Customer Reviews

The Art of Getting Well: Maximizing Health and Well-being When You Have a Chronic Illness

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The hard thing about living with a chronic illness is that you have to deal with it on so many levels: physical symptoms, the choice of caregivers--and then the job of relating to them, information from the internet, lifestyle changes, emotions, spiritual dimensions, and more. The unique thing about this wise and compassionate book is that it addresses issues of living with a chronic illness on all those levels and more, with a gentle, down-to-earth humor that provides its own emotional support on the spot (an example is the title of the first chapter: "Studies show life is hard.") This must be because the author is both a nurse and a person living with MS--as well as a very talented writer. Throughout the book are many stories of people -- and in one case a plant -- who are doing better by using one of the ideas described. I've read a lot of advice books--another unique thing about this one is that it's not pushing any one approach. The author starts with a description of some basic orientations necessary to take care of ourselves. It gives information about a wide range of strategies for self-care, with step-by-step directions for getting started and information about where to learn more. It also gives brief descriptions of many places to get help from others and how to find them. I think the Art of Getting Well will soon be seen as an indispensable support for anyone living with a chronic illness-actually it contains a lot of wisdom that anyone could benefit from!

You don't have to have a chronic illness to get a lot out of Spero's "The Art of Getting Well." Maybe that's because living in our fast paced and relatively crazed culture qualifies all of us as chronically ill. Whatever the case, the accessible style and reassuring tone of this book give you the confidence and motivation to make real changes in your life. I'm especially pleased that Spero does not fall into the "blame the victim" camp. Getting sick is not our fault, although we can have a say in how or whether we get well, up to a point. Sometimes our luck runs out, but our spirit can still remain strong, furthered along by the compassion of bonafide healers and primo storytellers like Spero. Get two: one for yourself and one for a friend.

The Art of Getting Well

This book is for anyone coping with a chronic condition. Mr. Spero's book is a friendly companion to the not always friendly art of living with a chronic condition. Having lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 14 years, I have yet to find a book that so plainly and straightforwardly tackles the multiplicity of issues faced by those who choose wellness over illness. It is at once a teacher of the issues, a giver of strategies, and an offering of a method. I will read this book again and again to help remind myself to choose wellness and I will share it with others who seek the same. This is truly a well organized, thought provoking look at what it takes to be well...

This book is both eloquent and down to earth, chock full of interesting anecdotes and inspiration. You can feel the writer's humanity and courage in each page and feel the warmth of his hope. His vitality and tenacity in tackling problems and elucidating others' strengths and vulnerablities is fascinating! He is a gifted writer and has a sensitivity and compassion that come through as he relays his personal experiences and those of people he has helped through his career as a nurse and a personal coach. A must read!

The Art of Getting Well, by David Spero, is a very informative, enjoyable, and inspiring book for those of us with chronic illnesses. David has included many helpful examples, from his own and other's lives, of what works and what doesn't. He describes standard and alternative treatment options for the reader to consider. He also gives many valuable ideas to help the chronically ill have better lives whether or not their condition improves. I highly recommend this book.

One reviewer mentioned that the authors writes in a chatty, conversational tone--that's an accurate description. I found this book an easy read and very insightful and useful for helping me get on track to recovering and caring for myself, as well as preventing future relapses.

The author recommends useful tips for recovering from an illness: put your life before your illness, listen to your body, conserve your energy for healing, change the things that harm you, and get the help you need. His recommendations come from what's worked for patients, friends, family members, and a lit review of what other authors have written.

Thanks to the tips in The Art of Getting Well, I feel better equipped to recognize when I feel stressed, to calm myself down in a soothing way, to recognize the signs and ask for help when I need it, and visualize healing and becoming the healthy person I want to be, to honoring myself by putting myself first without negatively impacting others.

This is a book I will keep on my shelves to reflect upon for years to come.

I'm one of the people whose stories appear in The Art of Getting Well. This book has particular power for me, since it captures my story as I have been finding my way after breast cancer surgery, with chemotherapy - that six month bodily assault - followed by radiation. And out of that whole devastating time there erupted the long suppressed and virtually forgotten drive to become an actress. A theater workshop opened me to feelings and experiences, and that led to acting in a community play. With the wealth of material in this book, you can find that life opens up, from what we feel is a disastrous time. We are much more than victims. We are actors.

David Spero wrote a helpful and positive book for anyone facing life with illness. It was well written and covered all the key issues for living successfully with chronic illness. He offers a wide range of solutions to help others improve their quality of life as well as shift their attitudes about illness in general. I could see my own journey in the book and thought it captured the essence of illness as a powerful spiritual teacher.

I loved Dave Spero's book, The Art of Getting Well. It's a gift for body, mind and spirit-- a tremendous resource for anyone with a chronic disease.