Flying Without Wings: Personal Reflections on Being Disabled Hardcover December 18, 1988

by Arnold Beisser

Product Description “Give yourself a gift and read Flying Without Wings. You will be kinder, wiser, and more compassionate for having read it. I am.”—Abigail (Dear Abby) Van BurenAt twenty-four, Arnold Beisser was a recent medical school graduate and a nationally ranked tennis player. But overnight a devastating bout of polio left him permanently paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on an iron lung to draw his next breath. Polio robbed Arnold Beisser of his strength, his athletic ability, and almost his life. Yet he discovered in this unthinkable trap not only the expected sadness and despair, but wonder, delight, and the pleasure of everyday living.This is the wise, deeply moving, and warmly humorous account of Arnold Beisser’s search for a new life and meaning as he comes to terms with his disability and then transcends it . . . to practice psychiatry, to fall in love, truly to soar without wings. His spirit and determination to fight for happiness will inspire any reader faced with unbearable loss. Dr. Beisser shows us why the contrast between winner and loser, athlete and cripple, is in our minds much more than in our bodies. And he shares with us the experiences that taught him life’s greatest Nothing can keep you from love, laughter, meaningful work, or enlightenment—except yourself.“A book of blazing honesty and openness. It goes right to the heart of the reader.”—Norman Cousins, author of Anatomy of an Illness Review “Give yourself a gift and read Flying Without Wings. You will be kinder, wiser, and more compassionate for having read it. I am.”—Abigail (Dear Abby) Van Buren“A book of blazing honesty and openness. It goes right to the heart of the reader.”—Norman Cousins, author of Anatomy of an Illness About the Author Arnold Beisser was a graduate of Stanford University and its medical school. He was a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a recipient of its Gold Achievement Award. He published over 100 articles, reviews, book chapters, and books, including Madness in Sports and Mental Health Consultation. Arnold Beisser died in 1991.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Memoir, Disability

Unknown Binding

First published December 18, 1988

Reviews

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. It is both a personal narrative of the experience of having polio and receiving health care for this condition as well as an analysis of living with a disability and what gives life meaning and what makes it worth living by the author who is a psychiatrist.

[Debbie Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insight into the thoughts of having a life changing challenge and making lemonade. Interesting read

[Vaclovas Rekasius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, gives an important perspective on how to deal with major losses

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for sissies. You have to have guts to read it, as did the man who lived it before he wrote it. Author Arnold Beisser was an active young man and a medical school grad when he became paralyzed from the neck down when he was 25. He couldn't even breath outside an iron lung, and yet this amazing man managed to find peace and joy in his life. A must read for every living soul.

[Heather Clark-Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opening book that pushes you to think outside the box, to see things from your own perspective as well as others, it pushes the envelope of what a life is to live from the perspective of Arnold Beisser on his life and how his disability affects the way he sees the world. A book I believe everyone should read at least once.