Book Reviews

Evaluate, Adapt, And Overcome: Accept No Limits in Life Post date: 01/23/2012 - 9:40am I struggled to summarize this book because there are so many tidbits that you can’t sum it all up. But Mr. Mattice does a wonderful job in his introduction. He says ‘OK! Here’s the bottom line; contained within these covers I share what took me a great deal of time, aggravation, heartache and a good deal of money to find ways to make the challenges easier and the results more effective…….the hard way.’	It's Not All In Your Head: Anxiety, Depression, Mood Swings, and Multiple Sclerosis Post date: 01/18/2012 - 4:35pm This book covers what the title indicates. The author explains MS, talks about the mind body connection, depression, anxiety, and techniques you may be able to use to "help yourself".
What Nurses Know... Multiple Sclerosis Post date: 11/13/2011 - 4:27pm This is a good book for anyone with MS – whether you’ve had it for years or are newly diagnosed. It provides easy to understand information about what MS is; how it’s diagnosed and treated; how exacerbations are treated; and alternative and complementary treatment options. It also talks about ‘who to tell, when to tell and whether to tell’ and the unique issues MS brings to all relationships.	Find the Upside of the Down Times Post date: 11/11/2011 - 2:55pm The subtitle of this book is ‘How to Turn Your Worst Experiences Into Your Best Opportunities’ and I agree! Dr. Pennington reveals some of the key stories from his life - getting shot, paying the huge medical bill, getting fired, negative business downturns, an IRS audit, and a potential divorce as some of the best things to ever happen to him. While living with his wife’s MS diagnosis and the eventual loss of his wife to MS was not one of the best things, he learned a great deal about life and himself.
Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto: Action To Take, Principles to Live By by Julie Stachowiak, PhD. Post date: 09/23/2011 - 3:17pm This book is AMAZING. Being newly diagnosed with MS, this book was a wonderful explanation of many different aspects of MS. It includes discussions and explanations of what the disease is, your symptoms, issues with the choice and utilization of your doctor, treatment options, enjoying life, relationships, and emotions.	Rising Up! My Recovery from Multiple Sclerosis, Disability and Despair by Anna York Post date: 09/22/2011 - 6:40pm When I first read this title, my reaction was 'Recovery? What kind of snake oil is this?' I am so glad I read on. Mrs. York does not claim to have a cure for MS. She does not say that she no longer has MS. What she does tell us are the ways she used to recover her strength, stop using a wheelchair, and be drug-free interwoven with her powerful story of faith, joy, hope and love.
A Shakespearan View of Freud Post date: 08/08/2011 - 9:41am Part prose, part play; A Shakespearean View of Freud has all the elements of Shakespearean tragedy. It’s a story of a man, his wives/girlfriends, a shoe fetish and the revenge he seeks from all women for the sins of one.	Life Interrupted: It's Not All About Me Post date: 07/29/2011 - 12:46pm This is a very easy to read account of a man with MS, whose behaviors led to a divorce. He now realizes that his own emotional response to having MS had a very negative impact on the people around him. His hope is that by expressing what he feels went wrong with his marriage, and his contributions to that sad ending, he can prevent others from making the same mistakes. Chris Tatevosian is imploring those of us with MS to realize that while we are the one suffering from the disease, MS is having a dramatic impact on loved ones around us.
Managing Multiple Sclerosis Naturally, a Self-help Guide to Living with MS Post date: 07/19/2011 - 11:35pm This book is packed full of ways you can proactively, and naturally, manage your MS. Judy Graham has had MS for over 35 years and is still walking and working. She attributes her good health primarily to following the right diet and maintaining emotional health. One of her goals in writing this book was to simply provide healthier ways to live your life.	The Empowered Patient by Elizabeth Cohen Post date: 07/07/2011 - 4:51pm Cohen defines a “Bad Patient” as one who asks lots of questions, doesn’t worry if their doctor likes them and remembers that a doctor/patient relationship is a business relationship. Cohen recommends that we all become “Bad Patients” and be our own health-care advocate!...