of complete recovery or destined to a life in hospitals. I feel like it was written just as a "me too" type of story- everyone wants credit for their own little story to share.

read Wasted instead
it was entertaining, but not what i expected. i was so excited to buy it, then very disapointed. read Wasted instead.

Interesting, but this is not an authentic diary
I defer to a previous reviewer who stated, "This book was no more written by an 11-year-old than it was written by my Himalayan cat." This book sounds like an adult desperately trying to sound 11. I also found the book lacking in any real or useful substance. It's more like a Juvenile Fiction book--interesting while reading it, but ultimately forgettable. In absolutely no WAY is this book as "amazing as Wasted!" (by Marya Hornbacher)!! For an infinitely better book than "Stick Figure," I highly recommend "Diary of an Anorexic Girl" by Morgan Menzie. Really insightful, funny at times, and beautifully written. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

This first-person account of Alzheimer's ties several powerful storiestogether. Losing My Mind blends personal history with the fear and painof developing the disease at the age of 57; it is both a sadly fascinatingaccount of Alzheimer's progression and an attempt for the writer to remember hispast before it is gone for good.

While his history is recounted in chronological order, these memories--of hischildhood; marriage to his wife, Joyce; their years in writing and politics; hispassion for herbs and the growing of a successful business--are interspersedwith unrelated musings on everything from his cat's sudden deafness to losinghis wallet. Clips from articles on Alzheimer's research are sprinkled around,and statistics like the $174,000 that a patient spends on the disease over alifetime are sobering. Throughout the book, he clearly speaks of his diagnosisas a "sentence"; the lack of a cure is dwelt on in many sections, and a storyabout an accidental overdose of his prescriptions is particularly grim.

This is not a book that supplies any "power of positive thinking" messages, butinstead shows the daily struggle of a man coming to terms with a terribledisease. Poignant and thoughtful, DeBaggio's life will hold meaning for anyonewho has been touched by Alzheimer's. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (16)

POIGNANT, TOUCHING AND EXTREMELY MOVING
There is nothing so sad as to see a person who was once consumed with a passion for life, abundant with wisdom and intellect, active, alert and filled with a wealth of personal stories, overcome with Alzheimer's. It is a condition which has overwhelming effects not only for the individual afflicted with the disease, but for family and friends as well.

Few individuals with Alzheimer's write a book about their progressive loss of memory and the associated conditions that go with Alzheimer's. Unless, you personally know someone with the disease, it is difficult to understand how it affects one's social life, their loss of verbal communication skills and their thought process. Debaggio gives reader an inside view and clearer understanding from a patient's perspective of what it is like to live with this devastating disease on a daily basis. The author's courage and strength in the face of adversity will touch readers to their very core. Debaggio deserves a standing ovation for having the heart and spirit to write such a poignant book on the subject, from a point of view only one afflicted with the disease could fully and realistically explain.

Opening Our Eyes
"Losing My Mind" is a well-written book authored by an ex-journalist gone herb-grower who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease at the age of fifty-seven in 1999. The book is a personal account of one man's struggle with dementia accompanied by an autobiography. Along with these two themes, Mr. DeBaggio inserts clippings from his own research on the disease in every few pages.
This is a great read for anyone who would like to venture into the mind of someone suffering from Alzheimer's. But be warned, the book does not contain any sparks of hope or messages of positive thinking. Readers are likely to become sad and feel slightly depressed from this book that is probably meant to "share some grief." The book is a sincere , raw and from the heart look at a frightening disease that will most likely affect even more Americans as the "Baby-boomer" generation embarks on its golden years.
This book is a must for anyone who has a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It provides insight into the moods, fears and anger of those suffering from it; this is especially important for families who have trouble getting their loved ones to open up and share what they're going through.
I salute Mr. DeBaggio for having the courage to share his inner-most feelings with all those interested in learning more about this insidious disease. May his fear abate and his arms embrace the love that his family is giving him.

A Unique Look Into the World of Alzheimer's
Highly recommended read for caregivers of loved ones with dementia, as well as everyone else with aging loved ones. You will have a new level of understanding and deeper compassion about what it is really like to be afflicted with this horrible disease. Although everyone who battles Alzheimer's is different, the insight here is so unique and so worthy of our attention. Everyone needs to help fight for research dollars from our government to combat this disease, which afflicts one in ten persons by the age of 65.

Jacqueline Marcell, author, 'Elder Rage', and host of the 'Coping With Caregiving' Internet Radio Program

Remarkably beautiful and touching!
It is a provocative memoir of a man who courageously sharing with the world some of its last moment of having a memory or human's most important asset that defined us all in this world. This book provides a glimpse of the Alzheimer's dim world besides exposing human's natural reaction of disbelief, denial, anger, fear and misery when unexpectedly been granted to such fate. The author is very open in revealing his raw emotion and perception on what he's going through and what lies ahead of him and the impact of such ailment to his loved one. The narrative is beautifully written with piercing essence; the thought and feeling expressed is real and very affecting to any soul who realise that as aging is never an option there's always possibility that we or someone we loved would be destined to such ending fate. Tragic if it happened too early. It taught the importance to make the most of every passing moment in life and to fight till the end of what's left of sanity. This book is worth reading, and gives a clearer understanding about the illness. Even though the description of the author's suffering is heartbreaking but his fighting spirit should be commendable. The humanity that he believe and fight shines and touches me through the words written.

I wish him all the best, and to his loved one may all the good memories stay alive even though he may reside in his own world one day. Well, nothing is more important than having a memory thus it should be cherished as far as we still live.

Yes, There's a thinking Human inside an Alzheimer Diagnosis
As a reader who has progressed from mild to moderate Alzheimer's [ALZ aka CRS]since January, 2002; and who is acutely aware of his own Rapid Onset in a Late Onset prognosis, I begged my Caregiver to order this for me asap, which she did. My own CRS has caused me to become unable to view complicated movies such as "Iris" and "Godsford Park" or multilayered television such as "West Wing" or "CSI." Similarly, the ability to complete reading a book more than 3 or 4 pages at a time has departed, never to return. But, like when I received "The Forgetting" by Shenk, I was able to read this 207 page saga, cover to cover, in less than a single 24 hour time span, aka "one day". My window of clarity, which happens less than once a quarter, gave me the grace to assimilate deBaggio's message, just as I was able to do before I became an Emeritus Professor in 1993.

The writing by DeBaggio is superb, his poetry shines on every page! And he has been blessed with outsanding collaborators and editors who polished his rough diamond into the superb blue white gem which "Losing My Mind" is. De Baggio does NOT record a descent to madness, but rather an ascent into a Mount Carmel of shining sanity, despite his testimony to the contrary. The literature of ALZ is overwhelmed with desciptions, diagnoses,and understandings for/of the saintly Caregivers and facilitators who guide our descent into a Dante inferno. BUT, there is next to nothing wherein the person diagnosed with Alzheimer's tells us what is going on inside their crania. "Speaking with Alzheimer's" and "Into the Labyrinth [out-of-print]" are two other exceptions.

Once we are diagnosed, it is as if we no longer are sentient human beings, capable of intellectual cognition. Our ability to convery our intelligence and meanings to others does deteriorate rapidly, particulary with aphasia, but the human entity is still there and functioning even though the ability to respond has vanished: i.e. a CRSer hears and understands all that is said in his/her presence, even though the ALZer cannot communicate that understanding.
Inspired by DeBaggio, I, too, have commenced a Journal of sorts, with the hope of telling others exactly what my sensations are as my hippocampus turns into Gorgonzola. {In my own situation, I have rewired my brain to eliminate frustration over a lack of word recall, and working memory recall, with the help of positive reinforcement, Qi Gong Nirvana state deep meditation, Vitamin B6, B12,E, and Aricet. Thus I have forced a window of clarity to write this critique, and DeBaggio has given this clinically diagnosed unipolar Depressive and CRSer hope that he can aid others before I am unable to lift my head or swallow. Like DeBaggio, the light at the end of my tunnel is an ALZ locomotive, at full speed, headed towards my demise, yet like him, I hope I can locate an agent, collaborator, and editor, so that my own Pilgrim's Progress will be a gift to my seven children and eleven grandchildren, {I include Andrew!}, when the words jumble and chaos reigns supreme, as it already has commenced.
Thank you very much Thomas, for your Augustinian "Confession!" I wish all of us fellow travelors, a "Safe Return." ... Read more

Book Description

Helen Keller's The Story of My Life changed the world. But The World I Live In, Keller's sequel to her autobiography, remains almost completely unknown. Here, responding to skeptics who doubted that a girl who was blind, deaf, and mute almost from birth could find words to describe her experience, Keller presents a striking word-picture of her reality. The World I Live In is an evocative, inspirational, and deeply moving account of an extraordinary woman's keenest impressions. It includes Keller's first published essay, written when she was 12 years old. ... Read more

Book Description

Morton Kondracke never intended to wed Millicent Martinez, but the fiery daughter of a radical labor organizer eventually captured his heart. They married, raised two daughters, and loved and fought passionately for twenty years. Then, in 1987, Milly noticed a glitch in her handwriting, a small tremor that would lead to the shattering diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Saving Milly is Kondracke’s powerfully moving chronicle of his vital and volatile marriage, one that has endured and deepened in the face of tragedy; it also follows his own transformation from careerist to caregiver and activist, a man who will “fight all the way, without pause or rest, to ‘save’ his beloved Milly.” *


(* Linda Bowles, The Washington Times) ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Connections Count... The Politics of Parkinson's
In order to learn more about a disease that has affected several family members, I read Saving Milly with great interest. I was quickly pulled in. Kondracke writes with honesty about a strong and vital woman, his wife, as well as what it means to be caregiver and spouse to one afflicted with Parkinson's Disease. He has much to say in praise of his Milly, while often taking an unglorious view of himself. He admits to insecurities and vanities and weaknesses few of us would admit to in public, let alone to ourselves. Most admirable, perhaps, is the love story intertwined with the story of how both Mort and Milly, each in their own way, cope with PD. In a time when so few relationships survive the minor bumps and bruises of everyday life, this one has survived a major crisis, grown even stronger for the testing. When these two married for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, and with a promise of fidelity... they meant it. Wonderful.

While much of what Kondracke writes about the symptoms and treatments of Milly's disease were, in basic outlines, already known to me, I was intrigued to read his insights into the politics of a disease. I was not surprised... yet nonetheless dismayed. Money rules. Connections count. Nothing like celebrity to shine a spotlight on a particular illness. Hrmph. But so be it, this is reality. And to see it in sharper light of realistic approaches and political power can only help us play the game more effectively. None of us should be unaware of the lies we are too often fed by politicians, but all of us should hold those we vote into office accountable. In the end, it is most important to understand that causes close to our heart must be championed if they are to be cured.

Kondracke has given us a window onto a disease that has or will touch many of our lives, a disease that has gotten too little attention, especially prior to exposure gained by Michael J. Fox (who also makes an appearance in this book). It may not be the most typical experience with PD, especially in terms of the kind of care he could provide Milly because of his own celebrity and his own higher income bracket, but that is of less importance than the story of survival achieved with love, grace, compassion, and insight.

Things We Thought We Knew
At mid-life we think we know that bad things happen to good people, that character counts, and that love endures. "Saving Milly" brings these truisms home in a visceral and moving account that challenges us to be better than we are.

The book operates on a number of levels. First, it is an intimate, compelling, truthful, and not always easy account of a complicated marriage, an unsparing snapshot of marriage in Washington's power circles, in this case journalism. In this is it like all intimate stories, universal and particular. The mix of the outwardly disciplined, Ivy League-educated, solidly reared author and the outspoken and idealistic wife is a grea t read.

When Parkinson's disease hits Milly, the Kondrackes' life turns upside down and the author's most basic assumptions about what is important are challenged. He dedicates his life to saving Milly day by day, discovering the depths of his love, expressing it directly to feed Milly's emotional needs and in countless gifts of phycial caring and attention.

He uses the lessons learned as a distinguished Washington and television personality to direct attention to the underfunding of Parkinson's research, thereby revealing both the cynicism of those politicians who talk the talk but don't walk the walk, and the moral high ground of others who listen and take action.

Milly is the nominal heroine but the author is the hero.

This is the rare book that will leave the reader a different person, better for the knowledge of what a good man can do when confronted with an incomprehensible challenge.

Extremely moving story about a couple and their struggle
Morton Kondrake's book is about much more than his wife Milly's Parkinson's disease. It's also about their life together, their marriage, the differences that caused friction between them, Kondrake's struggles in his career and those to overcome his own weaknesses, including, for a time, alcoholism. What emerges is a story of quiet heroism, both his and Milly's, as she defies the odds and continues to prove that her will to live is greater than her despair. Kondrake also writes about the politics of research and fundraising for various diseases, and how some diseases have more cache than others, even if the disease garnering more print and air time afflicts far fewer people than other devastating ailments. This may not come as a shock to people but it is still important so that we can all do what we can to campaign to make disease research and funding more equitable.

I was most touched by Kondrake's unsparingly honest account of his own shortcomings as a man, a husband, and father, and how Milly, and eventually, her Parkinson's disease, made him grow into a far greater man than he was before. The fact that this is a true account makes this book very significant, and more moving than any fiction could be. It's impossible not to read it without tears.

Moving Account of a Devastating Illness
This country has an aversion to sickness and death, two things that will in time touch each and every one of us. Not a pleasant thought.

For 18 years I watched my own mother combat, with no hope of winning, the same illness Milly is fighting. Morton Kondracke is to be commended for sharing Milly's story. Heart wrenching, Saving Milly is by no means an easy read, but it is a must read. It is more than a story about Parkinson's disease. It's also a story about love and commitment and, yes, obligation, but also of politics. And all of it will open your eyes as well as your heart.

Kondracke doesn't sugar coat Parkinson's, he displays it in all of its vulgarity. Nor does he paint himself a saint in being Milly's primary caregiver. He gets angry with her, loses his temper, shouts at her. But it's not really Milly he is angry with. It's the Parkinson's. Yet how does one vent one's rage at a disease?

He also writes of the politics of Parkinson's, how, unlike cancer and AIDS, research for this debilitating disease is under funded. Kondracke shares his story with a journalistic detachment, but even so the reader will find him or herself moved by his plight and the plight of Milly. His message is simple: a cure for Parkinson's has been agonizingly near for a long time, but money is needed now. He knows that were a cure discovered tomorrow it would be too late to help Milly, but his fight goes on so that others might be saved from suffering her fate.

My hat is off to Morton Kondracke for sharing this side of his life, a side that one day most of us will experience firsthand, but also one which too many don't wish to glimpse, preferring instead to pretend it won't ever happen to them.

Saving Milly: Love, Politics, and Parkinson's Disease
A wonderfully gripping book, especially for those who have been touched in some way by Parkinson's Disease. Morton Kondracke is bravely honest about his relationship with Milly and about his own shortcomings. His knowledge about the politics of medical research and funding is enlightening and inspiring. It is a poignant love story that will touch everyone, and push many towards advocacy.

My father was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease approximately 15 years ago, and lives with many of the same difficulties that Milly has endured. Though emotionally difficult to read at times, it is nearly impossible to put down.

Highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

On a summer day in 1988, Carter Cooper, aged 24, dropped to his death from the 14th-floor terrace of his mother's New York City's apartment. Now, seven years later, Gloria Vanderbilt is finally able to set down the terrible events of that afternoon--to which she was a witness--in a book of overwhleming intensity, feeling, and beauty. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Mother's Story
This book is an unexpected jewel that was given to me by a friend during a time in my life where I was struggling with myself and my path in life. Everyone can associate with the events and emotions conveyed in this touching account of a mother losing her son. Honest, personal, and moving, the author invites us into a sacred place and shares her tragedy with the world with loving care. At times I felt embarassed, as if I were trespassing into a private and personal memory. It is more than a book about loss and heart ache, it is a book about life.

Definitely one of the most touching books I've read
Anyone who does not cry upon reading this book cannot possibly have a beating heart. Ms. Vanderbilt's account of her son's life (and death) is honest and heartfelt. In reading about the love she has for her family, one grows to love them along with her, and ultimately feels a measure of her pain with her narration of the loss of her husband, Wyatt Cooper, and later of her son Carter's suicide.

At one time or another, all of us have felt isolation from our loved ones, an inability to allow them to touch our lives for whatever reasons. We employ many different mechanisms to shut ourselves off from the rest of the world, whether we are conscious of it or not. Gloria Vanderbilt's "glass bubble" imagery certainly gives voice to those feelings, and the way she escapes from the bubble is simultaneously (yet paradoxically) heartbreaking and inspiring. One's own "glass bubble" becomes weaker when reading about the great losses in her life- losses that are uniquely tragic, yet echo the experiences of anyone who's ever lost a loved one.

This book, in addition to Ms. Vanderbilt's recollections of Carter's life and death, includes diary entries describing the innocence and love surrounding Carter Cooper's early life as well as contributions from close friends and from his younger brother, Anderson. The book indirectly assumes a rudimentary prior knowledge of Gloria Vanderbilt's life; reading _Once Upon a Time_, her autobiography, before this book will provide a great deal of necessary background. _A Mother's Story_, although it is painfully personal, is a clear picture of the common emotions- love, grief, and empathy- that bind the human race together.

A book by a sensitive, intelligent woman.
I bought the book because the cover looked nice and I usually like to read female writers. The story is about loss and pain - I'm not experiencing neither, but I kept on reading it until the end. I was sitting on the bus,caught in a bad traffic jam in Rio - the final pages came and suddenly my eyes filled with tears. The ending brings a beautiful message of optimism. This woman has delicate feelings and an intelligent mind. Funny to think I read her story two years after I bought the book ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A bit disappointing.
I'm afraid I found this book a bit disappointing. The good parts were the author'sfairly brief decriptions of Temple Grandin's behavior and her own experiences in raising her. I felt that surely there had to have been more information than she provided as this seemed quite a superficial treatment to me. I understand why she left out any references to her other children at their request, but do think that this is an important lack in a book professing to present the life of a family with an autistic child.

I found myself skipping over the long parts detailing her singing career. There was quite a bit about her first marriage. Her ex-husband attempted to convince others that she was crazy by keeping a 3-year "diary" on her supposedly abnormal behavior. There seemed to be almost an insouciant attitude about such clearly bizarre behavior. There were some interesting details about life back in the day, for example, the bit about receiving a total of 6 phone calls in the several months following her divorce. I'm sure that her experiences were much more painful than she expressed.

I have no doubt that the author was an excellent mother to her daughter and found her the appropriate help and places for her to grow and develop into the quite amazing person she is today. It's not a bad book. I guess I just expected something with more detail, more emotion, more information, more... something.

Inspriing!
Thorn in My Pocket: Temple Grandin's Mother Tells the Family Story is a very inspring book.

It is meaningful to all.

How To
To those who say this is not a "How To" book, I have to disagree.
Eustacia Cutler tells us "How To" fight for a child's right to be a part of family and society.She tells "How To" stay the course when family and physicians conspire against you."How To" overcome the feelings of guilt and being overwhelmed; "How To" get on with life. "How To" be supportive of a child who was unable to show affection and was so often at odds with the world.Temple's mother has written a beautiful, sensitive book.It is a book that fills one with hope; if Eustacia and Temple can have such a successful outcome, so perhaps can others.

Real Lesson to Learn
Eustacia Cutler's book about raising Temple Grandin answers the two questions I've always had whenever I've heard or read about Temple Grandin.How did Temple survive in a time when everyone was warehousing their kids with autism in mental institutions and how did she succeed so well as an adult?

This is not a "how-to" book on educational procedures or anything like that.By reading this autobiography, you will understand the character of Temple's mother, who quite literally saved Temple's life.Fifty-some years ago, Eustacia was the product of her time in most ways--the stay-at-home wife to a wealthy man who was bent upon institutionalizing Temple, particularly when he got the support from psychiatrists who believed at the time that the reason for Temple's autism was Eustacia herself.

There's a real lesson to learn here. Instead of surrendering her child, the originally compliant Eustacia (women were supposed to be that in the 40s and 50s) changed.She intuitively knew that if she gave up whom she could be, her child would be given up as well.She fought ferociously and even walked away from her marriage and her economic well being to save her child. And at that time, when she faced a family who didn't support the divorce financially and a society that looked down on single mothers, she had four children!

If there's one thing that stands out in this book, it's that you have to be who you are and all you can be in order to give that same gift to your child.Temple Grandin comes by her strength, intelligence, and creativity because she had a mother who studied every angle of whatever or whoever she could find to help her child and wasn't afraid to try anything, from allowing her child to negotiate with a local merchant to fighting for her child's right to the education Eustacia believed would save her.

The reader gets a clear picture of the evolution of the science of autism over the decades with some pretty deep conclusions on Temple's mother's part. It's personal. It's incredibly written. This is NOT a how-to-raise-your-child book. It's a story about the meaning of life and society itself. I'd recommend to anyone who wants to know how character is formed-it's not just parents of children with autism. It's one of the best books I've read in a long, long time and I'm eighty years old with a library of books I've read over a lifetime!

What a journey!
There are so many wonderful layers to this book.I have to admit that early on I pigeon-holed Ms. Cutler, almost dismissing her, for having what appeared to be a rarified life.But her accessible language, her wit, her determination, pulled me along until I saw how very wrong I was. She cuts herself no slack as she peels back layer after layer of her life, revealing how she struggled to find ways to give her firstborn child, Temple, a shot at a life of possibilities. As the layers fell away, I could see just how high the stakes really were.Like her, some of us have found ourselves doing battle with people who say they love us and with the experts. We can identify with the pain and the personal costs to our identity, our sanity and, yes, our soul.Ms. Cutler's journey includes her involvement with people, places and events that are now acknowledged as major influences of the 20th century, giving us some rare glimpses of living history.In the end, when you remember how frighteningly easy it would have been, how expected, frankly, for Ms. Cutler to have simply put Temple in an institution, you can appreciate her love and determination to face the fear of the unknown, to eventually leave the favored, the familiar, the expected, to find her own way. ... Read more

Book Description

Two young men with Down syndrome talk frankly about careers, friendships, school, sex, marriage, politics, and independence. Recipient of seven national awards, including the EDI Award from the National Easter Seal Society. Foreword by Joan Ganz Cooney. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Count Us In by Jason Kingsley, & Mitchell Levitz
This is a book written in their own words by two young men who have Down's Syndrome. They share the ups and down's of their lives . Although my son is only nine, I found this book very helpful because it gave me some preview of things to come. Because the book was written in the boys' own words, it gives a unique picture into the minds and lives of older children with Down syndrome. It also gave some insight into familiar problems, as well as some events that were unique to these boys who authored the book. I found myself wishing that my own son had a close friend to help guide him through the ups and downs that await him in his teenage years. Then I realised that I could actively seek out peers for him to become friendly with at my local Down syndrome chapter, and maybe I could find some friends that he could become close with in a similar fashion to the authors of this book. I highly recommend this book to all parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals who work with children who have disabliities similar to Down Syndrome, because the experiences of these boys could cover a broad spectrum of disabilities, not only Down Syndrome. So many books are written from an outsider's prespective. This book comes straight from the sourcel.

irinaz
I first read this book when my son with Down Syndrome was very young. It was extremely encouraging to me to read the very complex and interesting thoughts of two adult men who have Down Syndrome. I wish all teachers would read this book. I think any parent with a child who has Down Syndrome, especially a very young one, would benefit from reading this book. I really fell in love with Jason and Mitchell. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Great Read!
This book is written by autistic women with all different backgrounds and experiences, so it helps even people that have no contact with autism to learn about how an autistic person lives and the sort of experiences that that person has, but in more depth than simply a description of characteristics that is typically found when researching a developmental disorder such as autism online or in the library. The best part of this book is that all of the stories and poems are real; they are real experiences and real thoughts and feelings told by real women. It is an invaluable resource both for people simply willing to learn about autism and for people living with autism, perhaps undiagnosed, and especially for friends or family members of autistic persons.

Personally, I am very close to two people with Asperger's Syndrome and at first, it was very hard for me to relate to either of them. I think at first, people often misjudge others' actions as being rude or cold just because the way they act is different from what "society" is used to. However, that is not fair. There is no "normal". We are all different and that's what makes us interesting. If I had judged the two people I know that have Asperger's, I would have missed knowing two extremely intelligent, interesting, and inspiring individuals who mean more to me than I could have ever imagined. We all adapt to our environments in whatever way is comfortable to us. As I have learned more about Asperger's Syndrome and autism, I notice that I can relate quite a lot to the actions and feelings typical of these disorders.

I think this book helps people understand what it is like living with a developmental disorder and also makes both diagnosed and undiagnosed people say, "Hey, there are others out there kind of like me!" The stories and poems are honest and interesting and provide an excellent resource for anyone.

P.S. My favorite story in the book is called "'Cause It's Friday" (219) because it's so honest, funny, and well-written... and shows how sometimes, people have to make the most out of life at even the worst of times. The author, Kimberly Tucker, is one of the best non-fiction writers I've ever seen, so if anyone ever gets the chance, read more of her work! I mean it.

A must-have ASD book
I am very excited about this book! Years ago there were not enough books on ASD and now there are too many to choose from. This book is now on my must-have list, for female or male readers.
The many voices represented make it clear that ASD is not a one-size-fits-all description; each contributor is a strong individual, an interesting person, and a poet at heart. The personal stories are fascinating; the poetry is beautiful and pertinent. This is book of revelations and the reader will have many "I never thought of it quite that way" moments no matter how much they think they know about ASD.
There are also many excellent references, which I happen to think is very important.

Wow. A look at our real, whole lives for once.
Most books by autistic people have two main flaws: They are written from one person's point of view that usually includes a lot of generalization, and the authors write primarily about the parts of themselves that most neatly fit autism stereotypes. This is an anthology, so it contains multiple perspectives on the same issues. And it is a well-conceived book, so it does not stay neatly within the boundaries of current autism stereotypes. The main complaint I have about it, if any, is that it does not always do such a good job of avoiding stereotypes of other disabilities, whether physical or mental. And that it periodically refers to all the women in the book as "Asperger's syndrome" whether they officially are that or some other kind of autism. These things might put off some readers who would otherwise enjoy it. But no book is perfect.

This book is intended for reading by all sorts of autistic people, and it is written by all sorts of autistic people. The authors come from different backgrounds, classes, sexual orientations, thinking styles, and kinds of autism. They range from people diagnosed in childhood to people diagnosed in adulthood, people who receive a fair amount of official assistance to people who receive none, and people who are on the boundaries between autism and neurotypicality to people well into the autistic side of things. This is important because most books by one autistic woman at a time end up with the problem of overgeneralization from one perspective. It's hard to do that in a book with so many and varied people writing for it. For instance, there are times when several of the authors are saying, "This is the way autism is," and another author will say, "Hey, wait a minute, it's not that way for *me*!" That's the beauty of having multiple sources of input.

The book is meant as a crossroads between feminism and the neurodiversity movement, and a discussion of life as autistic women. Neither side of this is neglected -- people's lives are discussed as they relate to autism, as they relate to womanhood, and as autism relates to womanhood. Do not assume that all you will be hearing about are stereotypical autistic statements and stereotypical female statements, however -- the writing in this book ranges from poetry to prose; the topics from spirituality to the mundane aspects of daily life, as well as specifically female things like motherhood (yes, autistic people *can* be mothers!) This book is neither dry nor boring, and it gets a message across without being preachy.

It is laid out with an introduction at the beginning, several sections of writing that are connected just loosely enough and just tightly enough, and a glossary and recommended reading at the end.

It's hard to pick a favorite part. There are too many parts that I either relate to or learn from. There is no one simplistic view of autistic women espoused, so there is a lot to choose from. Jane Meyerding's "Growing Up Genderless", in which she recounts never quite fitting the feminine role stereotype, is familiar. There are important statements about the underdiagnosis of autistic women. I like "MM"'s descriptions of her early and profound connection to animals and her strong sense of spirituality. There are lots of poems and stories that look at the emotional side of being an autistic woman, from beautiful to harrowing. There are the printed email discussions at the beginning, in which you can see conversations that present several sides of certain issues, that make up an important whole. There are so many good things that I can't list them all. There are a few things I dislike, but in a book by so many people, that's predictable.

Taken as a whole, this book is amazing -- and I'm not saying that just because autistic people wrote it; I've read lots of books by autistic people. I read it and it gets into my life as a whole person and an autistic woman, not just the bits and pieces people want to hear about when they read autism books. Nobody in the book has a life precisely like mine, but somehow it doesn't matter -- somehow the most important internal parts are represented. It blends the personal, medical, and political effectively and gracefully. Most books about autism, even the personal ones, look mainly at our brains and "symptoms". This one is not so limited by convention. It looks into our lives and souls.

If you know an autistic woman, please read this book and talk to her about it. Even if you don't, this book is crying out for a wider audience than the narrow audience it seems at first glance to have. This book would be interesting to people beyond feminists and people with an interest in autism. I've already bought a copy for a non-autistic woman I know, which I don't normally do with my limited budget, and I've recommended it to my local feminist bookstore, which I also don't normally do with my limited capacity for socialization. This may well be my new favorite among books by autistic people. If it's not, it's close to it.

This book is all the things I've described, and more. It is also truly, artistically (and autistically) beautiful. ... Read more

Book Description

"This is a story of two battles, a battle to keep out 'the world' and a battle to join it."

She inhabits a place of chaos, cacophony, and dancing light--where physical contact is painful and sights and sounds have no meaning. Although labeled, at times, deaf, retarded, or disturbed, Donna Williams is autistic--afflicted by a baffling condition of heightened sensory perception that imprisons the sufferer in a private, almost hallucinatory universe of patterns and colors. Nobody Nowhere is Donna's story in her own words--a haunting, courageous memoir of the titanic struggles she has endured in her quest to merge "my world" with "the world." ... Read more

Reviews (24)

More informative than any book written by a professional.
This is a fascinating book that has a lot to teach us about how the human brain works and "malfunctions" (for want of a better word.)
One person has said that this book is depressing and might frighten a newly diagnosed family.
The answer to this is that this book needs to be read in conjunction with it's sequel "Somebody Somewhere" which IS uplifting and inspiring and explains what it feels like to be autistic still furthur. This woman becomes a teacher in the end, despite being discriminated against by one of the teachers. (The only teacher at the teacher's college who knows she has the disorder ,a cautionary tale to those who consider revealing their "disorders" to those who have power over them.)
There is so much in depth information about what autism feels like and the way in which autistics and those whith disorders on the autistic spectrum see and experience life compared to the way in which others do.
As a sufferer of Attention Deficit Disorder myself I could relate to the way in which Donna experienced the world differently from others even though my experiences and problems are different. My friend with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder also really related even though her problems are very different. So I would recommend these two books to anyone suffering with a neurological disability, learning disability or mental disorder.
The reviewer who insists this book is about child abuse is very blinkered in their thinking.
Williams makes it VERY clear that she does not belive that her mother's abuse caused her autistic symptoms and in fact says it is a blessing that her mother was not the type to hug her a lot because as an autistic with sensory troubles who finds touch very uncomfortable she finds hugs physically painful.
Certainly a loving family could have helped her find help for her problems sooner however.

Fascinating
This is a fascinating book that has a lot to teach us about how the human brain works and "malfunctions" (for want of a better word.)
One person has said that this book is depressing and might frighten a newly diagnosed family.
The answer to this is that this book needs to be read in conjunction with it's sequel "Somebody Somewhere" which IS uplifting and inspiring and explains what it feels like to be autistic still furthur. This woman becomes a teacher in the end, despite being discriminated against by one of the teachers. (The only teacher at the teacher's college who knows she has the disorder ,a cautionary tale to those who consider revealing their "disorders" to those who have power over them.)
There is so much in depth information about what autism feels like and the way in which autistics and those whith disorders on the autistic spectrum see and experience life compared to the way in which others do.
As a sufferer of Attention Deficit Disorder myself I could relate to the way in which Donna experienced the world differently from others even though my experiences and problems are different. My friend with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder also really related even though her problems are very different. So I would recommend these two books to anyone suffering with a neurological disability, learning disability or mental disorder.
The reviewer who insists this book is about child abuse is very blinkered in their thinking.
Williams makes it VERY clear that she does not belive that her mother's abuse caused her autistic symptoms and in fact says it is a blessing that her mother was not the type to hug her a lot because as an autistic with sensory troubles who finds touch very uncomfortable she finds hugs physically painful.
Certainly a loving family could have helped her find help for her problems sooner however.

What it's REALLY like to be autistic
Wow! I have a son with high-functioning autism, so I read everything on the subject. I've read technical books, personal accounts and everything in-between. But NO book, before Nobody Nowhere, could tell me what it's really like to be autistic. Donna Williams has an amazing gift for writing and describing her experiences in living detail. I was so engrossed in this book; I could hardly put it down. Williams' is a haunting story, but one that now serves to help others. I am so grateful she wrote this book!

Nobody Nowhere: The Extraordinary Autobiograph
Although informative, I found this book incredibly depressing and found other books much more hopeful of the possibility of a happy life for my child. I would not consider this book to be a good first read for a family just diagnosed.

A bit disappointing
The content of this book was truly engaging, but the author's disjointed manner of writing and her constant display of self-importance put me off. ... Read more

Book Description

Helen Keller, Time Magazine’s woman of the century, reveals her mystical side in this best-selling spiritual autobiography. Writing that her first reading of Emanuel Swedenborg at age fourteen gave her truths that were “to my faculties what light, color and music are to the eye and ear,” she explains how Swedenborg’s works sustained her throughout her life.

This new edition includes a foreword by Dorothy Herrmann, author of the acclaimed Helen Keller: A Life, and a new chapter, “Epilogue: My Luminous Universe.” ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Touching Story, Stunning Ideas
This book was not only touching because of Helen Keller's fascinating story, but also an uplifting reassurance that life is worth living. Her ideas, those from and about Emanuel Swedenborg, strike me as poingantly true. Helen Keller's unique perspective on the world adds an amazing depth and reality to this work. I absolutly reccomend it for anyone and everyone.

Beautiful!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It made me look again at what I believe and see it more clearly. This is a great introduction to the ideas of Emanual Swedenborg and the New Church.

Wonderfully informative, inspiring reading.
The newly revised and updated second edition of Helen Keller's autobiography originally published in 1927 includes a substantial foreword by Keller biographer Dorothy Herrmann. The deaf, dumb and blind Helen Keller (1880-1968) became an internationally known spokesperson for the blind. Her amazing story of being taught to communicate by Annie Sullivan is very well know. But what is not so well known Keller's faith in the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg whose spiritual vision gave her "the light in my darkness, the voice in my silence". Light In My Darkness is wonderfully informative and inspiring reading and this splendid edition will re-introduce a most remarkable woman to a whole new generation of readers.

HOW WOULD BE THE GOD
I CREATE YOU MY OWN GOD, AND I KNOW,NO ONE SEE THE GOD, IN WORDS I CANN'T EXPRESS YOU, BUT STILL I CAN WORSHIP YOU. ... Read more

Book Description

A nationally known spokesperson for the mentally ill offers hope and inspiration in this moving story of his 32-year struggle with schizophrenia and his remarkable recovery.

For thirty-two years Ken Steele lived with the devastating symptoms of schizophrenia, tortured by inner voices commanding him to kill himself, ravaged by the delusions of paranoia, barely surviving on the ragged edges of society. In this powerful and inspiring story, Steele tells the story of his hard-won recovery from schizophrenia and how activism and advocacy helped him regain his sanity and go on to give hope and support to so many others like him.

His recovery began with a small but intensely dramatic moment. One evening in the spring of 1995, shortly after starting on Risperdal, a new antipsychotic medicine, he realized that the voices that had tormented him for three decades had suddenly stopped. Terrified but also empowered by this new freedom, Steele rose to the challenge of creating a new life. Steele went on to become one of the most vocal advocates of the mentally ill, earning the respect not only of patients and families but also of professionals and policymakers all over America through his tireless devotion to a cause that transformed his life and that of countless others.

The Day the Voices Stopped will endure as Ken Steele's testament for all who struggle with this heartbreaking disease. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Suffering But Not Self-Pitying
As a person who was also diagnosed with schizophrenia, (though I never heard voices), I found this a fascinating account of another person's journey from breakdown to recovery. The greatest strength of this book is the way in which the authors interwove the tyranny of the voices Ken Steele heard with the events of his life. The book gave me a clear understanding of how nightmarish it must be to live with a constant chorus of psychotic voices harassing you and insulting you from morning until night. Next, what struck me powerfully was the completely inhumane treatment Mr. Steele received from the mental health establishment. During the initial months of his first hospitalization Mr. Steele was locked up in isolation and given so much medication he couldn't move, not even to go to the bathroom. He peed and pooped where he was and attendants hosed him off to get him clean. Subsequently, in other hospitalizations he continued to be subjected to serious overdoses of medication. He was locked in seclusion rooms for extended periods of time, threatened and ultimately gang raped by other patients, and at one point locked in a closet for days on end. During the course of this book Ken Steele speculates that the cause of his illness was entirely biochemical and that his recovery took place solely as a consequence of the new medications he took later on in his life. But I felt that there was no way that his family life could not have had some influence on the outbreak and course of his illness. From the beginning it is clear that his parents have little interest in him, and that he is largely being brought up by his grandmother. When it became clear that he was suffering from a severe mental illness, his parents did nothing about it. And when he later ran into trouble and ended up hospitalized, his parents didn't even bother to visit him or concern themselves with his situation even though they were fully informed of what was happenening to him. When it came to Ken Steele's recovery, medication may have been a part of it, but it is indisputable that before he decided to take the medication, he had come to the point where he made the choice to be responsible for himself, to stop playing games and lying to himself and other people. In other accounts of people with mental illness, this moment of decision, the decision to take personal responsibility for oneself, is pivotal to any meaningful kind of recovery. And Ken made that recovery, and more than just recoverying, he went on to advocate for psychiatric patients such as himself and play a significant role in improving the lives of others. Suffering greatly, struggling greatly, recovering heroically, Ken Steele is without self pity, and through this book, continuing to give to others, even after his death.

Very Good Book
I have schizoaffective dissorder and this book demonstrates just how bad this illness is. It's real and almost too real for me. The story is very moving. I could not put it down. Luckly today there are better meds then the ones Mr. Steele started with. I'm glad he had some peace in his life before he passed away.

must read
This book is a must read for anyone who is related to or works with the mentally ill. It is a story that can help break down the stereotypes that the mentallly ill suffer under. The honesty that the author shares helps us all get a small glipse into the lives of the schizophrenic.

One Man's Struggle with Madness
The Day the Voices Stopped is a shockingly realistic autobiography of someone with severe mental illness. The voices or auditory hallucinations are so realistic and terrifying that the reader wonders how Ken Steele could have survived at all. In addition, many people with severe mental illness have problems with homelessness and incarceration and Ken's story is no exception. It is tragic that 32 years of his life were consumed by this illness. I personally knew Steele and he never spoke of his voices, nor did I ask him. He was a phenomenal success in Hawaii despite his problems, and started the consumer organization, United Self-Help, in 1984, which still exists to this day. During some periods, he was able to function despite his illness. The reading is a must for mental health professionals and also for those in recovery from mental illness.

Recovery Is Possible
I knew Ken Steele for two years as his young assistant. I witnessed the pain he went through while writing this book, reliving a journey filled with mistreatment and neglect. Like Ken, I am a paranoid schizophrenic. He gave me hope when I was hopeless in the mental hospital and asked me to work for him. The voices he heard were different from the voices I heard that no one else could hear, trademarks of our mental illness. Steele's voices commanded him to do the unspeakable. They were with him night and day for over 30 years, most of his life. It was remarkable the day his voices stopped because he wasted no time and began his work as a legendary advocate for us, the mentally ill. The Day the Voices Stopped is a personal and realistic account of what it's like to live with schizophrenia. It's inspiring for all readers as we can see through Ken Steele that the disease is treatable and recovery is possible. ... Read more

Book Description

In this deeply affecting memoir, Arthur W. Frank explores the events of illness from within: the transformation from person to patient, the pain, the wonder,and the ceremony of recovery. To illuminate what illness can teach us about life, Frank draws upon his own encounters with serious illness -- a heart attack at age thirty-nine and, a year later, a diagnosis of cancer. In poignant and clear prose, he offers brilliant insights into what happens when our bodies and emotions are pushed to extremes. Ultimately, he examines what it means to be human. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Awesome
This was one of the best books I have read in the course of my dissertation work. I'd say it is a must read for anyone in the health care profession, as well as patients battling chronic symptoms. The book is a reminder that we need to remember the PERSON who is the patient.

He gave me the courage to risk hangin in there for others..
Arthur Frank doesn't deny any aspect of his experience, and through his demonstration of bare-bones honesty and self acceptance, I connected with myself, which is where the answers, if there are any, are to be found. I saw my own fear of cancer patients played out on these pages, and I recalled with anguish the number of times I disappeared from the lives of people I cared about because I was so afraid of their disease, their pain and the possibility that they'd die. ...and I also saw the ways in which I've protected myself from my own fear of cancer by wondering what it was in their psyches that caused them to be stricken by this terrible disease. ... and I saw how frightened I've been to be present in my own body. His honesty gave me the courage to change, and I'm incredibly grateful. Patti Harada, Tucson, AZ. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1971 she was the most promising woman golfer in the world, before alcohol took control, almost killing her. Now on the road to recovery, Baugh speaks candidly about her lifetime of pain, pressure, and perseverance. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A VERY DRAMATIC STORY
THIS IS THE STORY OF LAURA BAUGH, RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC, PRO GOLFER, AND MOTHER. SHE DOES A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING HER LIFE AND CAREER. HER STRUGGLE WITH INNER DEMONS, BROKEN MARRIAGES, AND PRESSURES IS VERY INTERESTING. HER STORY IS A MIRACLE. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE 12 STEP PROGRAM OF AA AT WORK. LAURA HAS BEEN BLESSED BY GOD AND THIS IS A GREAT READ FOR ALL RECOVERING AND PRACTICING ADDICTED PEOPLE. I REMEMBER WHEN LAURA FIRST CAME ON THE PRO TOUR IN THE EARLY 70'S, SHE WAS THE HOTTEST HOTTIE IN SPORTS. GLAD TO SEE SHE HAS CONFRONTED HER ADDICTION AND DEALS WITH IT ONE DAY A TIME. SHE IS STILL HOT AND CERTAINLY PROVEN TO BE A BABY MACHINE. MUST READ.

Who's In Control?
Isn't that the question since we were chldren? Who's in control here? Some figure it out quicker than others and learn the lesson better. For others, like Laura, it takes time and pain. But in the end, gain.

Her pain and gain, here exposed for all the world to see, is for the comfort and strength she gives through this book to those who find themselves or loved ones in -- out of control.

Frightening and shocking is the realization that such substances take over and dominate such intelligent, talented people. The fight will always be there. Close by though, more powerful than those unrelenting enemies are Laura's strengths she's learned to rely upon and live for, God and children. May both bless her.

She's a winner in more important events than just LPGA championships.

Thoughtful, insightful, and educational
Laura Baugh's openness and candor makes her story a must-read for anyone in recovery, or anyone who knows someone in recovery.

Growing Up is So Painful!
If you are alcoholic or know someone who is, this is an insightful read. If you know anything about golf (which I don't), it would make the book an even more intimate experience. Sharing Laura's journey is worth the time to see how thoughtlessly one's life can become completely out of control, if not life-threatening as well. 'Good luck, Laura: every day is like climbing a mountain, and drunk or sober, having 7 kids is more than a juggling act.'

THE MYSTERY SOLVED
As a contempory of Ms. Baugh, I often wondered why this extremely gifted golfer would fail to win not only the BIG ONE, but ANY golf match as a pro. Ms. Baugh, in an honest approach, explains how alcohol became her best friend and a god to her. She tells of her early misses in golf tournaments and the later matches where alcohol caused her hands to shake. She fooled no one but herself and admits she is an alcoholic. An excellent book. Recomended to anyone who faces this problem or knows someone who faces this problem. A GREAT BOOK!! ... Read more

Book Description

A mother knows when something is wrong with her child. If the problem is physical, she takes the child to a doctor. But if the problem is a misunderstanding of her child's mind, where does she turn for help?

This is Ben's story.

He was a happy, healthy boy -- a mother's dream come true. Yet by the age of three, Ben's development was significantly delayed: He couldn't make sense of the simplest phrases, and he still hadn't started talking. When Karen Foli finally took her son, Ben, to a speech and hearing clinic, she was told that he was "probably retarded and perhaps autistic." But Karen knew that Ben was highly perceptive, even frustrated by his inability to communicate. Trusting her "mother's intuition," Karen set out on a journey to learn the truth about her son's condition....and what she found was APD.

A person with auditory processing disorder receives jumbled and distorted sounds. But the ability to hear is usually normal. Even though it affects millions of Americans, APD can be difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. Through years of research, and personal interviews, Karen Foli learned everything she needed to know about APD in order to help her son achieve the greatest gift of all: communication. Like Sound Through Water is her story -- winning, inspiring, and true. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Inspiration for a nervous Mom of an APD child
Dr. Foli has crafted a book which seamlessly combines a heart-wrenching story of love and commitment, with an informative work examining the symptoms and difficulties associated with Auditory Processing Disorder. With no exaggeration, I could not put this book down once I began reading it. The similarities between Dr. Foli's son's and my own son's development were chilling - the similarities between my own feelings of guilt and grief and those so eloquently described by Dr. Foli were profound.
This book is a must-read for parents of children with APD, as well as extended family, teachers, speech therapists, and school administrators who interact with APD children. I expect that my copy of "Like Sound Through Water" will have passed through many hands by the time my son graduates (from college, magna cum laude)!

Journey of a mother's devotion
A mother can usually sense if there is a problem with her child -- but what if the solution is not right in front of you? In this book you'll follow the personal experiences of a courageous mother, Karen Foli, and her son Ben.

The book, "Like Sound Through Water: A Mother's Journey Through Auditory Processing Disorder," by Karen Foli, allows readers to follow along on Karen's personal journey during her young son's life. You'll be there at her son's birth; read about the problems Ben has at school; and read about the numerous testing and therapy sessions. Through all of this, Karen has had her share of doubt and disappointments. She knew that Ben was different from other children -- that he wasn't developing as they were. His speech was delayed and he had trouble communicating. Despite negative test results by schools and misdiagnoses by doctors, Karen continued to look for answers. She finally found them from an audiologist, who discovered that Ben had an auditory processing disorder (APD). Ben had problems processing sounds.

... the author's words speak to the reader like a close friend. It'll bring you on an emotional, personal and triumphant journey of a mother's struggle to find answers about her son. You'll understand how powerful a mother's love and devotion is, and you'll also learn a great deal about auditory processing disorder.

Concerned Professional
The message this book brings about is simply that of a parent and the family's journey. The underlying experience is important. APD has so many components that are unique to each child, it is unjust to think this is the "typical outcome". Ms. Foli seems abrupt at times but I also think many of those who don't understand APD, but would lead a parent to believe they do, leads to much frustration. As far as APD being a motor speech disorder, not sure I whole heartedly buy that one... Autism is very different, but those who display Autism can definately and often display APD qualities. APD is not a stand-alone, rest-your-hat-on-this-one type of disorder. But many with who display mainly APD qualities are productive successful citizens, I consider myself one of them. If you have been told your child will not be, get a second opinion. It is not a cookie-cutter disorder. Each child is unique. Take this book for what it is, one mom's journey, but realize your own may take on similarities but also my have very different turns. Borrow this book, it is a good read, but only for the one time you will read it...want something to sink your teeth into?? Look up Terri Bellis...

Loved this book!!!