Recommend Reading

[Baldrick]

Ive started an amazing book about stroke -
“My Stroke of Insight” by Jill Bolte Taylor PhD
Jill is a stroke survivor and also a brain scientist.
The first 3 chapters are about how the brain works and it physical structure. One of the most fascinating reads i have ever had. And given me an understanding about the functioning of the brain - how and why not just post stroke but before too.
Im still reading it so will report back but so far an amazing book.

[pando]

read it
did not apply to me

[MrsG16]

I have just started reading ‘The Beauty of Living Twice’ by Sharon Stone which is about her own brain haemorrhage. Only just started and not bad so far but it just shows no one is untouchable.

[ManjiB]

Baldrick - I cannot thank you enough for sharing this.

I haven’t red this book yet, but I have just reserved my copy and will read it as soon as. On the back of your post and in looking up the book, I came across a TED chalk that Jill Bolte Taylor PhD did on “My Stroke of Insight” and have just finished watching it.

I found it [TED Talk] truly fascinating and it has to rank as one of the best TED talks or any videos I have ever seen. It is brilliant and if you haven’t seen it I strongly recommend you, and indeed everyone reading this to invest 20 minutes of your life watching it and hopefully you too will be touched and inspired by it as I am.

I love the bit where she says “We choose …” “I choose to step into the consciousness of my right hemisphere right here, right now …” And I hope you too will choose to join me

Brilliant - thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My Stroke of Insight - TED talk by Jill Bolte Taylor PhD

I look forward to your update once you have read it. I suspect we could have a very interesting and insightful discussion on the subject here on this forum or indeed on the new “WhatsApp” group that young @Bobbi is setting up.

For that reason, I am going to link that post to this message so that others may also consider reading this book and see if they wish to join in on the discussion. It could turn out to be very interesting.

OMG -- Our Message Group. -- An Invitation

Hi, I’m Bob. I am involved in an independent. social group which is open to and run by people affected by stroke. It is almost four years since a stroke left me disabled and with limited mobility. Since that time I have been active online and enjoy interacting with and learning from others who have been through this experience. Most of us use this Forum. There is more info about our group below. If you are interested post in this thread and let us know. ======================= Our Messag…

[Mrs5K]

I have read that book & found it fascinating. Some of it was irrelevant to me but ai founs her determination to succeed inspirational.

I haven’t see the TED talk @ManjiB so will have a look at that later.

Best wishes

Ann

[Baldrick]

Thanks for that link ManjiB. I’ll definitely be watching that. And the feedback from everyone.
As Pando said it won’t apply to everyone. I’ve read a few excellent books but they were not really applicable to myself and abandoned the read in some cases.
I think this though was the most relevant (for me) even though her stroke was very different. So far the description of the brain how all its parts interact & what they do seems to make so much sense of things but again that’s just me!
Looking forward to the TED talk and the rest of the book! I will try “The Beauty of living Twice” as well.

[ManjiB]

@Baldrick

the description of the brain how all its parts interact & what they do seems to make so much sense of things

That’s all I was interested in - she doesn’t go into the stroke side of things other than how it affected her. What I liked about it was learning how the brain is made up - the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere etc. I found it very interesting, her presentation style and the emotions she brings.

It does not go into how to repair the brain post stroke, but it is fascinating none the less.

I like this and compare it to “The Chimp Paradox” which is another fascinating book on hoe the brain works. I read and loved it and plan to read it again, maybe after I have read the My Stroke of Insight.

[Bigmugoftea]

I read this just after my stroke when I was trying to figure out what had happened to me. Such an interesting book. My stroke was very different to hers but it was still really interesting reading about her experience

[Baldrick]

Ima bit further on in the book I find her account of her stroke fascinating how she felt - I don’t think I would have been so calm! But she is a nuro scientist! I can recall the puzzlement and feeling separated from my arm particularly and she describes this very well. Alsthough her stroke in a different category to mine it’s all helping to make a kind of sense. I read on with interest and fascination.
I think it’s also helping me to rationalise and acceptance which others have spoken of. Stop there it’s dealing with the emotional side maybe she will come to this ..
Have a great day

[ManjiB]

It is also worth remembering that all strokes are different and individuals will remember more or less depending on the type and severity of the stroke.
But it is always good to see/read things like that and she clearly has a great way of communicating - she is a story teller which always helps

[AnnaC]

I am currently reading Robert McCrum’s “My Year Off: Rediscovering Life After a Stroke”, a memoir of a stroke written by a literary editor and writer. I have been reading several books on stroke and stroke rehabilitation as well as personal memoirs of stroke after my 75 year old husband had a severe ischemic stroke on November 24 last year. (He is now in his fourth week of rehab and just managed to walk a few steps unaided! His vision, depression and left hand need more time and work.)