 "Controversial but worth reading repetitiously" | 2009-10-29 |
| - Reviewed By Sharon from Tampa Bay Region, Florida USA |
One of the most profound books I've ever purchased on Amazon, and every time I read it; I learn something new that I had not noticed before. While this book I am aware has always been a controversial book, but it is truly unique and interesting. This is one book that you can read, learn something - put it away.
Wait for a time being, return back to it - read it all over again and it becomes a totally different aspect, perspective, and depth than when you first read it.
I originally purchased this with attempts to understand the Geschwind's Syndrome, but instead - it's become an uncanny book that you cannot surrender or give it up. Indeed, I had a few folks whom borrowed it declaring it being "spooky" to "psycho" due to lack of understanding of Epilepsy, which has given me the conclusion that one must understand or at least have some general understanding of Epilepsy upfront prior to reading this book.
Those who had knowledge of or partial knowledge of Epilepsy found it quite mysterious to mestermizing, in fact, one actually purchased one for themselves.
For one to Judge on the book, it is strongly recommended repetitive readings of this controversial book, for whereas, it is then when you gain insight and to a point, like myself, unable to put it all down in words. |
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| "Finally, it all makes sense!" | 2008-09-21 |
| - Reviewed By author, Chasing the Wind & Final Hours from St. Louis, MO |
| I have temporal lobe epilepsy, and this book explained so much for me! I was initially diagnosed following a head injury at 18, but I had a bit of memory loss, so I don't remember how much I was told about it. In college, I stopped taking anti-seizure meds because I never had tonic-clonic seizures and assumed the diagnosis had been incorrect. When the seizures I did have worsened and I finally discovered I had TLE, Ms. LaPlante's book helped me to understand so much. I've experienced things I never previously associated with epilepsy. (I found the book recommended on the website of the Epilepsy Foundation.) |
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 "Full of Gross Generalizations and Little Fact" | 2008-05-26 |
| - Reviewed By EZWriter from Wilkes-Barre, PA |
At first I was excited to find a book that has been well received in the seizure disorder community as one that portrays accurate fact-based information about temporal lobe epilepsy, or epilepsy that is focally based in one area of the brain.
However, I was sorely disappointed with this book. In fact, in a lot of areas, it was horrifying for someone who has a seizure disorder of this type. It offers little hope, little direction on solutions, and a lot of confusion as to what this type of epilepsy is all about.
For example, if I knew nothing about this type of epilepsy, I would wonder, does everyone have these type of deeply emotional experiences and could everyone have a seizure? Well, it's possible that everyone COULD have a seizure, but the truth is that there is a very small population of people who WILL have seizures. The sensory auras (or precursors to having a seizure) the author speaks about are relevant only to the people who have a propensity to have seizures, and she doesn't make that clear. The fact that she doesn't make this clear is a VERY DANGEROUS underpinning of this book.
Other unsupported "facts" were to ascribe seizure like states to such prophetic figures as Moses, Muhammed and Christian saints and a great many literary figures. This was to support the Geschwind syndrome theory. While I have seen theories of literary figures having seizures from other sources, religious figures having seizures when receiving prophecies didn't appear to be supported by any theologians or neurologists previously.
The theories on the various forms of complex partial seizures or "TLE" as the author calls it, are unsupported (I've never heard a doctor mention these), the treatments are crazy, and the cases mentioned are horrific examples to use.
For example, to use such a broad example of "TLE" to exemplify her case was appalling and would scare any newly diagnosed person: an outspoken, almost psychotic woman who was experimented on by opportunistic doctors is not a good example of the vast majority of sufferers of complex partial seizures. This example shows that the author is clearly out of touch with the community she is so desperately trying to exemplify.
Most of the sufferers of complex partial seizures are silent sufferers who go through years of ups and downs and they really need a voice. It's sad that this is seen as the only "plain language" book that is out there.
The only highlight to this book was the details of Geschwind's syndrome. It was fascinating, but again unsupported with fact and with solutions. The only thing I took away from this was that someone who suffered from this syndrome needed to either take some psychiatric heavy lifting drugs or live with the social consequences of being a misfit.
I agree with the reviewer that this book offers problems, but no solutions. I would give 0 stars, but alas, there is no option for this. |
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| "Medical overview for lay people" | 2006-08-23 |
| - Reviewed By pholtje |
| The few medical terms used in describing Epilepsy are well defined and understandable. The functioning of the brain in epileptics is well described and the disorder can be well understood; the treatment and care an epileptic needs and responds to is clear and shown to be simple. Being an epileptic for 51 years, I now have a good appreciation for the causes of what I have gone through and the improvements in diagnosing and minimizing epilepsy. |
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| "Some interesting things to think about that could help you relate to someone you know that has epilepsy" | 2006-08-12 |
| - Reviewed By Dr. T |
This is actually the first non-medical book on epilepsy that I read (several years ago). I was fascinated with the possibilities that the author described, especially in regards to the epilepsy personality (chapter 5). It was particularly useful as a tool to help family and friends of a person afflicted with epilepsy understand that the person may not have as much control over their behavior all of the time as the other family members might think. Once you abandon the expectation that the individual will act normally all of the time, and understand that there are going to be some abnormal behavior patterns, there can progress in dealing with the problems.
The other chapters are informative as well. All in all an interesting and useful book. I recommend it. |
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| "If you have TLE, read this book!" | 2005-06-22 |
| - Reviewed By An Amazon User |
I have had temporal lobe epilepsy for as long as I can remember. My seizures started when I was a baby. I have always had tonic clonic seizures, too, but not until I was an adult did I even learn that the other unusual experiences that I was having were complex partial and simple partial seizures. I was afraid to ask other people if they also had these strange experiences, but they didn't appear to.
After I was diagnosed with TLE I found other people with epilepsy to talk to online. For the first time ever, I knew that I was not the only person on earth who lived this way. Some of the feelings of isolation subsided. Then someone recommended Eve La Plante's book. I am so grateful. I think that a person who has TLE will have a different experience when they read this book than other people will. For me, and others who have written about it on forums related to epilepsy on the internet, it is a revelation. It is an affirmation. It offers some explanation. It has been a moving experience.
To read it and recognize some of the traits of Geschwind's syndrome in myself was a relief, in a way. People who don't have epilepsy seem to think that it only involves occasional convulsions, but the truth is that a person with epilepsy, and certainly TLE, is affected by it every minute of their lives. The research discussed in this book acknowledges and confirms that and offers an explanation. Yes, I am different, and this is why. Oddly, I am relieved.
So many books about epilepsy are written from the perspective of a doctor, a doctor lecturing the patient and their family. 'This is what you must do, this is what you must never do, you're just going to have to accept that you can't do that.' If you have read one, you've read them all, really. It comes across in a condescending way, and for those of us who were not diagnosed recently, they're not very helpful. Seized is different. It goes deeper. It's not intended to be a textbook or an introduction to life with epilepsy. It discusses more interesting things than 'Don't swim alone.' It provides insight into the connection between brain structure and personality. As a person with TLE, I found this book to be a fascinating, exhilerating read. I highly recommend it. |
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