The Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto: Action To Take, Principles to Live By [Paperback]

Julie Stachowiak (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1932603441 | ISBN-13: 978-1932603446 | Publication Date: January 26, 2010 | Edition: 1

Winner of a 2009 Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award

Written for all people with MS, regardless of the type, severity of symptoms, gender, age, or time since diagnosis, The Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto: Action to Take, Principles to Live By contains critical information organized under “action” statements and using examples of how this information can most effectively be used to help the readers. Author Julia Stachowiak, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2004, has crafted a road map that not only provides encouragement but also offers education and motivation for readers. In 12 chapters, Stachowiak covers every aspect of an activist MS life, from large concepts like gaining confidence, motivating others, and taking control to practical tools like constructing an MS identity, exploring complementary and alternative treatments, and learning about the rights and responsibilities that come with the condition. In the process, she offers readers with MS a chance to transform both the medical and healthcare industries and themselves.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., is About.com's Multiple Sclerosis Guide. In 1993 she co-founded one of the first non-governmental AIDS/HIV organizations in Russia. AIDS infoshare has grown to be the most influential non-governmental organization dealing with the HIV epidemic in Russia. Julie left this organization when she was diagnosed with MS in 2004. Her work with the AIDS community informed her embrace of her own disease and her political stance on living with a chronic condition. She is a contributing author of myriad books and earned her doctorate degree in International Disease Control and Prevention from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Demos Health; 1 edition (January 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932603441
• ISBN-13: 978-1932603446
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #584,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Multiple Sclerosis

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love This Book, January 14, 2010

By 

M. Stibich (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto: Action To Take, Principles to Live By (Paperback)

First off, I'll admit I'm biased -- Julie Stachowiak (the author) is my wife. But before you ignore my review, hear me out. Not all bias is bad. I know exactly what went into writing this book and how true what she says is. This book is the sum of her 3+ years writing about multiple sclerosis on [...] and trying to help people suffering from multiple sclerosis find better ways to live with their illness. If you have MS, this book is going to have something for you. It is not your typical "information" book, Julie is three things: a PhD in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins, a person living with multiple sclerosis and a damn good writer. Put those together and you have a book that anyone with MS can benefit from.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book---MS or not!, February 19, 2010

By 

sidney norman (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto: Action To Take, Principles to Live By (Paperback)

I highly recommend for ANYONE! Ms. Stachowiak is so thorough and honest in describing her own daily life with MS. She could easily be the best friend of anyone living with a chronic illness; the book is like having a conversation with a good friend facing similar issues you are. I'm very impressed by the enormous amount of time she obviously spends researching; she's a wonderful inspiration to other patients (at any stage in their diagnosis). She neither sugar-coats nor paints a picture of doom & gloom of life with MS, but is realistic and even humorous. She provides clear & specific "action points" to take as you go through daily life with an illness...from telling others about your diagnosis to researching treatments and doctors...to becoming your own best advocate and helping others. Eventhough I do not have a chronic illness, I took away great advice for living my own life and becoming the best person I can be. I ordered this book on a whim for my friend who was recently diagnosed with MS, but wanted to read it first before giving it to her. It's refreshing to read a book on a serious medical topic which has been so thoughtfully written by someone who is actually living with MS and not by a medical doctor. We are all beneficiaries of Ms. Stachowiak's knowledge; thanks for sharing!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most helpful MS book available, February 23, 2010

By 

Beth "Beth" (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto: Action To Take, Principles to Live By (Paperback)

This is a great book! It's very readable (even if you don't have MS it's interesting to read) and gives practical, down to earth advice on dealing with the disease on a day-to-day basis. If you don't have MS but know someone who does, it gives a realistic description of the symptoms and the daily life of someone with the disease. It also gives practical advice on dealing with doctors, tests, appointments, medications, etc. I highly recommend this book!

A review from Mohamed:
My sister was diagnosed with MS six years ago. Living in a 3rd World County with such a disease is very difficult. You do not know if you where diagnosed and treated correctly. Such a book will make a big difference to people like my sister. Fortunately she can read and write English so she will be able to benefit from Dr. Stachowiak work. Most of all she can trust every thing in it. The book has a lot of substance. It is based on both scientific and first hand experience with the disease. Dr. Stachowiak did a great job. I wish this work and similar works could be translated to other languages so people in other countries can benefit from such a good and through work.
On behalf of my sister and all MS patients, which will definitely benefit from this work, I salute DR. Stachowiak and wish her the best of luck.