My Stroke of Insight

The astonishing New York Times bestseller that chronicles how a brain scientist's own stroke led to enlightenment On December 10, 1996, Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven- year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist experienced a massive stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. As she observed her mind deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life-all within four hours-Taylor alternated between the euphoria of the intuitive and kinesthetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being and peace, and the logical, sequential left brain, which recognized she was having a stroke and enabled her to seek help before she was completely lost. It would take her eight years to fully recover. For Taylor, her stroke was a blessing and a revelation. It taught her that by "stepping to the right" of our left brains, we can uncover feelings of well-being that are often sidelined by "brain chatter." Reaching wide audiences through her talk at the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference and her appearance on Oprah's online Soul Series, Taylor provides a valuable recovery guide for those touched by brain injury and an inspiring testimony that inner peace is accessible to anyone.

Do you want more free book summaries like this? Download our app for free at https://www.QuickRead.com/App and get access to hundreds of free book and audiobook summaries. A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey. If you’ve ever experienced a sudden revelation or an epiphany, then you might understand the power a sudden realization can have on your outlook on life. This is exactly what happened to Jill Bolte Taylor on December 10, 1996, at just 37-years-old. Bolte Taylor, a Harvard-trained brain scientist, experienced a massive stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. As a result of the stroke, Bolte Taylor’s mind deteriorated and she quickly lost her ability to walk, talk, read, write, or even recall any of her life. In a matter of four hours, Bolte Taylor’s life was changed forever. Soon, however, Bolte Taylor was alternating between the right brain and left brain, allowing herself to uncover feelings of euphoria and well-being that the average person doesn’t often have the power to access. The stroke allowed Bolte Taylor to experience the different traits of the two halves of the brain, and she believes with the proper training, inner peace can be accessible to anyone. As you read, you’ll learn the ins and outs of what occurs during a stroke, the incredible differences between the right and left brain hemispheres, and how Bolte Taylor was able to make a full recovery after suffering a rare stroke.

As a deadly cancer spread inside her brain, leading neuroscientist Barbara Lipska was plunged into madness—only to miraculously survive with her memories intact. In the tradition of My Stroke of Insight and Brain on Fire, this powerful memoir recounts her ordeal and explains its unforgettable lessons about the brain and mind. At the height of her career, Barbara Lipska—a leading expert on the neuroscience of mental illness—was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to her brain. Within months, her frontal lobe, the seat of cognition, began shutting down. She exhibited dementia- and schizophrenia-like symptoms that terrified her family and coworkers. But miraculously, the immunotherapy her doctors prescribed worked, and Lipska returned to normal. With one difference: she remembered her brush with madness with exquisite clarity. Lipska draws on her extraordinary experience to explain how mental illness, brain injury, and age can distort our behavior, personality, cognition, and memory. She tells what it is like to experience these changes firsthand. And she reveals what parts of us remain, even when so much else is gone.

Dr. Mike Dow is a best-selling author, psychotherapist, and relationship expert. So why is he writing a book about stroke? Well, what you probably don’t know about Dr. Mike is that his younger brother, David, is a stroke survivor. What’s more, David’s stroke happened when he only 10 years old. This means most of Dr. Mike’s teenage years were spent witnessing what his family was dealing with trying to find the best treatments for David. He struggled to know what to do to help his brother. He watched helplessly as his brother wrestled with depression, trying to find the motivation to recover on top of the challenges of adolescence. He mourned the loss of what could have been —and he was angry. How his family would have loved to sit down with top experts in stroke to find out what they should be doing and have their questions answered. Now Dr. Mike has the ability to do just that, and he’s doing it so that others in his family’s position don’t have the same struggle. Armed with questions from stroke survivors and their loved ones, Dr. Mike talks with the best clinicians across the country to get over 100 answers you need to know to maximize your recovery.

Now in its third edition, Stronger After Stroke puts the power of recovery in the reader's hands by providing simple-to-follow instructions for reaching the highest possible level of recovery. The book’s neuroplastic recovery model stresses repetition of task-specific practice, proper scheduling of practice, setting goals, and measuring progress to achieve optimal results. Researcher Peter G Levine breaks down the science and gives survivors evidence-based tools to retrain the brain and take charge of recovery. In easy-to-read sections, Stronger After Stroke introduces readers to leading-edge stroke recovery information while simplifying the process to attain specific benchmarks. Also included is a sample recovery schedule, a helpful glossary of frequently used stroke recovery terms, and a list of resources for readers to research emerging stroke recovery options. The new Third Edition of Stronger After Stroke features: Complete update of all chapters to reflect new knowledge about maximizing recovery The latest research insights applied to individual recovery programs Steps to cope with challenges at each stage of recovery and achieve success DIY strategies to save time and money New chapters on using electrical stimulation, reducing post-stroke pain, and understanding spasticity

My stroke taught me so much, and for all that it stole, it gave me even more. In the process of healing, my life has changed for the better. Now I want to share what I have learned. In this vivid and very personal reflection upon his extraordinary life as an actor, author, and legend in his own time, Kirk Douglas offers a candid and heartfelt memoir of where it all went right in his life -- even after suffering a debilitating stroke. Revealing not only the incredible physical and emotional toll of his stroke but how it has changed his life for the better, Douglas shares the lessons that saved him and helped him to heal. Alongside his heartfelt advice and insight, he also recalls warm memories of some of the most famous figures of our time -- including Burt Lancaster, Michael J. Fox, and Gary Cooper -- as well as others who have soared to greatness in the face of adversity. Charming, soulful, and filled with personal photographs, My Stroke of Luck is an intimate look at the real person behind the fabulous talent -- and at a life lived to its very fullest.

At the age of 43, Jennifer Gordon suffered a debilitating stroke that robbed her of the power of speech. What was it like for an intelligent, articulate, imaginative woman to find herself in a world where she could no longer communicate? Speechless tells this story. It describes the often puzzling symptoms leading to the stroke; the shock, then denial, then acceptance of the stroke itself; the periods of hostitalisation and rehabilitation and the long journey back to a 'normal' life. The author experiences despair at being dependent on others; resentment at being judged because she is different; frustration at the need for intense concentration to do even simple things; grief as she becomes aware of a loss of personality; and joy at each small step towards regaining what she has lost. Speechless is written with dignity, honesty and humour in a way that evokes empathy but never pity. Anyone who has ever been a patient will feel they can relate in some small way to Jennifer Gordon's feelings of helplessness, anger, fear and gratitude as doctors, nurses, orderlies, therapists and hospital workers cross her path. Because of this, the book is enlightening reading for all health care professionals as well as relatives and friends and the patients themselves.

This book focuses explicitly on therapeutic techniques developed from a social model approach to disability and learning to live with difference. It describes theories, activities and methods of implementation developed from the work of Connect with people with long term aphasia. "Theoretical discussion runs alongside practical ideas for therapy and evaluation, case studies and commentaries from the authors regarding the method and means of implementation." Synthesises theory and practice in this new area of service delivery. Its non-impairment led focus of the therapies means that it has wide appeal to therapists, health service professionals and volunteers who work with people with chronic disabilities affecting lifestyle and communication.

Outlines accessible techniques for stroke rehabilitation and recovery, in a guide for patients and caregivers that covers such topics as the importance of scheduling task-specific movements, goal setting, and understanding the challenges of each stage of recovery. Original.

"An eloquent memoir of a 27 year old actress who suffered a massive brain aneurysm onstage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and awoke to discover that she had aphasia, a rare condition in which one loses the ability to speak, read and write"--Provided by publisher.

For women, understanding how the brain works during the key stages of life - in utero, childhood, puberty and adolescence, pregnancy and motherhood, menopause and old age - is essential to their health. Dr Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist who knows everything worth knowing about women's brains, and shares it in this fascinating, essential book. This is not a book about the differences between male and female brains, nor a book using neuroscience to explain gender-specific behaviours, the 'battle of the sexes' or 'Mars-Venus' stereotypes. This is a book about what happens inside the brains and bodies of women as they move through the phases of life, and the unique - and often misunderstood - effects of female biology and hormones. Dr McKay give insights into brain development during infancy, childhood and the teenage years (including the onset of puberty) and also takes a look at mental health as well as the ageing brain. The book weaves together findings from the research lab, case studies and interviews with neuroscientists and other researchers working in the disciplines of neuroendocrinology, brain development, brain health and ageing. This comprehensive guide explores the brain during significant life stages, including: In utero Childhood Puberty The Menstrual Cycle The Teenage Brain Depression and Anxiety Pregnancy and Motherhood Menopause The Ageing Brain

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 1998. "To all concerned, this book is meant to send a ghostly signal across the dark universe of ill-health that says 'you are not alone.'" - Robert McCrum On July 29, 1995, Robert McCrum, 42, married only ten weeks, suffered a paralyzing stroke. Overnight, his life shifted irrevocably. But this admired novelist and former editorial director of the London publishing house Faber and Faber decided to chronicle what became a remarkable journey "into that mysterious, unexplored territory, the neighbourly world of the unwell," as well as a deeply moving love story.

Mark Moore always believed he was in charge of his life. All that changed on a beautiful Saturday morning in May 2007. Suddenly he was no longer in control of anything. Though his life will never return to his pre-stroke normality, through this crisis, he has gained a deeper understanding of the centrality of God's role in his life and in all of our lives. A STROKE OF FAITH tells the story of moving from acceptance to surrender and from hope to faith. It reveals God's work in Mark's life as He transformed him from thinking he had everything under control to knowing God has had control all along.

Penned by a rehabilitation physician who has worked with thousands of stroke patients and families, this reference provides simple answers to the many questions that surround strokes and stroke rehabilitation. Free of technical medical jargon, this resource addresses topics such as the anatomy of a stroke, impairments and complications associated with strokes, and preventing and reducing the risk of them. A gallery of photographs that show and explain the latest methodologies in rehabilitation equipment is also included.

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Finalist for the National Book Circle Critics Award "A testament to the power of creativity in language, life—and love." —Heller McAlpin, Washington Post No other writer can blend the science of the brain with the love of language like Diane Ackerman. In this extraordinary memoir, she opens a window into the experience of wordlessness—the language paralysis called aphasia. In narrating the recovery of her husband, Paul West, from a stroke that reduced his vast vocabulary to a single syllable, she evokes the joy and mystery of the brain’s ability to find and connect words. Deeply rewarding to readers of all kinds, Ackerman has given us a literary love story, accessible insight into the science and medicine of brain injury, and invaluable spiritual sustenance in the face of life’s myriad physical sufferings.

Is it worth swimming in shark-infested waters to surf a 50-foot, career-record wave? Is it riskier to make an action movie or a horror movie? Should sex workers forfeit 50 percent of their income for added security or take a chance and keep the extra money? Most people wouldn't expect an economist to have an answer to these questions--or to other questions of daily life, such as who to date or how early to leave for the airport. But those people haven't met Allison Schrager, an economist and award-winning journalist who has spent her career examining how people manage risk in their lives and careers. Whether we realize it or not, we all take risks large and small every day. Even the most cautious among us cannot opt out--the question is always which risks to take, not whether to take them at all. What most of us don't know is how to measure those risks and maximize the chances of getting what we want out of life. In An Economist Walks into a Brothel, Schrager equips readers with five principles for dealing with risk, principles used by some of the world's most interesting risk takers. For instance, she interviews a professional poker player about how to stay rational when the stakes are high, a paparazzo in Manhattan about how to spot different kinds of risk, horse breeders in Kentucky about how to diversify risk and minimize losses, and a war general who led troops in Iraq about how to prepare for what we don't see coming. When you start to look at risky decisions through Schrager's new framework, you can increase the upside to any situation and better mitigate the downside.

True story of Hayes sudden brain hemorrhage at twenty-two - and the heartache and strength that it took to overcome it.

Acclaimed writer, bestselling author, and founder of Salon magazine, David Talbot has brought us masterful and explosive headline-breaking stories for over 25 years with books like the New York Times bestsellers Brothers, The Devil's Chessboard, and nationally recognized Season of the Witch. Now for the first time, journalist and historian David Talbot turns inward in this intimate journey through the life-changing year following his stroke, a year that turned his life upside down, and ultimately, saved him. • A portrait of how a health crisis can truly shift one's perspective on life and purpose • Includes insider stories on the wild early days of Internet journalism, tech culture, and Hollywood • Powerful storytelling of the physical, emotional, and psychological impact a stroke has had on the author's identity Fans of My Stroke of Insight, The Devil's Chessboard and Season of the Witch will love this book. This book is perfect for: • Fans of David Talbot • Anyone dealing with or recovering from health issues (particularly stroke or brain injury) and looking for insight and inspiration • Gen Xers and baby boomers who understand their risk for stroke • Entrepreneurs scared of burnout

After a violent mugging forever altered the way his brain works, the author, the first documented case of acquired savant syndrome with mathematical synesthesia, recounts how he overcame huge setbacks and embraced his unique gifts.