Multiple-Sclerosis Books

I want to congratulate Amelia Davis on creating a book that is different from all of the other MS books. Her book reaches into the lives of people living with MS and shares some of the feelings that caregivers and friends experience as well.

This is a wonderfully unique look at the amazing people who are challeged by this disease and how they live extraordinary lives in spite of it. Amelia's photography is a window into this world, her work is "present" and revealing of who people are.

Davis reaches the inner soul of the reader--regardless of whether or not you have MS. Her photographs capture the essence of the folks who share their stories. I was touched and inspired by this book!

Ameila Davis is a documentary photographer, diagnosed with MS in 1998.

Though titled "My Story", this book is really "their stories". In this book, she uses her trained eye to illustrate 32 essays personally portraying the lives of men and women with Multiple Sclerosis.

They range from 17 to 70, across a spectrum of ethnicities, genders, occupations, socio-economic backgrounds and family circumstances.

Through her book, Amelia captures the unique approach each person has used to frame their chronic disease with, not only a positive attitude, but with a positive approach to life.

She also includes the caregivers ... those frequently forgotten in the struggle with MS and all chronic disease.

Her essays help others to see, through the stories of real people, the different possible treatments and therapies and the techniques for coping (such as exercise, yoga, creative activities and competitive sports).

Her photographs capture the people behind these essays, putting a real face, a personal face, on what is often discussed in impersonal, clinical terms. You don't just read their story; you are drawn into a human connection with them.

This is a book to buy and read. And it is also a book to buy and display, a coffee table book.

Discussing MS with friends and family can be difficult. Chronic disease can create a "distance", a separation. This book can help to bridge that gap.

As someone picks up this book to browse and becomes captured by the photographs, it can crack the door to an open conversation about MS, about what it means and about how lives continue after diagnosis.

I happen to have MS and one of the problems of having a little understood illness is the distance it creates in one's personal relationships. Even with friends and family.

I now have a copy of "My Story" on my coffee table and I'm truly amazed by the number of people who, because of the presence of the book, are finally able to speak and ask questions about MS . They glance through the book and suddenly a dialog window opens.

The photos are superb, respectful and celebratory at the same time and every person's essay is different. I highly recommend the book.

I was fortunate to have been photographed by Amelia Davis in her new book about Multiple Sclerosis. Amelia traveled all over the country interviewing physically challenged individuals and their care givers. In doing so, she composed an enlightening yet very touching collection of stories, all through the eye of her camera. Her choice of black and white photos added another dimension and increased the already dramatic content. I was very skeptical that photos could capture the anguish I sometimes feel or capture the love and concern my care givers provide but I am now a believer! Her artistic eye caught the underlying emotions and all while we quietly talked and laughed among ourselves.

Many of Amelia's photographs portray some of the more difficult aspects of the disease, how many young people have learned to live with what is often a chronic illness. Her photographs also show how indiscriminate MS really is and how, like myself, you too could walk up one morning numb and tingling from head to toe. For me, the most healing aspect of the book was how others handled their emotional difficulties. Early on, I felt as if I was being punished for mishandling something in my past. I felt lonely and isolated due to my new differences. However, like many of the other biographies, I too have learned that 'attitude is everything' and that you alone are capable of taking the 'limits' out of limitations.

The book's addition of the often forgotten care giver was an extremely refreshing aspect of her book. I always thank my husband for having made the decision to stay but so little credit is given to these unselfish individuals. It is easy to take others for granted until your welfare is suddenly out of your control.

I gave Amelia a five star rating not because I was included in her book but because her photographs speak for themselves! Even if you are not faced with a chronic illness, the biographies will touch you with their uncensored frankness. Amelia walked in and out of my life but her pictures captured a fleeting glance, pose or emotion that explains to others the essence of that particular moment in time...

Great work, Amelia!!!

I felt better knowing that my fears with my illness are not mine alone.

I recently read this book, and I can't honestly say that I liked it. I too have been diagnosed with MS. I'm happy that Mr. Lander can find humor in his condition, however I find nothing he had to say not in the least bit funny.

MS is a terrible diease that affects the Central Nervous System and there's nothing funny about that. Even the title of the book is seriously upsetting(How Squiggy caught Multiple Sclerosis and Didn't Tell Nobody). You can't catch MS, and to put that in print is misleading.

I take my MS, the treatment for it, and all the symptoms very seriously. I have no desire to joke about them.

Some of the information in his book were very informative and very much worth reading, however I believe his approach is less than ideal.

When my father finally told me he had MS (like David Lander, he kept it a secret), he suggested I read this book. The insight it gave me was priceless. Everyone will find their own path, but I can tell you that by sharing his experiences, Mr. Lander has helped me to be the best son (and friend) that I can be.

I just loved this book. It is a very quick read and very upbeat. For someone with MS or caring for someone with MS it is a story you can relate to. My husband was recently diagnosed with MS and has been very reluctant to read anything about the disease. I am going to have him read this book because while I whink it might confirm some of his fears, at the same time it does so in a positive manner.

The book is a quick read. Sometimes you feel very alone with MS. This book will help you feel better. And, it explains some of the MS symptoms that you are experiencing better than a medical text. It will put some words on your feelings.

I was diagnosed finally about 5 years ago. Since then I have read everythinng, including two or three cookbooks and several full length books on MS.

I found Ann Sawyer's book to be accurate, up to the minute, and supremely hopeful. And the diet is specific enough to try at once. I am deeply grateful to the authors and all those who shared their experience and hope. I will be healthier in mind, body and spirit for the companionship in this book.

The authors have something helpful to share, and its a gift to MS readers. They have MS themselves, and describe their personal journeys of disease disability, then discovery and recovery, using dietary modifications. They inform us that the medical establishment currently falls short. There's no money in dietary research. At least for some, there is new hope of recovery. I recommend this book anyone with MS who has the ability, will power really, to make some dietary changes. Then, if improvement results, educate the neurologists about this book.

Phenomenal book. Gives direction and a lot of hope dealing with a disease where there is not a lot of hope given (especially by physicians). Enjoyed the personal stories, the recipes, opinions of the authors. Would highly recommend this book to those interested in getting well.

I really enjoyed this book and I am grateful that this book is available at all, when you are faced with an incurable disease the most important thing is finding some hope and gaining some control back over your life.

This book is great for that.

I was really hoping for more specific guidelines though, for example.

How to prepare for an ELISA test (if this is possible)
Where to get an ELISA test done.
Start off with X,Y,Z suppliments.
Eliminate one food group at a time.
Common alternatives to common (problem) foods are ...
Staying strong and avoiding temptations (there are a few excellent ideas on this in the book but I felt that they could have been restated towards the end of the book)

I understand that this information IS in the book but I just felt that after reading it I needed more guidance.

Changing your diet is hard enough - when you have such a deeply compelling reason for changing it I feel that one cannot have too much guidance in acheiving it.

I feel extremely lucky to have found this book. When I was diagnosed with MS in October 2007, I instinctively became very careful with my diet because of past health problems due to food (Celiac's,food allergies & sensitivies).

But there were things I didn't know in regards to food & MS. This book explains why diet is important & how different foods effect MS. I also enjoyed reading all the personal case histories of real MS patients who have tried this diet.

I plan on staying on this diet the rest of my life. (I want to do everything possible for me to achieve the best possible outcome, so I also take one of the MS drugs (Avonex) in addition to this diet.)

Also, this book explained more to me about the disease of MS than all the neurologist's I have seen put together. I am deeply grateful to Ann Sawyer & Judith Bachrach for writing this book...Thank You!

Mary and her husband have ,thankfully, not suffered in vain. LDN which came to my notice through this book has significantly improved my health which had been detiorating for several years. I am so grateful to Dr. Bihari for bringing LDN to people like me who suffer from auto immune disorders. This treatment which is safe and inexpensive has been an answer to my prayers.The symptoms which I had already developed still come and go but much less frequently than before. Most importantly , no new symptoms have developed since I started taking LDN. I am able to more fully enjoy life with my husband and our 5 children without being in pain and exhausted all the time. I only wish that G.Ps in Britain would do their homework and prescribe this drug more readily. I have personally encountered a lot of ignorance and arrogance among some GPs who know little about the treatment and are unwilling to learn. Thankfully in the Republic of Ireland it is more widely known and available. It can be prescribed safely to women who are trying to conceive and at 4.5 mg can be taken safely during pregnancy.If you suffer from any auto immune disorder or suspect that you do, I would urge you to read this book and try LDN. If your GP won't prescribe it , don't give up. I obtained my treatment through a private prescription and it is well worth the £28 per month.Anyone who has been helped by LDN should publicise the treatment as widely as possible. I really feel that we have duty to help others who might benefit.
THANK YOU MARY - KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !

Sometimes clear and definite personal experiences "anecdotes" are better proof than cloudy "gold standard" research. Though formal medical research is still in early stages, a neurologist who refuses to use "unproven" LDN for MS amd Crohn's disease is needlessly letting his patients suffer and decline. This book is in agreement with many other "anecdotal" sources that this is a more effective treatment than the expensive (profitable) and painful drug treatments the doctors demand. I (author of HONEST NUTRITON) have a niece and two close friends with MS and several with Crohn's. They should get this safe and effective treatment. Thank you, Mary Bradley, for writing a very clear, readable, and convincing book.

After 10 years of traditional therapy I decided after a lot of research to try LDN. The book was easy and enjoyable to read. Shared with my support group. This treatment has some remarkable success but little support
since trials are rarely done. It would be fantastic to have an inexpensive drug recognized for its positive benefit on chronic debilitating illnesses. We need the $$$$ signs to go out of the drug companies mentality and push to investigate and be positive on helping so many who struggle daily. Maybe more success stories need to be published.

I was diagnosed with MS in July 05 at 29. In Jan of 06 I ended up paralyzed from the waist down due to an severe exacerbation. I was not on any of the C.R.A.B. drugs at the time, but was using holistic remedies that I had read about. After getting out of the hospital I went on Copaxone. While it seemed to help, I was not thrilled about taking a shot everyday nor the $3000 a month cost of the medication. I was relentless when it came to looking for other therapies. I stumbled on this book by just searching for literature on MS here on Amazon. The book looked unassuming, but the title was too intriquing to pass up. I bought the book and read the entire thing the day I received it. WOW! I was so excited! I was having difficulty finding a Dr. to prescribe LDN as most seem to follow the standard protocol to avoid lawsuits or because of pressure from drug companies. I emailed Mary and she emailed me back and within a week I found my current doctor and have not looked back. I have been on LDN since mid April and am so thankful! My muscle spasms have decreased so much I don't have to take any other meds for them. My bladder dysfunction still persists, but is so much improved that I only take half the dosage of those pills now. And, it is SOO nice only taking a pill at night before bed than giving yourself injections everyday. Finally, the cost!! I spend $30 a month for my LDN. My costs have been cut 100 fold. If you have MS or any autoimmune disease I would encourage you to read this book. Everyone (NMSS in particular) keeps touting that an oral medication is just around the corner....IT'S ALREADY HERE AND AVAILABLE!!!!

I was recently diagnosed with MS this past June and through an incredibly fortunate turn of events,my In-Laws suggested I read Mary Anne's book...which I did. It is so well written,chock full of imperitive information that I was not receiving through the medical community,provided much insight into this desease,and at times humorous and touched me in an amazing way. Yet, I was even more touched to again have the incredible good fortune to actually meet Mary Anne and her husband Noel in person in July. To say that she and her family have been thoroughly instimental while I'm on this journey is an understatement.'Up the Creek with a Paddle' is an absolute must-read for anyone grappling with a life-altering disease, whether the person directly affected or the caregivers/family/friends. LDN has provided me with such massive help and hope and had it not been for Mary Anne Bradley, I would never have known about LDN's existance. To read this book and learn of LDN will turn your life around, to have met Mary Anne and Noel Bradley restores your faith in true Earth-bound Angels!Thanks for them both and thanks for 'Up the Creek with a Paddle' will never be enough. Mary Anne is a true pioneer and has the fortitude and tenacity that is seemingly lacking in the medical community on a whole.Her book should be a must-read for anyone going through very difficult medical challenges...not exclusive to MS. Thank you so very, very much for everything, Mary Anne!!!
Kelly Collentine

This is a great reference book. Even though I think that the some of the information is a little outdated, it can make a great reference for the newly diagnosed.

Excellent book for the newly diagnosed!!!! Written in a well understood and caring manner, not as matter of fact and scary as some I've read since being diagnosed. A big thank you to the author!

Answers many of the questions asked by new or fairly new MS victims. Knowledge is power.

This was really good reference book. Most of those questions that you don't have time with your Dr to ask, are answered here.

I bought this book for a friend who has ms. She read it and was very pleased with the contents. It answered many of the questions she had about the disease that her doctors didn't answer for her. It is an excellent resourse book for any ms patient.

I actually was only going to read this book to prepare myself for the radio interview with this author (May 29, 2008 on In Short Order at [...]). Instead, I found myself glued to the pages of valuable information from a patient's view. By reading this book, those who know or take care of a person with a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) will be better able to understand what the victim is going through - a better handle on things makes for a better friend/family member or care provider. Those who treat TBIs would benefit from this book more than most - what you can't see on tests can be learned here and therefore validate the diagnosis more quickly so that treatment can begin at an earlier stage. For those with a TBI, Lyme disease, or any disabling affliction, this book is your pair of ruby slippers.

Bruno equates a TBI to The Wizard of Oz classic. Although I have Lyme disease (which in many cases can be likened to a TBI), and can relate and benefit from this book, I never saw it put so simply - and well written. Just as Dorothy is whisked to another place, it is the same with most injuries and illnesses. We leave the life we know for a place we have never been before (and few want to make it a vacation spot). Come take the first step on the yellow brick road - where the journey to recovery begins.

Glinda (as we remember as the good witch) starts us on the path. Contacting organizations and support groups is an important step. Who doesn't need support, information, and to hear from others on virtually the same path? There are many things to do to prepare us for the first steps to recovery, but often we forget where we need to begin. Order is the way to end chaos. Support is the way to end aloneness. And information is the way to the next steps that must be taken if recovery is the goal. And don't forget, some who have grown accustomed to your disability-state may not want you to recover - learn why in "If I Only Had A Brain Injury."

There are the ruby slippers and the wicked witch. The information in this section is most helpful because it starts us focusing more closely on ourselves. Here we can begin to turn the injury or disease into a new beginning. When we beat ourselves up or refuse to accept what we cannot change, we slow or halt our journey. Forgiveness and identifying change are good things.

Okay, we're on our way. We may not be skipping yet, but we can add pep to our steps when we look at what can remove some of the stumbling blocks that have been preventing us forward movement on our road to recovery. Bruno learned that buying quality electronics (a computer monitor) cut down on her headaches and dizziness; which allowed her to work; which enabled her to earn a paycheck; which helped her to feel she was still in Kansas.

There are more ideas that are presented in this work - classical music, relationships with animals, and cultivating new friendships, to name a few. These will open new doors in the land of Oz and you may even discover new things about yourself that you never knew existed.

In "If I Only Had A Brain Injury," Bruno has given us a map of the Emerald City, introduced us to the Munchkins, and provided a beacon for anyone who is associated with injuries and disease. It is a one-of-a-kind book.

This a must read for all, with hopes that you find an owl in your life, too.


Sue Vogan
[...]

I got this book yesterday afternoon and I have been gobbling it up! Right from the start I identified with the writing. I, too, had a feeling that my evening at the outdoor amphitheater that July 26th night in 2005 could change my life. I didn't know how and so I ignored my irrational feelings. I went to the ballet and although we were sitting inside I must have picked up the tick as we walked across the lawn to the amphitheater. 10 days later, almost to the hour, I was very, very sick. The Lyme crossed the blood brain barrier and I have had neurological and emotional problems. My stupid neurologist says I am "in the normal range" even when I have vertigo and was falling back on my head walking down the street, have huge memory gaps, sometimes make no sense, etc. I told him it wasn't normal for me, but ended up getting nowhere and leaving his office in tears.
My boyfriend of 12 years (with whom I attended the ballet that night) became very frustrated and angry. I am no longer the same woman he signed up for. We separated in the Fall of 2007. He felt I was not "trying hard enough" to get better.
My family thinks I am mentally ill. In fact over the last 9 months I have been misdiagnosed with either depression or Bipolar II disorder and mis-medicated, which DID make me pretty crazy. I am now convinced I ought not to be on any medications but treat myself holistically. I have been medication free for one month and that has made a huge difference for me.
So, I am so thankful for the book! I am finding out that I need to listen to myself and not depend on doctors to be able to fix me or even diagnose me correctly. I have been changing my diet and using it as my medicine. I have been making sure to get outside and walk or recently I can bicycle again! Soak in some sun. Surround myself with positive people--no angry boyfriend--as much as possible. I am painting again.
I think I was already headed in this direction -- after 11 months of putting my hope and trust in, then floundering in, medical offices, hitting my head against (figurative) wall after wall. Laura Bruno's book gives me such strength and hope for this journey.

If I Only Had a Brain Injury is a beautifully conveyed book that is not only practical, simplistic, and full of easy to apply tips and tremendously helpful, thorough resources, but is also an artistic expression of genuine experience and compassion that takes one on a journey through Oz. Utilizing Dorothy and her friends' experiences to illustrate our own unfolding life processes creates a tangible and easily understood analogy, and coupled with Laura's own personal experiences, truly hits home and creates a relateability that transcends all boundaries. This is not only helpful for those with TBI and medical challenges as listed, but truly is a guideline and means of support for any and all challenges in life that can be simply applied. Finding myself challenged in overly mental focusing and truly not having the desire to do so either, I found Laura's book wonderfully supportive to this. It was easy, quick, and very clear, with nothing to have to read between the lines or mentally figure out. One can open the book to any page and find something valuable easily without it feeling out of context. This works well for people like myself who either don't have time to read, don't have much desire to read, or little focus to do so. You can pick up and leave off at any point and never feel lost and get exactly what you need at every turn. Laura is a beautiful example and expression for us all and one can only look forward to more wonderful books to come from her.

Injury took some mental abilities away.
Through that loss, author Laura Bruno,
finds an alternative path to health and
trusting herself. She demystifies many
medical mysteries all the while reassuring
those in similar situations not to suffer alone the
embarrassment and self consciousness of a
brain that is learning to function again -
perhaps differently. If I Only Had a Brain
Injury is a compendium of spiritual and
emotional support. It includes 52 healing
hints while leading its readers to become
wizards of their own healing. It offers
support to the caregiver and acknowledges
how events changes all involved.
Ultimately Laura Bruno wants everyone
to find their own deeper meaning of
injury - an opportunity to connect the
mind and heart - to live deeply, meaningfully,
and creatively through one's
essence.

If I Only Had a Brain Injury is a delightful, powerful and highly informative book. Beautifully written, Laura Bruno draws upon her experiences with her own Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from a car accident. Her descriptions are vivid, deeply and personal. The book is very supportive and is an excellent resource for those dealing with Traumatic Brain Injuries and their caregivers. The book is also vitally important for those dealing with challenging and mysterious health issues like Chronic Fatigue, Lyme Disease and Migraines.

Bruno tells her own story while expertly weaving her insights within the context of the Wizard of Oz. I loved the humor, playfulness and utter seriousness in the book in the chapter titles and content. In the chapter, Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bruno states that her aim is, "...to inspire you and to guide you to resources that will empower you to take control over your own health and wellbeing."

Gradually after Bruno's own accident she began to realize that she had entered into a new land, and needed to learn anew. She recounts these realizations in the chapter, We're not in Kansas Anymore. Bruno says, " Like Dorothy, I knew I could not return the way I arrived. Like Dorothy, I eventually found my way "back home," but I took the Technicolor journey with me. I wrote this book to help others to do so, to."

And, like Dorothy following the yellow brick road to find her way back home to Kansas, the book emphasizes actions you can take in your recovery from the symptoms of these various illnesses that are so mysterious to the medical community. Bruno says in the chapter titled "Glinda," that "This chapter suggests ways to find the Glinda's along your journey...Even in the Wizard of Oz, Glinda prefers to help Dorothy help herself." She includes an excellent listing of resources to contact. For instance, she notes that you might want to contact a Behavioral optometrist that specializes in connections in mind, body and vision because "...a majority of people with neurological issues suffer from visual impairment. If you have any of the flowing symptoms, you may benefit from visual therapy or prism lenses: Concentration problems; Double vision; Headaches; Difficulty reading; Balance disorders; Clumsiness; Eyestrain; Intolerance of flickering lights; Intolerance to varied backgrounds; Panic Attacks; Easily becoming overwhelmed; Vertigo.

If I Only Had a Brain Injury is like a breath of fresh air as it offers hope where typically there is none. As Bruno notes, so many head injuries and their effects are not detected, diagnosed or treated. Many people are told that they do not show any medical evidence of a medical injury even though they are experiencing severe difficulties in daily functioning since the time of their accident or since the onset of their illness. And, even when a brain injury and trauma is recognized, there have been very limited resources to assist in continued rehabilitation.

My level of awareness about the nature of head injuries and its effects has risen dramatically from reading this book. This includes helping me to understand some of my own experiences from knocking my head with numerous falls off of horses, minor car accidents and some of my own hard to diagnose symptoms. I now keep this book by my bedside for personal quick reference and I also have a copy available in my office for those clients who have had head injuries.

If I only Had a Brain Injury is an excellent resource that I very highly recommend for anyone who has experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury as well as their family members, caregivers, medical professional and therapists. For anyone whose life has been touched in some manner with a Traumatic Brain Injury or by any illness that has been a medical mystery, this book will be of great value.

I couldn't put it down! Jo is open and honest about the challenges she has faced and is facing in life. She shows by her story that we can cling to our Father,trust Him, and choose to live joyfully no matter what life throws at us. I recommend this book to anyone who is facing anything they don't understand or don't feel they can handle, from physical challenges to relationship challenges, and beyond. Jo will encourage and inspire you, and give you the courage to trust God in the midst of your own difficult times. I am getting more copies to give to those I know who need real-life encouragement.

My oldest memory of Jo still brings a warm smile to my face. She sat gracefully in front of the small group of women, who didn't want to break for the summer like the rest of the women's Bible study group had. She read with passion from her prayer journal. I closed my eyes and smiled, privileged to hear the prayers from Jo's heart to her Abba. (Jo loves to call God by that endearing name, best translated as Daddy.) This sweet memory, which is now more than 10 years old, was renewed when I read Soar Unafraid. In fact, reading the vulnerable prayers Jo recorded over the years was my favorite part of Soar Unafraid. No one can conjure up a relationship with God like that. It's built over years and years of intimacy and dependency. You and I are invited to develop that same deep relationship with God, simply by reading Jo's precious prayers. Even if you don't have MS, have never been through a divorce, and haven't suffered through childhood abuse, Jo's amazing story will touch the secret places of your heart. Read Soar Unafraid. You will fall in love with Jo and her precious Abba.

Shawna Marie Bryant, Speaker, Author, Worship Leader
www.shawnamarie.com

I picked up this book, planning to read a few pages before I went to sleep. Two hours later, I had to make myself put it down! What a testimony to God's love, grace, and mercy. On every page, Jo reminds us that regardless of where life takes us, God has a specific plan for us. I just pray I'll be as faithful as she has been when the hard times come.

Jo has written a book that will encourage you not to be a casuality in this world. You will find encouragement because Jo is real, her struggles are real and her God is real. With compassion, honesty and forgiveness Jo tells her story.

Many years ago, I met Jo at a church retreat where she was an inspirational speaker and shared her love of the Lord through her singing. I was impressed with her deep faith and obrious joy in spite of the painful trials she had endured. There were times through the years that I wondered how she was and when I, myself was diagnosed with MS, two years ago, my curiosity about how she was grew. A good friend, living in the same county as Jo, clipped a newspaper article about Jo, thinking it might be of interest to me. I was so surprised and delighted to know that Jo had written a book. I promptly ordered it and read it. It was as I knew it would be-filled with honesty, love, pain and joy. Jo is able to capture with words raw emotions that both captivate and encourage the reader. Thank you Jo for being the example to all of us of what it means to "soar unafraid."
Paula Boyd, Lemon Grove CA

The exercises found in this book are great, when you are first diagnosed and the coming years.

It is a great tool to have because you do not deal with your MS the same way on a daily basis. There are times that, even if it is in written form, you need to look for answers.

The way the book is written, it is a sure sign that you do not have to have MS to write a good book, but as an MSer you do know what we face every day.

Great book, will keep using for future reference.

this book provides the person with MS or their caregiver with much needed information on emotions, thought problems, communications, and other areas in which MS symptoms affect functioning. it is well-written and quite easy to read. it offers a nice summary of functioning as well as a few strategies for managing the different symptoms. i found that this book is a good augmentation to the MS Workbook, which provides a more comprehensive background and worksheets than the current book. several times, the author stated something that i hadn't read before, and i wanted to read the original source, but none were provided. i only discovered about one dozen typographical errors, no errors of fact or grammar. this is a very good book for the non-clinician and non-academic.

When I read this book I felt it was written for me! I could relate and identify to almost everything the author was saying. I wish I had extra copies to give away, it is sooo relavent to anyone. You have to get this book for yourself and your library. You won't be dissappointed!

As someone with MS, it's good to know that you are not the only one struggling with certain feelings and insecurities.

I originally got this book at the library. I hesitated because some MS books can be very heavy or dry. This book was excellent! I found it very helpful, even though I've had MS for years. I bought one for myself & had some of my family read it, too. I even got a couple for gifts for friends with MS. I highly recommend it, especially if you have people in your life who could use a little MS education. It's also great to validate things for you personally. It's an easy read & definitely worth the time.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time. The author's words just flow and you are totally caught up in the story. For anyone that lived through the Rock & Roll Era, it is a must read - for anyone else, if you like a good coming of age, romance and mystery - this is a book not to miss. It is also the first in a series, so read it while you have the chance.

Do you love rock 'n' roll? Do you play air guitar with your favorite tunes? Do you love a good mystery? This is the book for you. Great musicians never waste a note; Deborah Grabien never wastes a word. Even if you didn't answer "yes" to all the questions above, if you love fine writing, this is a book for you.

I spent several years in and around the California rock 'n' roll scene of the late '60s/early '70s, and none of the backstage detail rings false or hollow. The characters don't either; they have their talents and their flaws, their virtues and their vices. It's said that it's never too late to have a happy childhood; it's never too late to grow up, either, and that process is one of several things that make this book a good bit more than a sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll potboiler.

The only way Ms Grabien disappoints me is that she doesn't write as fast as I can read, and so I spend a good deal of time in unrequited lit-lust. A new book from her presents me with a dilemma -- read it one or two gulps, like a kid with a bucket of ice cream and no witnesses, or take one chapter at a time, like someone who's been given a small box of exquisite chocolate truffles? Either way, it's over too soon, and the pining for the next begins.

I've been reading Ms. Grabien's novels since The Weaver and the Factory Maid. Her characters are always fully developed and nuanced and their feelings and motivations always make the story more interesting. Rock and Roll Never Forgets is no exception. The combination of strength and vulnerability in Bree is part of what makes the story so interesting. I know that JP Kinkaid is the main character, but she seems to drive the story.

I also really liked the descriptions of backstage and the real workings of a megaband. I've only experienced it from the other side of the stage, so it was fun to know what those people you glimpse in the wings are doing.

I read this book in one sitting. It was a quick read, but not fluffy. Kept me guessing until the end. Highly recommend it!

Rock and Roll Never Forgets may market itself as a murder mystery, but really this is a book about love and care and coping. The murder investigation provides the impetus for the revelation of the histories of some deeply developed characters, for the telling of a love story that opens in medias res, and bringing it to pleasing resolution. That said, with the murder investigation as the driving force, the story whips along, never getting bogged down in details - the reader is constantly enticed to turn the page. Grabien nails her settings - she not only knows what it is to be in the scene, she knows to what it is to live in the now, and with the disease of which she writes. It gives the book a literary timelessness. Grabien has crafted that rarest of gems, a murder mystery that you will want to reread even after you know who the murderer is.

Ms. Grabien writes a book with a pounding rhythm without overshadowing the nuances of a delicate and intimate relationship. And that's before the mystery even shows up! It could easily stand on its own as a rock and roll love story, but why stop there if you have the talent to weave a gripping mystery with compelling characters in and around that?

And that's just what Ms. Grabien does, with her typically lyrical turn of phrase. Check [...] for a link to her video and a taste of the style, and check the top of the amazon page for links to inside the book to get a taste of the writing.

I copied this CD to my iPod and listen to it every time I take the dog for a walk, which is often. My scans went from bad to really good in a year. The oncology nurse was startled with the results and asked, "What are you doing?"
I've cleaned up my diet (almost no sugar, as cancer cells love sugar), lost body fat with diet and exercise, take detox supplements, and don't obsess over the cancer. I was supposed to be dead 6 years ago and up until the last year was just getting by. Maybe something on the scan would be a little better but something else would be worse. It was frustrating.
I attribute a great deal of the healing to the guided imagery and affirmations on this disk. The guided imagery is so moving. The emotions really well up and I'm a little sad when it's over. Sometimes I listen two and three times in a row because it reaches so deeply within.
I can't recommend it highly enough. I'd give it 10 stars if that were possible.

As a person surving MS, times of pain,frustration and stress can really be a hinderance to you and the disease. Just taking a few needed precious moments to listen to this guided imagery tape will help you "let go." I listen to it every night and never get tired of it. There have been many times during the day when I have made time to listen to it also. The tape has gotten me through some tough days. You will be pleased to have this as part of YOUR MS survival armory.

This is an incredible little tape. Side 1 is the guided imagery which is I guess about 20 minutes and side 2 has some reinforcement phrases to say to yourself. The guided imagery is terrific. She takes you to a s pecial place, you address your immune system directly, telling it you're ok and they can stand down, and she helps you surround yourself with support. The first time I listened I cried like I hadn't cried in a long time. I didn't know how much I had kept inside. It is such a good tape I can't say enough.

I found this tape one of the most healing avenues that I have tried. It helps me to let go of the tense, and feelings whether they are mental or physical. It is a gift to yourself to try this tape. I love it.

With a soothing voice Belleruth Naperstek leads the listener to a sense of peace through calming meditative words. It would seem to be helpful to anyone contending with cancer. It is not, however, as helpful to those experiencing other cancer related disease, especially blood related. Leukemia, for example, would require very different images. Still, it would be somewhat helpful to someone with leukemia or lymphoma if they are not terrible distracted by the brief imagery specifically related to tumor cancers.