Customer Reviews

How to Conquer the World With One Hand...And an Attitude (Second Edition)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My father is much older than Paul when he suffered his stroke in December of 2000. My father's stroke was very severe and has left him totally paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak or effectively communicate in any manner, which is the same side and conditions that Paul suffered. This book gave me hope that some day my 78-yr. old father may be able to communicate on some level. All speech therapy has been stopped for my father, but after reading this book and seeing what 8 years of therapy has done for Paul, my family is looking into our options once again. I can think of nearly nothing worse than being able to understand most of what is being said around you and not being able to communicate back. People with aphasia are essentially trapped within their own body. Thanks, Paul for having the courage to move forward with your life and to tell your story. It truly gave me hope!!

After my father had a stroke, I read several books on stroke and stroke recovery. I found Paul Berger and his wife's first-person accounts of their experiences the most valuable by far. At such a difficult and confusing time in my family's life, it was comforting to read about another family's similar experience and the road to recovery. If you or someone you care about has suffered a stroke, this book will inform you, inspire you, and give you hope for the future.

For 8 years I led a support group for people with stroke and other brain injuries. This honest, funny, gutsy account of one man's struggle to regain his life after a devastating stroke shows what can be done, and what it takes to do it.

What struck me most in this inspiring story was Paul's ability to keep on trying despite innumerable setbacks. I felt empowered by his wife's tireless advocacy, creative solutions, and search for resources. As a member of a family that struggles with chronic illness, I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone seeking to change a life.

I admit, I am also from Philly, and nobody messes with us. Paul wouldn't accept any diagnosis other than a life that was interesting and fulfilling. It's remarkable how he struggled to get back his body. It's a funny uplifting book that should give inspiration to other head trauma victims. (And a nice reminder to the rest of us.) Paul and Stephanie have written about regaining a lifestyle they enjoyed in spite of new disablities. I found it fascinating that Paul came back with more of a sense of humor and a more outgoing personality. Imagine a man with aphasia starting conversations with his fellow commuters! What pluck. It's a readable book, for anyone, not just stroke victims.

This book is a bright bright light for families experiencing a stroke or other life-changing event. So much of the information out there is clinical...useful but that's all. Stephanie and Paul open their doors to their experience and the result is a detailed, compassionate view of the struggles and rewards of dealing with a major life changing event. What's more this book is a gripping page turner. I finished in it one evening and found myself yearning for more. Read it.

Paul was at the start of what could have been an excellent career when his stroke occurred. Read this well told story to understand the huge challenges, sometimes funny, sometimes, humiliating and extraordinarily taxing tail to gaininsight into the hyman spirit (this one man's indomnitably strong spirit)can accomplish---

This shows the world the difficulties involved in recating one's life after stroke. Thank you Paul for wrieing his book. And thank you Stephanie for supporting Paul. I can only image how hard it was for you.

Paul's and Stephanie's flexibility and determination in meeting goals are inspirational to those of us contending with more ordinary challenges. The "attitude" that the book describes is compelling.

Best "help" book I've read since my 33 year old son had a stroke. Couldn't put the book down and was amazed at how many similar things that we had gone through--AWESOME read for any young person who had a stroke or their caregivers.

This story was a wonderful account of Paul and Stephanie's struggle against a serious illness and the System that was supposed to help them. It would make for an entertaining fiction story, all the obstacles that the two had to face over the years, except that it was all fact. An interesting and rewarding story.

THIS BOOK IS VERY INSPIRATIONAL AND HAVING A STROKE MYSELF IT WAS A WONDERFUL ENCOURAGING READ. IT ARRIVED AS STATED, WILL DO BUSINESS AGAIN. THANK YOU.