Customer Reviews

Living Better : Every Patient's Guide to Living with Illness

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When Norman Cousins wrote, "The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started," he offered us motivation to meet our challenges head-on. The Langenfelds do the same. With clarity, compassion, professionalism and a rich understanding born of personal experience, this husband and wife team examines the process of coming to terms with disease and chronic illness. Together, the authors help the reader to not only define their experience of illness, but also explore the complex interface with their physician, treatment options and the larger medical system. Their practical heads up and informational approach is laced with gentle humor as well as their own experiences which serve to reassure the reader that he or she is not alone. The artful examination of the mind body connection offers a framework to understand this dynamic relationship. These chapters serve as an invitation to segway into the interior journey of discovering how to live with chronic illness and create meaning and purpose in one's life.

Living Better is written for people coping with illness, but its value extends to family caregivers, and beyond that, to those for whom life long self-care is a priority.

Living Better is a comprehensive book that explores all aspects of coping with an illness from the practical (dealing with hospitals, tests, finances) to the spiritual (finding a purpose, nurturing yourself). The authors own experiences with illness make this book a valuable companion to anyone who is trying to cope and live fully in spite of an illness.

Although I have never personally experienced any life-threatening illness, many of my close family members have. This book has proved to be an outstanding resouce, not only for managing the medical issues, but also for managing the confusing emotions that accompany severe illnesses whether they are experienced by you directly or experienced by someone you love. An outstanding reference manual for any family dealing with extreme illness.

When Norman Cousins wrote, "The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started," he offered us motivation to meet our challenges head-on. The Langenfelds do the same. With clarity, compassion, professionalism and a rich understanding born of personal experience, this husband and wife team examine the process of coming to terms with disease and chronic illness. Together, the authors help the reader to not only define their experience of illness, but also explore the complex interface with their physician, treatment options and the larger medical system. Their practical heads up and informational approach is laced with gentle humor as well as their own experiences which serve to reassure the reader that he or she is not alone.

The artful examination of the mind body connection offers a framework to understand this dynamic relationship. These chapters serve as an invitation and segway to enter the interior journey of discovering how to live with chronic illness and create meaning and purpose in one's life.

Living Better is written for people coping with illness, but its value extends to family caregivers, and beyond that, to those for whom life long self-care is a priority.