Busy Body: My Life with Tourette's Syndrome [Paperback]

Nick van Bloss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2006

With lightness and warmth, musician Nick van Bloss recounts his personal experience of Tourette's syndrome—symptoms, or tics, that include obsessive physical movements and involuntary utterances and sounds. He traces the embarrassment that came with his tics, his refuge in piano playing, and his family history of the disease. With frankness and humor, he also describes coming to terms with his sexuality, finding true love, and battling a potentially terminal cancer while continuing to handle his socially debilitating condition of Tourette's syndrome. 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nick van Bloss was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome when he was 19. He is a renowned classical pianist who performs across Europe and has taught at the Royal College of Music–London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Vision; 1 edition (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904132944
• ISBN-13: 978-1904132943
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,378,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo for Busy Body, November 19, 2007

By 

M. Palopoli "insect enthusiast" (Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Busy Body: My Life with Tourette's Syndrome (Paperback)

Busy Body: My Life with Tourette's Syndrome by Nick van Bloss is the most powerful and touching TS autobiography I have ever read. His descriptions for this very challenging condition are quite clear, revealing and help the reader get an idea of what it may be like to go through this ordeal day after day after day. TS is such an unusual disorder. Sure there are more painful and more life threatening conditions (I don't mean to dismiss any other disorder as "not difficult"), but TS is unusual and particularly difficult because you often have no choice but to let everyone know that "something is wrong." TS "tries" to break every social convention and rule." It is astounding how many social situations require silence or general quietness - most every classroom situation, movies, waiting in line, traveling in a public setting, shopping, theatre, etc. Until you experience TS (yourself or with a family member or friend), you have no idea how much of our society requires participants to "not make a scene" and "stay reasonably quiet." This book was difficult for me to read because I have a son with a pretty strong case of TS. I noticed many connections between Nick and my son. It helped me develop a better understanding of what my son is going through. I really don't think most people understand how painful TS can be and Nick pointed this out pretty clearly. He didn't elaborate too much on this point and based on my son's experiences, I know that Nick must be dealing with pain all the time and is actually pretty heroic about it. Although it was painful, I found this to be the most uplifting book on TS I have ever read. It reinforced teh idea that a TS sufferer can live a pretty good life and that many gifts may be associated with the condition. Nick is also a VERY humble human being who is compassionate, intelligent, sensitive and perceptive, not to mention his incredible sense of dedication and perseverance. This book is worth the read just to know him as a human being, whether he had TS or not. I only hope that this book is read by a great number of people. If anyone knows how I could e-mail or write to him, please let me know.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book-, May 19, 2007

By 

Lonestar fan (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Busy Body: My Life with Tourette's Syndrome (Paperback)

I heard about this book on a TS webboard and decided to order it. I was not sorry I did. It is an excellent book and he really portrays what it is like to have TS in a candid, funny way. I recommend this to anyone who has TS or would like to know what it is like to have it.