What do you think?
Rate this book
Robbing Mind: How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death
In the summer of 2013, Mystery Writer and Radio Personality Chuck Collins was diagnosed with a deadly form of brain cancer. This is the story of how he and a special community of professionals, friends and family made the best of a very bad situation. Portions of proceeds (60%) will go to aid families dealing with brain health issues. Go to RobbingMind.com for more information.
132 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2013
9 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Collins
27 books27 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 23, 2014
Having read "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch and watched his actual last lecture, I find stories about brave individuals fighting dire diagnoses with positivity very interesting and compelling, so I was rather excited to read RoBBing Mind: How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death.
What I Liked:
It takes a lot of courage to even endure something like cancer, and maintaining a positive attitude seems nearly impossible. Chuck Collins, however, accomplished that and braved the world with his story.
The fact that some of the proceeds are being donated to families that are dealing with brain health issues is also very admirable.
However, If I'm being honest, there wasn't much I liked about the book itself. I really wanted to like it, but there wasn't much for me to enjoy. I expected the story of the author's sickness and triumph, but it was so mangled in its execution that I had to force myself to finish.
What I Didn't Like:
The book was largely incoherent for several reasons. One of them, the rampant errors that were not caught by an editor, might have been caused by the fact that it was an e-book, but that is not a good excuse. I mean, how could they not have caught the fact that the entire first chapter gets repeated? It actually became frustrating to see all of the missing punctuation, spelling errors, and word choice mistakes.
Apart from the numerous technical errors, the story was jumbled. It didn't seem to have a unified structure at all. There were just a bunch of random stories about friends and family members who faced struggles and failed, but never an actual explanation about how the author's attitude prevented a fate worse than death. The title itself is just plain misleading because the author, at the end of the book, still faces the possibility of succumbing to the cancer.
Also, there was a lot of condemnation of people who "give up" when they are diagnosed as terminal patients, and those moments felt very self-congratulatory. Nobody wants to read a book where someone just keeps patting himself on the back for being such a good sport, especially at the expense of others.
At this point, I want to point out that I sympathize with the author, and criticizing this book makes me feel really bad; however, I feel that I must be honest. What made the whole thing worse was considering whether the errors were caused by his condition. Apparently the author has written a few fiction novels, and I couldn't help wondering if I should read one of them to see whether he was just a poor writer or getting really sick.
Overall:
I did not enjoy RoBBing Mind: How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death. I would not recommend it to other people unless they wanted to do so in order to make a contribution to the charity.
Rating: 1/5 stars
For more reviews, check out www.thegrandshuckett.com
What I Liked:
It takes a lot of courage to even endure something like cancer, and maintaining a positive attitude seems nearly impossible. Chuck Collins, however, accomplished that and braved the world with his story.
The fact that some of the proceeds are being donated to families that are dealing with brain health issues is also very admirable.
However, If I'm being honest, there wasn't much I liked about the book itself. I really wanted to like it, but there wasn't much for me to enjoy. I expected the story of the author's sickness and triumph, but it was so mangled in its execution that I had to force myself to finish.
What I Didn't Like:
The book was largely incoherent for several reasons. One of them, the rampant errors that were not caught by an editor, might have been caused by the fact that it was an e-book, but that is not a good excuse. I mean, how could they not have caught the fact that the entire first chapter gets repeated? It actually became frustrating to see all of the missing punctuation, spelling errors, and word choice mistakes.
Apart from the numerous technical errors, the story was jumbled. It didn't seem to have a unified structure at all. There were just a bunch of random stories about friends and family members who faced struggles and failed, but never an actual explanation about how the author's attitude prevented a fate worse than death. The title itself is just plain misleading because the author, at the end of the book, still faces the possibility of succumbing to the cancer.
Also, there was a lot of condemnation of people who "give up" when they are diagnosed as terminal patients, and those moments felt very self-congratulatory. Nobody wants to read a book where someone just keeps patting himself on the back for being such a good sport, especially at the expense of others.
At this point, I want to point out that I sympathize with the author, and criticizing this book makes me feel really bad; however, I feel that I must be honest. What made the whole thing worse was considering whether the errors were caused by his condition. Apparently the author has written a few fiction novels, and I couldn't help wondering if I should read one of them to see whether he was just a poor writer or getting really sick.
Overall:
I did not enjoy RoBBing Mind: How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death. I would not recommend it to other people unless they wanted to do so in order to make a contribution to the charity.
Rating: 1/5 stars
For more reviews, check out www.thegrandshuckett.com
February 26, 2014
What an upbeat and inspiring book written by a stage 4 brain tumor survivor! I highly recommend that everyone read this book. This book was written as it was happening and gives the human touch to a medical horror. Chuck Collins recounts his past and the mistakes he made which by his strength of character he was able to overcome. Family is very important to him and we learn a bit about each of them. His attitude of "I'm going to beat this" even when fear threatened to overwhelm him (which is totally understandable) is phenomenal. If ever the power of positive thinking is questioned then this book should be handed to that person pronto. Chuck Collins is lucky that he has some of the best doctors in the field and a very supportive wife, extended family and friends as this is also very necessary to the healing process. He also tells of others who weren't quite as lucky as he is. It is the last paragraph in this short very true biography written by the author which will stay with me always. He adds it as a personal note.
"You will wake up some mornings in a fog of doubt. You will feel more and more irrelevant and wonder why fight one more day? When that happens, please remember this, even before you became ill, all you had was one day. But this day is special and it will not be complete until you add your spirit to it. Eat, move around, see the spark of life, of the divine in the smallest things, do what you can and this day will reward you with another just like it, only better! Chuck Collins"Robbing Mind: How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death
"You will wake up some mornings in a fog of doubt. You will feel more and more irrelevant and wonder why fight one more day? When that happens, please remember this, even before you became ill, all you had was one day. But this day is special and it will not be complete until you add your spirit to it. Eat, move around, see the spark of life, of the divine in the smallest things, do what you can and this day will reward you with another just like it, only better! Chuck Collins"Robbing Mind: How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death
March 2, 2014
I have had the pleasure of reading several books from brain tumor survivors and survivors of critical issues, and every time, I am encouraged by what I read. This book is no exception. I was enthralled to read about the author's own memories of his medical issues, and it reminded me of the resilience of the body as well as what is truly important in this life. I salute the author for being vulnerable and quite open about his own journey. This book truly has the power to encourage practically everyone who takes the time to peruse it.
I only have a couple minor criticisms, and they are only my personal opinion. I sincerely wish that the book would have been more organized. I sometimes struggled with the details of the book since they were not put in chronological order. I fully understand that the author's purpose probably did not support that kind of timeline, but I often struggle with books that jump around like this one did. My other criticism concerns his view of God. Now, I believe that everyone is entitled to his/her own beliefs concerning God, and I have no problem with someone stating their belief or non-belief in God. My concern is that he was so dogmatic about it. I believe that the author may have alienated some people by writing as he did, and I can assure you that people of faith would not feel terribly warm towards this book. I appreciate what the author was doing, but I wish that he had stated just a few things somewhat differently. There were no sex scenes, and profanity was minimal.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I only have a couple minor criticisms, and they are only my personal opinion. I sincerely wish that the book would have been more organized. I sometimes struggled with the details of the book since they were not put in chronological order. I fully understand that the author's purpose probably did not support that kind of timeline, but I often struggle with books that jump around like this one did. My other criticism concerns his view of God. Now, I believe that everyone is entitled to his/her own beliefs concerning God, and I have no problem with someone stating their belief or non-belief in God. My concern is that he was so dogmatic about it. I believe that the author may have alienated some people by writing as he did, and I can assure you that people of faith would not feel terribly warm towards this book. I appreciate what the author was doing, but I wish that he had stated just a few things somewhat differently. There were no sex scenes, and profanity was minimal.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
December 27, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.
A good friend of mine from high school lost her father to a brain tumor. It was so sad to see how devastated her family was over that loss. That is the reason I wanted to read this book, to learn more about brain cancer to understand better what my friend and her family went through, even though it has been many years ago now. The author's reluctance to admit anything was wrong and seek treatment sounds like SO many men, I know. With the exception of myself and my husband, he is the one who will run to the doctor for every little thing, and I'm the one saying "Nah, I'm fine, it'll pass, my body will take care of it." However, I'm 41 now, today in fact is my birthday. I know I can't be careless with my health anymore. This book was a good reminder that though the vessel I inhabit is my own, I don't know 100% what's going on inside it. That is what medical professionals and periodic exams are for. So, Monday I will be calling up our doctor's office (after I dig around and find the number, I call it so rarely). Or perhaps, I'll just ask my husband for the number, I'm sure he's got it memorized or on speed dial, or something. Back to the story, it was sad to hear the diagnosis, but how the author dealt with it, and the support system he had was pretty inspiring. This is a very short read and I recommend it to anyone who wants to hear first hand what getting the diagnosis of a brain tumor can be like. It's an eye opener. Happy Reading!
A good friend of mine from high school lost her father to a brain tumor. It was so sad to see how devastated her family was over that loss. That is the reason I wanted to read this book, to learn more about brain cancer to understand better what my friend and her family went through, even though it has been many years ago now. The author's reluctance to admit anything was wrong and seek treatment sounds like SO many men, I know. With the exception of myself and my husband, he is the one who will run to the doctor for every little thing, and I'm the one saying "Nah, I'm fine, it'll pass, my body will take care of it." However, I'm 41 now, today in fact is my birthday. I know I can't be careless with my health anymore. This book was a good reminder that though the vessel I inhabit is my own, I don't know 100% what's going on inside it. That is what medical professionals and periodic exams are for. So, Monday I will be calling up our doctor's office (after I dig around and find the number, I call it so rarely). Or perhaps, I'll just ask my husband for the number, I'm sure he's got it memorized or on speed dial, or something. Back to the story, it was sad to hear the diagnosis, but how the author dealt with it, and the support system he had was pretty inspiring. This is a very short read and I recommend it to anyone who wants to hear first hand what getting the diagnosis of a brain tumor can be like. It's an eye opener. Happy Reading!
March 15, 2014
RoBBing Mind How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death is the detailed account of Chuck Collins and his recent discovering, diagnosis and treatment of a deadly form of brain cancer.
In reading RoBBing Mind, the candid and relatable accounts of the emotions, relationships and procedures that were instrumental in making Collins’ a survivor rather than a victim will move you tears at times. The lessons in life appreciation and gratitude resonate long after the story has ended. This is a story of strength and determination during a time of physical weakness and medical intervention. His documented journey and reflections are an emotional rollercoaster ride that is shared with a genuineness that is endearing and blatantly honest.
This is a recommended read for anyone facing the diagnosis of cancer, serving as a personal or professional caregiver to a diagnosed loved one or anyone that enjoys a story reflective of a positive mental attitude. There is a message of hope and courage in the face of adversity that RoBBing Mind How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death delivers in a solid motivational story. Chuck Collins has generously donated portions of proceeds (60%) to aid families dealing with brain health issues. Go to RobbingMind.com for more information.
- See more at: http://niecyisms.blogspot.com/search?...
In reading RoBBing Mind, the candid and relatable accounts of the emotions, relationships and procedures that were instrumental in making Collins’ a survivor rather than a victim will move you tears at times. The lessons in life appreciation and gratitude resonate long after the story has ended. This is a story of strength and determination during a time of physical weakness and medical intervention. His documented journey and reflections are an emotional rollercoaster ride that is shared with a genuineness that is endearing and blatantly honest.
This is a recommended read for anyone facing the diagnosis of cancer, serving as a personal or professional caregiver to a diagnosed loved one or anyone that enjoys a story reflective of a positive mental attitude. There is a message of hope and courage in the face of adversity that RoBBing Mind How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death delivers in a solid motivational story. Chuck Collins has generously donated portions of proceeds (60%) to aid families dealing with brain health issues. Go to RobbingMind.com for more information.
- See more at: http://niecyisms.blogspot.com/search?...
February 18, 2014
Chuck Collins writes about a life changing event in his life, a brain tumor, from its discovery to treatment on how he gets through it. It is a terrifying experience to anyone going through it but also quite terrifying for the person reading it as this can happen to anyone and being such a fresh experience in this life it is still so raw.
He is a brave man to write his experiences down as I think this will help anyone who is going through the same thing.
He is a brave man to write his experiences down as I think this will help anyone who is going through the same thing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews