Understanding Multiple Sclerosis Builds Hope

by Carol Keller Fuquay, MS
Illustrations by Christine Gralapp, MA
Reviewed by MS Specialists

376 pages Large Print, Published by Xlibris
Available at Amazon for $24.99/soft cover; $34.99/hard cover

Reviewed by LizOP
MSWorld Book Reviewer

The author has Progressive Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis and has been researching for this book since 1997. The illustrations by Gralapp are clear and almost animated, which makes them interesting to see. A very good addition to this book, to be certain.

One of the goals for Fuquay's book appears to be to take clinical information and make it understandable by scientists and the non-scientific patients with MS. I admire her extensive research and clear writing. The large font is also easy to read.

Some of her facts noted have already shifted and changed since she began researching in 1997. An example is in the preface where she writes that she is one of 300,000 people in the U.S. with MS. The newer statistic is 400,000, but even that number is not entirely accurate. A book of this nature would need to be written and re-written almost continually to keep up with medical advances.

In Fuquay's foreword, she writes the purpose of her book is "to describe research on improving current and developing future, treatments that will more effectively slow or stop the progression of MS . . ." She states her information is derived from peer-reviewed journal articles to ensure accuracy and pass on information to other scientists . . .

One issue that puzzled me, was the construction of the book. One must read through a Book Summary, Preface, Foreward (which should be spelled forewOrd), Introduction, and extensive acknowledgements and Table of Contents = 28 pages total - before reading any of the actual book. I found it cumbersome.

The book has a wealth of knowledge and might be better touted as a resource book to pick up and read about a single topic. The undertaking of this book and then self-publishing must have been awesome and I admire Fuquay for her accomplishment. And if you are an adult who still likes to look at pictures in books, the illustrations will fulfill that need, along with clarifying text.

In conclusion, I will say her title is very true - knowledge is power - and her book will add to the reader's understanding of MS which can only build hope for a future cure or better management of MS.

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