Epilepsy Books

If you are looking to explore the origins and sometimes bizarre characteristics of temporal lobe epilepsy, this is the book for you. Eve LaPlante takes the reader through territory seldom delt with in other publications about temporal lobe epilepsy.
A historical perspective gives a somewhat detailed glimpse into the lives of notible figures such as Van Gogh, Dostoevsky, Tennyson, Lewis Carroll and other famous people thought to have suffered from temporal lobe epilepsy.
Symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy are discussed in detail with particular attention to hyperreligiosity and spiritual beliefs. In particular, out of body experiences and deja vu, which are common experiences in TLE, are given great attention and reinforce what sufferers already know to be true - these are episodes that occur with powerful and long-lasting consequences, both socially and morally. Hypergraphia, the tendency to produce a large amount of written or visually drawn material is covered in depth and is both entertaining and probing in it's analysis.
Clinically, the sufferer of TLE is often diagnosed as having a variety of psychiatric illnesses, including schizophrenia, mood disorder and bipolar disorder due to the wide variety of symptoms as well as the often bizarre presentations. Contemporary patients are profiled as a complement to help the reader visualize some of the aspects of TLE's effect on the personality of it's sufferer.
There are some passages in the book that are a little repetitive, but in general, I found this to be an indespensible resource for anyone interested in learning more about TLE.

I have had temporal lobe epilepsy for as long as I can remember. My seizures started when I was a baby. I have always had tonic clonic seizures, too, but not until I was an adult did I even learn that the other unusual experiences that I was having were complex partial and simple partial seizures. I was afraid to ask other people if they also had these strange experiences, but they didn't appear to.

After I was diagnosed with TLE I found other people with epilepsy to talk to online. For the first time ever, I knew that I was not the only person on earth who lived this way. Some of the feelings of isolation subsided. Then someone recommended Eve La Plante's book. I am so grateful. I think that a person who has TLE will have a different experience when they read this book than other people will. For me, and others who have written about it on forums related to epilepsy on the internet, it is a revelation. It is an affirmation. It offers some explanation. It has been a moving experience.

To read it and recognize some of the traits of Geschwind's syndrome in myself was a relief, in a way. People who don't have epilepsy seem to think that it only involves occasional convulsions, but the truth is that a person with epilepsy, and certainly TLE, is affected by it every minute of their lives. The research discussed in this book acknowledges and confirms that and offers an explanation. Yes, I am different, and this is why. Oddly, I am relieved.

So many books about epilepsy are written from the perspective of a doctor, a doctor lecturing the patient and their family. 'This is what you must do, this is what you must never do, you're just going to have to accept that you can't do that.' If you have read one, you've read them all, really. It comes across in a condescending way, and for those of us who were not diagnosed recently, they're not very helpful. Seized is different. It goes deeper. It's not intended to be a textbook or an introduction to life with epilepsy. It discusses more interesting things than 'Don't swim alone.' It provides insight into the connection between brain structure and personality. As a person with TLE, I found this book to be a fascinating, exhilerating read. I highly recommend it.

This is actually the first non-medical book on epilepsy that I read (several years ago). I was fascinated with the possibilities that the author described, especially in regards to the epilepsy personality (chapter 5). It was particularly useful as a tool to help family and friends of a person afflicted with epilepsy understand that the person may not have as much control over their behavior all of the time as the other family members might think. Once you abandon the expectation that the individual will act normally all of the time, and understand that there are going to be some abnormal behavior patterns, there can progress in dealing with the problems.
The other chapters are informative as well. All in all an interesting and useful book. I recommend it.

This book is superb. I wonder if those that do not agree have epilepsy? I have TLE and agree with many things in the book. Who cares about the book not being "perfect". Everyone is allowed their own opinion.

The few medical terms used in describing Epilepsy are well defined and understandable. The functioning of the brain in epileptics is well described and the disorder can be well understood; the treatment and care an epileptic needs and responds to is clear and shown to be simple. Being an epileptic for 51 years, I now have a good appreciation for the causes of what I have gone through and the improvements in diagnosing and minimizing epilepsy.

I ordered this book with high extectations. I heard the author interviewed on a local radio station and read the reviews on this website. It all seemed quite positive. I ordered a copy for myself and for members of my bookclub. Unfortunately, the book really is dreadful. I returned all copies to Amazon for a refund. This is the first time I've ever done that. There are two problems with the book. First, it is poorly written. You as the reader will have to work hard to get through it. Most sentences have a strange and painful construction. There is a beginning clause followed by a comma, then another clause elaborating on the first clause, then another comma with a third clause elaborating on either the first or the second clause. Get the idea. Do you want to read a whole book like this? Worse, what could have been an interesting story comes across as dull and lifeless. Clearly the writer thinks plopping down all these abbreviated ancedotes of people and things from his life will be very entertaining. Sadly, it reads as a rambling scattershot. Order the book and you will work hard to read it while asking yourself why you are spending your time doing it

Running From The Devil: A Memoir Of A Boy Possessed is the personal testimony of Steve Kissing, a Catholic school student who grew up during the 1970's with problematic seizures and a sure inner conviction that the Devil was striving for his soul. Instead of seeking help, Steve stayed silent out of fear, and Running From The Devil is the memorable story of his struggle to keep his sanity through hallucinations and the difficulties of growing up.

I just finished reading Running From The Devil. I couldn't put it down. Steve writes about his experiences growing up and thinking he is possesed with the devil, in all actuality he is having seizures. This book was both sad and at the same time histerical. I can remember growing up the same era he did and doing some of dorky things that he did, but not with the demons that he experienced. I am a nurse at a seizure clinic and have heard similar stories to Steve's. I can hardly wait to share his stories/experiences with our patients and reassure them they are not the only ones who experience these weird episodes. I highy recommend this book to all who have seizures or know someone who has them. It really gives insight to what that person is experiencing.

A very honest and funny insight into the mind of an adolescent still caught partially in a childlike, literal understanding of the world, as he progresses to the more rational world of an adult. It's fascinating to see how the author's interpretation and understanding of his affliction are influenced by his environment, in this case his Catholic faith. A true life bildungsroman with both funny and poignant moments, this book has universal appeal. What resonated with me was seeing how our childlike interpretations so significantly effect our development (and no doubt continue to do so). One is left wondering whether this particular guy's crazy interpretations of events were such a bad thing for him after all. A really enjoyable read.

At first you don't think young Stevie Kissing is going to win. But somehow, in the strangest of adolescent maneuverings, he does. You must read this memoir to find out how. And you will rarely stop when you begin reading. In Running with the Devil, an older, wiser Steve Kissing looks back with brilliant narrative drive to a delusional childhood. He chronicles the unruly effects of not a lapsed Catholic childhood, but one that was given to inadvertant bouts of, well, hallucinations, bad dreams, and unreliable goals. And he captures in utter poignancy and hilarity what it means to feel ostracized and clearly puzzled by a strange affliction obsessing him.

It's this juggling act of emotions that occurs with the reader and in the prose that give this memoir the brilliant edge the best creative nonfiction offers. You often don't think young Steve Kissing is going to win, but he does, and once you start in - as I said before - you are not leaving his side as a reader who shadows every page with him.

I loved Seizure Free from page one until the end. Ms. Chilton takes you on a journey through her experiences with having seizures and through her success with brain surgery. I recommend this book for anyone looking for hope. This book will definitely give you Hope! My family loved it, too!

Chilton writes a highly informative and helpful book on brain surgery for the correction of epileptic seizures. It gives medical information that I, as a brain surgery survivor for epilepsy also, did not have before reading the book. I found this book highly helpful and recommend it to any approaching an opportunity for surgery. --- author, Stephanie S. Sawyer,FACING ME, Breaking the Bonds of Seizure Confinement

This book is an amazing first person account of one woman's journey, but it is much more than that. Ms. Chilton offers all of us an example of the kind of heart and spirit that it takes to overcome adversity and to triumph over it. I read it cover to cover in one day, unable to put it down. Once completing the book, I was left with a feeling of warmth and joy. It was as if I had come through the journey with Ms. Chilton myself. This is a MUST read for anyone dealing with this themselves. But it is also very entertaining, enlightening, enriching and inspirational. I would be remise if I didn't also mention how thorough, well organized and wonderfully written this book is. Ms. Chilton is obviously one amazing woman. It took a great deal of courage and caring for her to offer herself to help others in this way. I hope there is more to come, I would love to read a follow up.

It's nice to read about others experiences going through the unusual process. I have to disagree with her on one thing though. She said that society looks down on you, questions your intelligence and sanity..I NEVER had that problem, probably because I'm a serious smart alec. I guess I have experienced a couple that initially might have questioned my intelligence, but they were judgmental about many others too, so I didnt take it to heart.
Very comforting, nice to hear about others getting their lives together after having part of the brain (intelligence) removed.
Easier said than done. Another good read on the subject: I Had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse by Suzy Becker ISBN-10: 0761124780
Neurofeedback is very helpful for brain injuries. If you are interested in neurofeedback, eegspectrum can refer you to a neurofeedback therapist in your area. If you want to try neurofeedback at home, biof has great deals.
I also have a couple of listmania lists for increasing brain power fyi.

Leanne Chilton's victory is revealed through an emotional journey of chilling, revealing passages into a world many have never understood. It is true that this is must-have information for those suffering seizure disorders. But it is equally true that it speaks of the silent acts of valor that go unseen for their grace and determination. Seizure disorders needn't have touched one's life to draw strength and inspiration from this remarkable work.

I met Mindy and I think she is wonderful. I just wish she had chosen me as someone with epilepsy, and survival skills, for her focus and skill. I would be a good alive role model. I have taken over 32,000 pills and had an amazing life, with bringing up my daughters alone,independent travelling, running three London marathons, doing 12 Tall Ship Trips, being shot twice, kidnapped twice, arrested once, cardiac arrest once,Parachute jump, Hang gliding down a mountain in New Zealand, 7 Christmases with the homeless in London and loads more..

For those of us living with and loving individuals with disabilities this graceful novel gives voice to our silent fears in hopeful transmutation. Brilliantly crafted characters you need to meet draw you into their lives with gorgeus narratives examining perennial questions of why this life? Why me? Why these circumstances? The answers you are free to derive. The author's hidden message to slow life down, to know the other essentially will hold you in a spell as you turn each page. Please read this and give to any one you love.

I never knew much if anything about epilepsy, but this informative and touching novel enlightened me tremendously.

Mindy did an excellent job in writing this lovely book "A Dance in the Desert." I am very intrigued with new authors and always love reading their first novels. I must say that Mindy's command of words and ability to write about such a sensitive issue was phenomenal. This book you will not want to put down.

As a reader, she made me aware of how people treat individuals that have epilepsy. I am ashamed of how individuals can be so insensitive.

Her characters were wonderful and I was always cheering for their success.

A worderful thing to note is that a portion of her profits are being donated to the Epilespy Foundation and I applaud her in her selfless efforts as a writer.

A Dance In The Desert by novelist Mindy Gibbins-Klein is a nicely crafted story of a man who searches for love, happiness, and a stable home life while coping with debilitating epilepsy. Set against the harsh yet majestic beauty of the Arizona desert, A Dance In The Desert embraces the spirit of friendship in an increasingly remote modern world, and pulls the heart with a star-crossed love affair. Highly recommended reading from an author who, within the context of her own life, has experienced the loss of two close friends to epilepsy.

Excellent chapters on music and self esteem. Quality, quantity of references leaves some credibility to be desired.

I recommend this book as a place to get started in learning about epilepsy. Although it is not very scientific, there are no outlandish claims. It presents a realistic picture of epilepsy and a reasonable approach to dealing with it.

On page 9 the author states that she believes that a combination of methods (neuro-feedback, positive thinking, increasing self esteem, yoga, correct nutrition, stress management, spirituality, music and regular exercise) helped her overcome her seizures.

The details are spelled out in chapters 2-9. Chapter 10 is a nice outline summary of her thoughts. It can serve nicely as a guide for people searching for ways to better deal with their epilepsy.

The comments about traditional medical treatment are honest and respectful. The chapter on medication and side effects is unfortunately quite out of date considering that the book is copyright 2004. In fact, none of the newer and very popular medications (felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine, topiramate and zonisamide) are even mentioned. In spite of that glaring omission, I recommend it as a great place to start.

This is a must read for anyone who has epilepsy or dealing with someone who has epilepsy. There are many facts and suggestions that are common sense and is very informative and encouraging!

Fletcher's book offers a human glimpse of epilepsy through her personal experiences and her triumph over it.
Whether you're a medical practitioner or an an ordinary citizen, this book offers pertinent, up-to-date information about treatment.
If you, a family member of friend suffers from epilepsy, this is a must read.

I highly recommend The Challenge of Epilepsy by Sally Fletcher to anyone who is dealing with epilepsy or has a loved one with epilepsy. Lots of very good information! Many varied and outstanding suggestions!!
Max Beavers

Intended for women with epilepsy who plan to become pregnant, this title combines the patient and clinician perspective on information women should receive from neurologists/epileptologists and obstetricians in a short, image-free text. Stacey Chillemi has epilepsy and is a mother of three and a Helping Other People with Epilepsy (H.O.P.E.) Mentor for the Epilepsy Foundation. Dr. Blanca Vazquez is a New York University neurologist who has published on epilepsy, but not in relation to pregnancy.

Much of the content about pregnancy is not unique. The value is in the focus on issues that affect epileptic mothers. Personal sharing is labeled, however issues raised in these sections--for example, the relationship between heat exposure and seizures--are not always addressed in the regular text. The discussion around antiepileptic drugs (AED), seizure prevention, and birth defects is somewhat confusing. Variations of generic drug names, such as sodium valproate, valproic acid, or just valproate, are used at different places; closer attention to editing would have caught the use of gapapentin instead of gabapentin. Birth defect risk content is supplied in multiple places, but could have been better structured with the drug names and rates to facilitate understanding.

The narrative refers to many studies, but they are not tied to the extensive bibliography. The most recent references are from 2002. Appendix A lists organizations and Appendix B describes the AED Pregnancy Registry. A glossary and index with cross-referencing round out the content. Two sets of guidelines--one for clinicians and one for pregnant women with epilepsy--provide take home messages. Epilepsy and Pregnancy is a helpful introduction to pregnancy for epileptic women, but will need to be read carefully and in consultation with care providers.

Epilepsy And Pregnancy
Stacey Chillemi & Blanca Vazquez

Expertly written by Stacey Chillemi. It is informative and easily accessible reference for all women who have epilepsy

I was really impressed with this book. There are a lot of questions when you are wanting to have a baby and you have epilepsy and this is the best book I've found. It gives you information in layman's terms which I found fantastic. It doesn't scare you from having a baby and gives you great stories from other people's experiences. I would recommend and pass on this book to anyone I knew that was trying to have a family in my condition. GET IT!!

"Expertly co-authored by Stacey Chillemi and Blanca Vazquez...Epilepsy and Pregnancy provides a superb presentation for everything epileptic women must know about having children...truly, an invaluable reference for all women wishing for more informatin on the risks of childbirth and care with epilepsy."--Midwest Book Review
"The authors keep the pracitcal and pragmatic in mind as they describe preconception counseling, fertility, risks, the pregnancy process itself, nutrition, labor and delivery, post-delivery, and breast feeding."--SciTech Book News

Expertly co-authored by Stacey Chillemi (H.O.P.E. Mentor for the Epilepsy Foundation and epileptic mother) and Blanca Vazquez (Director of Clinical Trials and Outpatient Services at the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at New York University) Epilepsy And Pregnancy: What Every Woman With Epilepsy Should Know is an informed and easily accessible reference for all women who have epilepsy and are any of one of the stages of their pregnancy. Epilepsy And Pregnancy provides an superb presentation for everything epileptic women must know about having children, including fertility, pregnancy risks to mother and fetus, nutrition and keeping fit, expectations during pregnancy, fetal development, and labor and delivery. An invaluable addition to personal and community library Health & Medicine collect-ions, Epilepsy And Pregnancy is truly an invaluable reference for all women wishing for more information on the risks of childbirth and care with epilepsy.

The information in this book surpassed any expectation I had. What a helpful resource this book is. It explains what seizures are, clearly, for the nonscientist, and then goes on to explain how a diagnosis is arived at. The book continues with advice on living with a partial seizure disorder, dealing with school, jobs, etc., and what kinds of treatments (medical and less traditional) there are available. There is not a wasted page in this book. All of the information is valuable and helpful. If you need a book to help you understand partial seizure disorders, this book will satisfy most every need.

This book is informative on all aspects of partial seizure disorders, from discovery to diagnosis and treatment. I loved how easy it was to read. I read this book in less than 2 days! My only disappointment is that the book didn't touch a little more on the psychological impact of the disorders (and subsequent consequences).

.......with basic factual info. A must have if you were recently diagnosed with partial seizures.

When searching through libraries for information on epilepsy, I've always been able to find a lot of information on generalized seizures and little to no information on partial seizures. There is usually only a paragraph or two on them in books that primarily address other kinds of epilepsy. After repeatedly coming across the same information -- information I already knew -- I was getting tired of looking. Then I found this book, which is the exact opposite -- it is almost entirely about partial seizures, with a few paragraphs at the beginning about generalized seizures.

There need to be more books like this. It lives up to the same high standards as the computer guides by the same publisher. It presents information in a clear, easy-to-read way without dumbing it down or omitting crucial details.

The different kinds of seizures are described, and background information is provided about the functions of different parts of the brain. Causes of seizures, from seizure disorders to environmental factors, are discussed, along with speculative theories about 'kindling'. The connections with migraines are explored. There is a large section on medications, with detailed and important information about each one. I learned in that section that a newer version of a medication I currently take is under development, with fewer side-effects. While I am currently free of the more annoying side-effects, that is information I might want in the future. There is also a section on alternative treatments.

The book does not stop at this technical information, though. It also contains a lot of practical advice. There is an entire section on how to communicate with your doctor about getting a diagnosis and treatment, with a number of useful tips. There are quotes throughout the book from people with epilepsy, detailing both the experience of having seizures and the social experience of dealing with stigma and discrimination. It talks about people who go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for a long time, and several dimensions of the emotional effects of having seizures. These were some of the most valuable parts of the book for me. Besides descriptions of the social and emotional aspects of having epilepsy, strategies and solutions are provided. There are sections on both work and school, as well as alternate sources of income for people unable to work. The author makes an effort to include information relevant to as many countries as possible.

I have never seen this much information on partial seizures in one place before. I would like to see books like this for all kinds of seizures, partial and generalized, rare and common. Too often the unusual (or not-talked-about) kinds of seizures fall by the wayside in discussions of the more stereotypical tonic-clonic and absence seizures. This book not only fills a needed gap in epilepsy literature, but it does so in a readable and accessible style, so you don't need to be a neurologist to decipher it. It is definitely a useful resource for me as a person with this kind of seizures, and it looks like it would be equally useful to parents and family. This will stay on my shelf as a valuable reference.

Anyone whose life is significantly impacted by partial seizures, whether directly or indirectly, should own this book. This is the only book that I have come across that specifically addresses partial seizures (simple and complex), and as such it is tremendously valuable to parents, friends, family members, and people who have Epilpesy themselves. It seems that books on Epilepsy are either very cheap (and broad and shallow in scope) or extremely expensive (and bordering on encyclopedic), but this book falls nicely in the middle. It weighs in at a reasonable price and provides a wealth of information that an interested person might otherwise only find by sifting through a large volume.

I have read this book twice and I was still learning as I read it the second time. It includes lots of personal accounts, both by people who have seizures and caregivers (mostly parents of children with seizures). I think that these varied accounts provide a great deal of insight, particularly for those who don't themselves have seizures but must face its issues. The book includes lots of resources in terms of books, addresses, websites, and organizations, and also includes a good section on insurance issues. If your life is affected by partial seizures, you should have this book.

Not recommended. The information given is ridiculously basic, and can be provided in a single chapter of Seized by Eve LaPlante or Partial Seizure Disorders by Mitzi Waltz, both highly superior and actually informative books. I can't figure out if Wilner's condescending by nature, or if he's just overcompensating for the anticipated lowest common denominator.

I'll give it two stars instead of one simply because someone out there may genuinely not know things this basic - but if you've been diagnosed with epilepsy, your doctor probably told you more about your disorder in the first five minutes of the appointment than you'll get in this entire book.

Readers will find this book to be very helpful, as it spells out in very simplistic terms the answers to the questions that they may or may not have thought of yet (definitions, clarifications, listings of medicines). It is a quick read as it is broken down into questions with the corresponding answers. This is a great resource for obtaining the basics on epilepsy, especially for a newly diagnosed patient. It also contains contact information for national organizations.

Readers will find this book to be very helpful, as it spells out in very simplistic terms the answers to the questions that they may or may not have thought of yet. This is a great resource for obtaining the basics on epilepsy, especially for a newly diagnosed patient.

I am so impressed with the book because it answers in very plain english, the questions a person needs to know first-off when diagnosed. The questions address not only the concerns of a person with epilepsy, but it also addresses issues that family members might want to know. The Health Record is a great way to help patients help themselves get more out of their doctor visits. The Drug and Medical Information lists important numbers of drug companies so that a person can obtain more information about the drugs they take. The resource guide is worth the book alone as it lists support groups, organizations, comprehensive epilepsy centers, summer camps, and other important contacts not just nation-wide, but internationally. Knowledge points the way to a better diagnosis with epilepsy and what questions this book doesn't address, it guides you to sources that will answer the rest.

This book has a lot of good info and is written in laymens terms so it is easy to understand.

For someone who's just learned they or a loved one has Epilepsy, this is a VERY useful book. I was diagnosed 7 years ago and have done plenty of research on my own, but I still learned some things from this book.

Well this book shows a lot about epilepsy for people who know nothing about it! It is a great book for everyone who wants to know anything

this book provides a good background on the legal issues surrounding multiple sclerosis. it's written to help people with ms navigate the legal waters and its written for caregivers to also help. it is not an academic text. it doesn't go into detail regarding legislation or case law. this is a very good book that can be helpful to someone with ms.

This book mades the process understandable. Also, the personal aspects of the book are very familiar to me. I appreciate the author for including the personal details.