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Books
Books are good, books are fun, books have pages - more than one. Some notable Parkinson's books for you.
Counterpunch: Duking It Out
With Parkinson’s
By Gil Thelen with C. Struby Thelen
BookBaby, 2019
A straight-talking newspaper editor and his journalist wife describe their Parkinson’s journey with wit and passion. Their Lessons Learned and practical advice will benefit all sufferers and their families who wish to live well with their condition.
Always Looking Up: The Adventures
of An Incurable Optimist
By Michael J. Fox
Hyperion, 2010
A compendium of wisdom from actor Michael J. Fox, arguably the public’s the best-known face of a Parkinson’s sufferer. He has broken the book into thematic sections rather than a chronology, which represent the driving forces of his current life: work, politics, faith, and family. This remarkable man’s foundation is the leading funder of PD research.
Brain Storms: The Race to Unlock
The Mysteries Of Parkinson’s Disease
By Jon Palfreman
Scientific American, 2015
Palfreman, a prize-winning journalist and educator who has PD, chronicles how scientists have worked to crack the mystery of what was called the shaking palsy, from early clinical descriptions to the cutting edge of neuroscience. A detailed, comprehensive, and highly readable book.
C is for Caregiver
By Laura A. Crawford and
Christine Sapienza, Ph.D.
RoseDale Publishing, 2018
This book's title could lead you to believe it is meant for caregivers--and it certainly is. However, it might as well have been titled E is for Everybody, because its message fits anyone going through the raw and oh-so-personal journey called life.
Ending Parkinson’s Disease:
A Prescription for Action
By Ray Dorsey, Todd Sherer,
Michael S. Okun, Bastiaan R. Bloem
Public Affairs, 2020
The definitive, must-read book on PD written by four Parkinson’s experts. It sets out a four-point program to take up “arms” against Parkinson’s, the fastest growing neurological disease in the world. At the same time, our investment in new therapies has lagged.
Life in the Balance: A Physician’s Memoir of Life, Love, and Loss with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia
By Thomas B. Graboys with Peter Zheutlin
Union Square Press, 2008
This compelling book chronicles the author’s journey from treating cardiac patients to being a patient slowly succumbing to Parkinson’s disease and dementia. It is a moving and instructive account of the condition’s “progressing,” written only as a sufferer could do.
Living With Parkinson’s Disease:
A Complete Guide for Patients
and Caregivers
By Michael Okun MD, Irene Malaty MD,
and Wissam Deeb, MD
Robert Rose, 2020
This approachable and easy to read book addresses Parkinson’s symptoms and issues. It offers patients and care partners the tools to manage the disease while maintaining their quality of life.
My Degeneration. A Journey Through Parkinson’s
By Peter Dunlap-Shohl
Penn State University Press, 2015
Dunlap-Shohl is a former newspaper editorial cartoonist. He has written a seriously funny book about his wrestling match with the Parkinson’s Monster. It is a page turner combining solid science and wry humor.
Parkinson’s Treatment: 10 Secrets
to a Happier Life
By Michael S. Okun, M.D.
CreateSpace/Amazon, 2013
Okun is a world-leading Parkinson’s expert. His “10 Secrets” provides answers to such vital treatment issues such as Deep Brain Surgery, addiction-like symptoms connected to some PD medications, clinical trials and new therapies. His writing is clear and authoritative.
Possibilities with Parkinson's:
A Fresh Look
By Dr. C
Atmosphere Press, 2021
This book is a mind-bending romp through innovative ways of understanding this bizarre condition and building effective coping strategies. Dr. C’s genius is to get beyond the visible and observable about PD. He uses rich metaphors to enlarge his compelling and original commentary.
Window of Opportunity: Living with
the Reality of Parkinson’s
and the Threat of Dementia
By Kirk Hall
Smashwords, 2014
Hall is a celebrated patient advocate and author. “Window” explores his journey from the first signs of cognitive impairment to facing the possibility he could end up with something as devastatingly frightening as dementia. It is direct, candid and plainspoken.
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