Multiple Sclerosis: A Personal Exploration (Human Horizons) [Paperback]

Alexander Burnfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1985 | ISBN-10: 0285650181 | ISBN-13: 978-0285650183 | Edition: 1

As a doctor and psychiatrist who has MS, the author of this refreshingly frank and practical book is able to draw on personal experience, as well as professional knowledge and insights. In openly discussing the issues of honesty in diagnosis, and the emotional, social, and physical problems faced by people with MS and by their families, he offers uniquely sympathetic help that has brought this book the highest acclaim from all those working in the field. Continually reprinted and updated since it was first published in 1985, this sixth reprint includes information on the drug Beta Interferon, currently being evaluated as a possible effective treatment for some types of MS, and the valuable resources section has been thoroughly revised up to the time of going to press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Souvenir Press; 1 edition (September 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0285650181
• ISBN-13: 978-0285650183
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,628,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nicely writen, but a bit outdated...., November 20, 2001

By 

Mitchell J. Sturgeon (Scarborough, ME United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Multiple Sclerosis: A Personal Exploration (Human Horizons) (Paperback)

Granted, the book is written in excellent conversational style. However, I am recently diagnosed with MS, and I found the book to be both outdated and not applicable to life in the US. There is a strong British orientation to the book. Americans in the 2000's will find that many of the issues are no longer relevant, such as a discussion about why it is wrong for doctors to just inform the well spouse about the disease and keep the patient in the dark, for his own good. That is unthinkable today, so therefore not worth reading about.

Burnfield has updated the book since the original publishing. However, the updates are not well integrated into the text. They show up as additional sections at the end of chapters, such as sections on the ABC drugs and Viagra. It is obvious that a not a great deal of effort has gone into the updates.

Again, it was very well written, but there are many better books available for people being diagnosed in the United States in recent years.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy-to-read, informative., December 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Multiple Sclerosis: A Personal Exploration (Human Horizons) (Paperback)

I haven't read any other books on MS and don't have the disease, but I am guessing this book might be of significant help and comfort to someone who is diagnosed with MS or living with someone with MS. It's very well-written in a conversational tone by a British doctor/psychiatrist who has MS himself. It's a nice cross between straight medical info, personal anecdotes, and wholistic self-help suggestions. I recommend it highly.