Customer Reviews

The Long Way to Simple - 50 years of Living, Loving and Laughing as a Person with FASD (Mom's Choice Awards Recipient)

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stephen and families with loved ones having fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; as i examine the way your/this book is written, the structure and the organization, let alone the humor and compassion within that layout and full story........i am completely in awe. your four step program of music, medication, meditation and a higher power are noteworthy in their directness and availability. we can all design a program for our child, children or even ourselves by taking these four simple prompts. i pray my 21 year old son with the same disorders can be as calm and settled as you are in his 50s; and i know your book will help to lessen his trauma in the world. the better people can understand how fasds feel from the inside the more we can modify and accommodate for those special needs. i want to read every syllable but so far i am just blown away by the logical and good common sense you are sharing in your book's format alone. thank U so much for writing this book. my fingers are just playing magically as i go back and forth from page to page- seeing what all lies ahead when i take it in order. your honesty about the trauma you endured without an appropriate diagnosis of your own fetal alcohol exposure [which caused organic brain damage brought about by your birth mom's use of alcohol while pregnant with you]-- this type of candor is not common in a field where still so much stigma and denial lie. your ability to be loving while frank, kind and forgiving while adressing explicitly the difficulties you endured pre-diagnosis-- well i have never seen anything like it. i agree that you should keep writing, keep speaking, keep telling stephen- because we need to listen.
ride those eagle's wings.
"just a mom"
[adoptive mom of 21 year old with fasds,
master in human development and
licensed practical nurse]

This book does what very few have done. The courageous author has stepped out of his brain damage long enough to share his lucid account of what it is to live life with a damaged brain and not even know it. His existence, like so many with this disorder, was an absolute nightmare before knowing what was wrong and why life was so difficult. I applaud the author's courage and wisdom. I hope Mr. Neafcy will find it possible to give the world more of his wisdom wit and reflection in future books!

Another book on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders that is the voice of one living with it is THE BEST I CAN BE by Liz Kulp. I am grateful to these two courageous individuals for what they offer us as insight to living in the skin of one who is so invisibly challenged. Thank you Stephen and Liz!

Stephen Neafcy is a survivor of 50 years of living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Spectrum Disorders. In those years he has found little things that go a long way in helping him to cope and he has shared them with us in his book. Written in a warm and easy manner, this book goes a long way in explaining the difficulties faced by children and adults with FAS/FASD and how to deal with some of them.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone struggling with Fetal Alchohol Syndrome, or to the people that love them. It is very well written, an accessable to anyone. The format works very well - a combination of anecdotes and bulleted lists keep it clear, simple and easy to read.

When I read this book, I didn't expect to cry and laugh so hard. Steve and Barbara's honesty formed such a clear picture in my mind of the reality of what happens in the life of those effected by FASD. In so many of Steve's stories, I could understand better how my boys think, even though they are much younger. I appreciate the guidance given to caretakers, and felt some reassurance when I read some of the advice and realized I am already doing some of those things. With the way the book is laid out (looks like credit to Jodee Kulp) it makes it very easy to access the information needed. I also loved how you made a category addressing life skills that need mastering. Great advice!!! There is just so much information packed into this book. If you have FASD, know someone who has FASD, this book is a MUST!!!
I gave one of the books to a teen I know who is in juvenile hall. I know if he starts to read Steve's book, he will get so much out of it. He already listens to calming music to help himself re-group. So I bet when he reads about Steve's "program" of Faith, medication, meditation and music, he will better relate to the information in the book for himself.
I also wanted to mention that Liz Kulp has made some contributions to this book as well, and I found them to be equally enlightening. Thanks to the authors and contributors for such a wonderful resource for the FASD community.

Steve and Barb have written a wonderful story about courage and the power of love through a debilitating syndrome known as Fetal Alchohol Syndrome Disorder. Our whole family has read it and have found it truly inspiring. My wife, the professional therapist, has found much in Steve's story that can serve as an inspiration to people suffering from a whole array of disabilities, not to mention how thoroughly relevant it is to those with FASD. I highly reccommend this not just to sufferers of FASD, but to anyone interested in a truly inspiring story about overcoming adversity. A wonderful book!

This book will give abundant hope and daily practical help for those living with or caring for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Birth mothers, adoptive parents, siblings, school teachers and the medical community will find hope and help as they read the experiences and victories of a victim of FASD who is now an adult.

The Long Way to Simple will inspire all who face the daunting challenges of this preventable disease. Nancy J. Stanton

This book is life changing. You will never think casualy about alcohol and pregnancy again. Steve speaks so simply about his terrible struggles to survive with brain damage. You will be touched and forever changed.

I found this book very helpful as I think toward the future for my daughter who has FASD and will be an adult in a few years. Stephen's great ideas for helping with organization, planning, support, routines etc are just what my daughter needs. Also, we her parents as caregivers, can read clearly what we need to do to help her achieve her goals. Stephen's program of meditation, music, medication, etc, can help all of us, but especially those with FASD who often need help with relaxation, in order to focus their thoughts, and be more productive in life. Stephen's personal stories from his life, help us to see that people with FASD are not alone and are similar in many ways................Margaret

Stephen and Barb Neafcy have brought the painful truths of how difficult it is to fit in when one has a FASD to light in this delightful book. The strategies Stephen outlines herein for coping with his stresses would help just about anyone, but to an adult struggling with a FASD, they may just be a lifeline. I see their book as an eye-opener for many who have yet to be clear that prenatal exposure to alcohol changes lives irrepairably. Stephen discusses his coping strategies with candor and with grace. I am very grateful to the authors and the publishers for the creation of this book and have purchased a copy for my son who is also affected.