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Fallosophy: My Trip through Life with MS
A memoir based on columnist, fashion-show TV host, podcaster and MS advocate Ardra Shephard’s award-winning blog, Tripping on Air.
Twenty-three-year-old Ardra Shephard is sleeping with the wrong guy, living in a crappy apartment, and spending money she doesn’t have on designer shoes, boozy brunches and weekends in NYC. She hates her office job, but it pays for the lessons she needs to make it as an opera singer. She isn’t thrilled about her current situation, but she isn’t panicked. She knows she’s got time! Making mistakes while you figure stuff out is what your twenties are all about. But then when a doctor tells Ardra she has MS, those two letters split her life into a Before and After.
While over a million people in Canada and the United States live with Multiple Sclerosis, there is no certainty when it comes to the progression of the disease. By her mid-thirties, Ardra is struggling to walk, and it’s terrifying. When she starts using mobility aids, she faces feelings of otherness and not belonging like never before. As Ardra’s deepest fears keep coming true, she starts to learn the most important She’s been sold a lie about disability—it isn’t a fate worse than death. Having so far survived all of her worst-case scenarios, she begins to realize that a difficult life doesn’t have to be a joyless life.
Today, twenty years after her diagnosis, Ardra’s journey isn’t over. MS will always be a force to be reckoned with, but the woman Ardra is, day after day, is no longer negotiable.
Fallosophy serves up wisdom like a seasoned bartender who’s seen it all, and doesn’t try to sugarcoat what it’s really like to live with a progressive, disabling illness in a world that would rather not build a ramp.
Twenty-three-year-old Ardra Shephard is sleeping with the wrong guy, living in a crappy apartment, and spending money she doesn’t have on designer shoes, boozy brunches and weekends in NYC. She hates her office job, but it pays for the lessons she needs to make it as an opera singer. She isn’t thrilled about her current situation, but she isn’t panicked. She knows she’s got time! Making mistakes while you figure stuff out is what your twenties are all about. But then when a doctor tells Ardra she has MS, those two letters split her life into a Before and After.
While over a million people in Canada and the United States live with Multiple Sclerosis, there is no certainty when it comes to the progression of the disease. By her mid-thirties, Ardra is struggling to walk, and it’s terrifying. When she starts using mobility aids, she faces feelings of otherness and not belonging like never before. As Ardra’s deepest fears keep coming true, she starts to learn the most important She’s been sold a lie about disability—it isn’t a fate worse than death. Having so far survived all of her worst-case scenarios, she begins to realize that a difficult life doesn’t have to be a joyless life.
Today, twenty years after her diagnosis, Ardra’s journey isn’t over. MS will always be a force to be reckoned with, but the woman Ardra is, day after day, is no longer negotiable.
Fallosophy serves up wisdom like a seasoned bartender who’s seen it all, and doesn’t try to sugarcoat what it’s really like to live with a progressive, disabling illness in a world that would rather not build a ramp.
256 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2025
16 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
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February 18, 2025
This is a memoir from a Canadian woman who has Multiple Sclerosis (MS), recounting her story of being diagnosed in her twenties and how she's navigated this disability over the decades. When the book begins Ardra is in her twenties and working and finds herself in the Emergency Room with a painful eye issue. Testing ensues and she's saddled with a sobering diagnosis that changes her entire life. MS is a progressive disease, and Ardra takes the reader through her advancing mobility issues, equipment used (rollator, cane), testing, treatments, medicines- while her loving and dedicated husband is always there to support her. Ardra has sass and spunk, so I enjoyed the frank delivery of her life's journey dealing with a progressive neurological disease.
Thank you to Douglas & McIntyre / Harbour Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.
Thank you to Douglas & McIntyre / Harbour Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.
March 16, 2025
A funny, poignant, relatable and no-bullshit look into life with a progressing disability.
I’m a fellow disabled woman and I’ve been following Ardra’s blog for many many years, so I was really excited when she announced this memoir. It did not disappoint!
I felt so validated while reading this. My copy is very dog-eared because I regularly found myself thinking “preach!” and “don’t I know it, girl!” and “holy crap how DID she know I was thinking that exact same thing about mobility aids?!” Ardra has a special talent of always being able to find the exact right way to word something that so many of us have been trying to describe about being sick and disabled. And she often does it in a way that makes us laugh. It’s a special feeling when someone else just gets it.
But this book isn’t just for us fellow Trippers. Even folks who have never even heard of MS or know next to nothing about disability will get so much out of reading this. So I rate it E for Everyone.
It also got me out of a bad reading slump thanks to the quick chapters. As someone with brain fog I’ll always support short chapters.
I’m a fellow disabled woman and I’ve been following Ardra’s blog for many many years, so I was really excited when she announced this memoir. It did not disappoint!
I felt so validated while reading this. My copy is very dog-eared because I regularly found myself thinking “preach!” and “don’t I know it, girl!” and “holy crap how DID she know I was thinking that exact same thing about mobility aids?!” Ardra has a special talent of always being able to find the exact right way to word something that so many of us have been trying to describe about being sick and disabled. And she often does it in a way that makes us laugh. It’s a special feeling when someone else just gets it.
But this book isn’t just for us fellow Trippers. Even folks who have never even heard of MS or know next to nothing about disability will get so much out of reading this. So I rate it E for Everyone.
It also got me out of a bad reading slump thanks to the quick chapters. As someone with brain fog I’ll always support short chapters.
February 13, 2025
A memoir based on columnist, fashion-show TV host, podcaster, and MS advocate Ardra Shephard’s award-winning blog, Tripping on Air.
Fallosophy serves up wisdom like a seasoned bartender who’s seen it all and doesn’t try to sugarcoat what it’s really like to live with a progressive, disabling illness in a world that would rather not build a ramp.
» Fallosophy splits The Before from how she navigated the early years of MS in short vignettes set in linear chronology. Each one has meaning and like her blog, conclude with a thought or statement which promotes reflection.
» I found Ardra’s blog after being diagnosed with MS in 2016, feeling a bit lost and without someone to relate to. I was hooked! Hers was the voice I needed to hear; she tells a story that is so achingly familiar and relatable with her signature style of accessible writing that is equally snarky as it is touching.
» Ardra has a natural ability to make me snort-laugh and sob within the same page. I don’t feel broken even though my heart breaks at times and I’m not even mad about it. Which is okay, because neither is she! This is no woe-is-me tale. Ardra is a champion of pulling up her big-girl pants and dealing with it, so it’s no surprise she’s so well-loved.
✩ ‘The Banker’ deserves an honourable mention. This isn’t a romance novel, but Ardra compares her story to a rom-com. I loved hearing more about their relationship; he is a straight up #Legend and could totally be a book boyfriend.
♡ I love this book so much! Read it! You’ll laugh and cry (but I promise more laughing than crying).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨ Thank you to Ardra Shephard and Douglas & McIntyre for providing an ARC.
Connect with me on Instagram for more bookish content!
Fallosophy serves up wisdom like a seasoned bartender who’s seen it all and doesn’t try to sugarcoat what it’s really like to live with a progressive, disabling illness in a world that would rather not build a ramp.
» Fallosophy splits The Before from how she navigated the early years of MS in short vignettes set in linear chronology. Each one has meaning and like her blog, conclude with a thought or statement which promotes reflection.
» I found Ardra’s blog after being diagnosed with MS in 2016, feeling a bit lost and without someone to relate to. I was hooked! Hers was the voice I needed to hear; she tells a story that is so achingly familiar and relatable with her signature style of accessible writing that is equally snarky as it is touching.
» Ardra has a natural ability to make me snort-laugh and sob within the same page. I don’t feel broken even though my heart breaks at times and I’m not even mad about it. Which is okay, because neither is she! This is no woe-is-me tale. Ardra is a champion of pulling up her big-girl pants and dealing with it, so it’s no surprise she’s so well-loved.
“Dear Lord, grant me the strength not to feel reduced by this missionary’s misguided pity. Fill her targeted ads with opportunities to volunteer, donate or advocate for the disabled people she cares so deeply about. Help me find the strength of character to overlook her lack of common sense. In the meantime, thank you for the limited upper-body strength that prevents me from punching her directly in the tw*t.”
✩ ‘The Banker’ deserves an honourable mention. This isn’t a romance novel, but Ardra compares her story to a rom-com. I loved hearing more about their relationship; he is a straight up #Legend and could totally be a book boyfriend.
♡ I love this book so much! Read it! You’ll laugh and cry (but I promise more laughing than crying).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨ Thank you to Ardra Shephard and Douglas & McIntyre for providing an ARC.
Connect with me on Instagram for more bookish content!
May 29, 2025
I read this book as soon as it came out. Couldn’t wait! It is so great to read a book written by someone who gets it! I found myself relating to so much, laughing a lot and also having those “ this is such bs” moments.
April 6, 2025
“Fall-osophy, My Trip through life with MS” a memoir written by Ardra Shepard is an amazing, funny, and poignant read!
I have been living with MS for nearly two decades and I found myself saying “Yes. Yes! Yes!! (um, not like Sally at the deli though) as I read along and Ardra shared her journey living with MS.
She writes with brutal honesty mixed with a bit of sass, wit, and cheek.
As Ardra puts it, we got a raw deal and we don’t deserve all the things we need to cope with from symptoms to medication side effects to bureaucracy that can make us feel like second class citizens. (inaccessible buildings and bathrooms anyone?)
She also shares how she finds joy and purpose. She figures out how to participate in life in a way that brings her happiness even when the disease has interfered with, and perhaps eliminated, some of the activities that used to bring her joy.
Living with chronic illness is not for sissies and she boldly shares the not so pretty parts of this life with a body that refuses to function like it used to with sometimes hysterical stories.
We can face physical, emotional, societal, and healthcare challenges. An example was being offered the solution of a catheter for bladder problems after struggling for 3 years with useless medications and their side effects. “Cathy” was life changing for her and she rightfully was frustrated that it wasn’t offered sooner.
I found myself relating to so many of her stories from not wanting to be pitied, to how to deal with random strangers and their inappropriate behaviors, to how we grieve and then get on with life.
I love that she encourages us to value our self-worth and to sparkle!
This book is a fantastic read for anyone living with chronic illness or who loves someone with chronic illness.
I have been living with MS for nearly two decades and I found myself saying “Yes. Yes! Yes!! (um, not like Sally at the deli though) as I read along and Ardra shared her journey living with MS.
She writes with brutal honesty mixed with a bit of sass, wit, and cheek.
As Ardra puts it, we got a raw deal and we don’t deserve all the things we need to cope with from symptoms to medication side effects to bureaucracy that can make us feel like second class citizens. (inaccessible buildings and bathrooms anyone?)
She also shares how she finds joy and purpose. She figures out how to participate in life in a way that brings her happiness even when the disease has interfered with, and perhaps eliminated, some of the activities that used to bring her joy.
Living with chronic illness is not for sissies and she boldly shares the not so pretty parts of this life with a body that refuses to function like it used to with sometimes hysterical stories.
We can face physical, emotional, societal, and healthcare challenges. An example was being offered the solution of a catheter for bladder problems after struggling for 3 years with useless medications and their side effects. “Cathy” was life changing for her and she rightfully was frustrated that it wasn’t offered sooner.
I found myself relating to so many of her stories from not wanting to be pitied, to how to deal with random strangers and their inappropriate behaviors, to how we grieve and then get on with life.
I love that she encourages us to value our self-worth and to sparkle!
This book is a fantastic read for anyone living with chronic illness or who loves someone with chronic illness.
August 29, 2025
There are a thousand ways to be disabled. p226
it's hard to acknowledge membership in a group that no one wants to be part of. p87
One of the burdens of being sick is to let others know I'm OK. p7
Growing up entitled is generally not an asset for personal growth, especially when the props that maintain that overinflated lifestyle are removed or collapse or no longer apply.
Diagnosed with m.s.in her early 20's, Andra Shephard makes the most of her considerable assets as she learns to navigate and then redefine the disability world.
If cultivating pride is critical to fostering a community that has the sense of worth to demand reform and the strength in numbers to make shit happen, maybe Disability Pride isn't such a bullshit initiative. p195
None of that learned helplessness here but gratitude and the realization that
Accepting help is not a choice, it's a survival skill p221
Not only those whose lives have been disrupted by this insidious and chronic condition but anyone cultivating their awareness will find this a valuable and life-affirming experience.
Pity is not the same as empathy. Virtue signaling is not the same as building a ramp. p157
it's hard to acknowledge membership in a group that no one wants to be part of. p87
One of the burdens of being sick is to let others know I'm OK. p7
Growing up entitled is generally not an asset for personal growth, especially when the props that maintain that overinflated lifestyle are removed or collapse or no longer apply.
Diagnosed with m.s.in her early 20's, Andra Shephard makes the most of her considerable assets as she learns to navigate and then redefine the disability world.
If cultivating pride is critical to fostering a community that has the sense of worth to demand reform and the strength in numbers to make shit happen, maybe Disability Pride isn't such a bullshit initiative. p195
None of that learned helplessness here but gratitude and the realization that
Accepting help is not a choice, it's a survival skill p221
Not only those whose lives have been disrupted by this insidious and chronic condition but anyone cultivating their awareness will find this a valuable and life-affirming experience.
Pity is not the same as empathy. Virtue signaling is not the same as building a ramp. p157
November 28, 2025
If you have MS or if you know people who have MS, or if you just want to know what life is like for people living with MS, this memoir is really, really good. Ardra is smart and funny as she takes us along with her through the many experimental treatments, trials, medications and modifications needed to keep going over the 30 years that this book spans. I think it must be tough to be funny when you have MS, but Ardra pulls it off. Her husband is a supportive and generally all-around good guy according to Ardra, and they were obviously a good pair. Ultimately, I wish her the best for the rest of her life, and I wish for her to have the death of her choosing when the time comes.
July 3, 2025
This was so good!! One of the most relatable books I've ever read, and definitely the best MS memoir I've read. Thank you, Ardra, for putting words to so many MS life experiences and thought processes.
March 18, 2025
Blogger Shephard's journey through being diagnosed with MS and how it progresses is a frank and funny look at living with a chronic illness. Her strong voice guides us through the book, and it feels like we're right there with her as she navigates her new life. I learned a lot about MS and hope that Shephard is doing well today.
April 28, 2025
I just devoured this book. I found myself reliving so many of my own MS experiences from the last 20 years. From diagnosis to relapses to the injection site reactions to all of the horribly stupid things people have said over the years. I was internally screaming “don’t go to Poland!” over your CCSVI debate while also screaming “go to Chicago! Dr Burt is amazing!” about HSCT (full disclosure, I had HSCT in Chicago in 2012). I cried reading about MAID and Darcy and your husband’s 50th birthday (in public, on a plane, you bitch). All the while laughing and nodding along the whole time.
Thank you. Thank you for making MS seen. Thank you for saying out loud that the MS Walk sucks (and don’t get me started on the Bike MS). Thank you for making it ok to just fucking hate this disease and all it’s taken from us!
Thank you. Thank you for making MS seen. Thank you for saying out loud that the MS Walk sucks (and don’t get me started on the Bike MS). Thank you for making it ok to just fucking hate this disease and all it’s taken from us!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2025
As someone living with MS, I can truly say that every word resonated with me. The struggles, the wins and everything in between.
Ardra eloquently communicates how it feels to live with the fear, the anger, the sadness and often the futility that comes with a progressive disease.
I laughed out loud many times and I cried too. What I realized after riding this rollercoaster of a book, is that regardless of our challenges our light
shines through in whatever way meaningful to us and hopefully to those in our circle. And so it is…
Ardra eloquently communicates how it feels to live with the fear, the anger, the sadness and often the futility that comes with a progressive disease.
I laughed out loud many times and I cried too. What I realized after riding this rollercoaster of a book, is that regardless of our challenges our light
shines through in whatever way meaningful to us and hopefully to those in our circle. And so it is…
March 7, 2025
This is a beautifully written book by a remarkable woman.
Read
May 12, 2025FALLOSOPHY MY TRIP THROUGH LIFE, is as inspirational a memoir as you would ever wish to read. The author Ardra Shephard, has been living with Multiple Sclerosis for many years now, and in this most personal memoir she writes about the highs and lows of dealing with MS. It has received greater press lately thanks to notable celebrities like Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Selma Blair, and Christina Applegate, offering their story and giving inspiration and hope to others who have MS and those down the road who find it becomes a part of their life.
It all began in her early twenties, when Ardra seemed to have an issue with her eye. It did not get any better, and once there was major testing of her condition, it was found discovered that she had MS. There is of course no cure for this, but those afflicted with it, know their life will change and that the disease will progress and worsen, with different progression rates for different people. Not everyone was as helpful to her, such as the medical men she calls Dr. Poker Face and Dr. Muppet, who almost seemed indifferent at times to her issues and concerns.
If there is one other person in her life who was the true knight in shining armor, was the man in her life than she refers to as The Banker. He stood behind her and tried to make the best of a bad situation with loving care and assistance when she needed it most. He has always been there for her in all situations.
Ardra notes that her body is constantly changing, and what she could do in the past is a memory. But the manner in which she relates her fears and her life today, is what makes the book both riveting and remarkable. She discusses what she can and cannot do. One of her biggest regrets is that she cannot wear her very sacred Louboutin stilettos. She did not want to originally part with them, keeping them as a sort of shrine in her closet to her past life. But she reconsiders and sells them to another woman who does not question or haggle about the price.
Ardra discusses bladder issues that constantly have affected her, the urge to pee badly and then nothing. That is one of the side effects of the MS, and has turned into various parts of the body that are behaving badly at times. It is really the humour that is quite prevalent in the book, that in no ways mocks the issues she faces. By facing it in not so grim ways, while it is devastating it makes it appear she is more in control, and not about to give up without any form of fight.
She has brought even more attention to hers and others issues through her blogs, Podcasts, and her extensive social media empire. Ardra Shephard is the supreme role model, a fighter, a survivor, but mostly an inspirational individual, whose wisdom and wit will be supreme solace for those with MS, or know someone who has acquired the disease.
It all began in her early twenties, when Ardra seemed to have an issue with her eye. It did not get any better, and once there was major testing of her condition, it was found discovered that she had MS. There is of course no cure for this, but those afflicted with it, know their life will change and that the disease will progress and worsen, with different progression rates for different people. Not everyone was as helpful to her, such as the medical men she calls Dr. Poker Face and Dr. Muppet, who almost seemed indifferent at times to her issues and concerns.
If there is one other person in her life who was the true knight in shining armor, was the man in her life than she refers to as The Banker. He stood behind her and tried to make the best of a bad situation with loving care and assistance when she needed it most. He has always been there for her in all situations.
Ardra notes that her body is constantly changing, and what she could do in the past is a memory. But the manner in which she relates her fears and her life today, is what makes the book both riveting and remarkable. She discusses what she can and cannot do. One of her biggest regrets is that she cannot wear her very sacred Louboutin stilettos. She did not want to originally part with them, keeping them as a sort of shrine in her closet to her past life. But she reconsiders and sells them to another woman who does not question or haggle about the price.
Ardra discusses bladder issues that constantly have affected her, the urge to pee badly and then nothing. That is one of the side effects of the MS, and has turned into various parts of the body that are behaving badly at times. It is really the humour that is quite prevalent in the book, that in no ways mocks the issues she faces. By facing it in not so grim ways, while it is devastating it makes it appear she is more in control, and not about to give up without any form of fight.
She has brought even more attention to hers and others issues through her blogs, Podcasts, and her extensive social media empire. Ardra Shephard is the supreme role model, a fighter, a survivor, but mostly an inspirational individual, whose wisdom and wit will be supreme solace for those with MS, or know someone who has acquired the disease.
May 7, 2025
The first MS influencer I followed or even knew existed lol was Ardra Shephard. My Sis sent me her blog Tripping On Air, early into my diagnosis and I saw someone who was Canadian, had MS, but could laugh about it. I knew she was my people. When she released her memoir in early 2025, I was on the waiting list to purchase a copy. It’s always hard reading about people with MS. It’s emotional. The first 7 pages in and I had to stop. It was her story, but it was also MY story. We were even diagnosed just a day apart. By page 8, she had me back laughing again! As she learns about her diagnosis and what it means, more parallels between our lives are formed. Our somewhat aversion to the MS society and not wanting to be part of that club, she takes a 3 times a week DMT that she injects herself and my mom who also had MS injected herself daily, so I know all about that. There was a whole chapter on the CCSVI procedure. The author, like my mom had it done. It was interesting reading about her experience as opposed to my mom’s. I hope the people that have loved ones with MS will read this book because she explains a lot of what I’m feeling on a daily basis. The only thing I found lacking in this book was fatigue. Fatigue and temperature sensitivities are touched on, but are so integral to balance in the life of MS, I felt like they deserved a quick chapter as well. I also loved the chapters, super short like little stories.
April 20, 2025
Definitely time well spent reading this one.
I’ve never engaged with her blog - but there were times, mostly towards the end, where I felt like, perhaps, I was reading a re-worked blog post?
While this is a deadly serious topic - and the writing and the content are appropriately serious and convey the gravity of the situation - she manages to “keep it light” and bring in humour - yes, sometimes dark gallows humour.
As a result, this book manages to inform - and challenges understandings and perceptions - while also being immensely readable. This is another one of those “transformational” reads - something that offers the potential for shifting perspectives entirely.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
I’ve never engaged with her blog - but there were times, mostly towards the end, where I felt like, perhaps, I was reading a re-worked blog post?
While this is a deadly serious topic - and the writing and the content are appropriately serious and convey the gravity of the situation - she manages to “keep it light” and bring in humour - yes, sometimes dark gallows humour.
As a result, this book manages to inform - and challenges understandings and perceptions - while also being immensely readable. This is another one of those “transformational” reads - something that offers the potential for shifting perspectives entirely.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
June 10, 2025
Never have I nodded in recognition so frequently when reading a book. Ardra captures the trials and tribulations of living in a frustrating, unpredictable body with frankness and style. And I am grateful.
If you've ever thought, "Rebecca should write a book!" please read this one, which is close enough to my experience and (I'm loathe to admit) perhaps better written than I could manage.
If you've ever thought, "Rebecca should write a book!" please read this one, which is close enough to my experience and (I'm loathe to admit) perhaps better written than I could manage.
March 25, 2025
This book was written with all the emotions. The author is from my hometown, which made the book even more relatable.
May 27, 2025
Grateful to have progressive MS as an archetype to relate to. Progression follows a story arc that we aren't used to, and Ardra putting it to words in such a character-filled way was cathartic to read.
July 12, 2025
honestly phenomenal take on MAID
December 24, 2025
Absolutely loved everything about this book. Humour helps so much when you’re trying to wrap your brain around a world rocking disability. So glad I found this novel!!!
July 30, 2025
Whether you are recently diagnosed with MS or a seasoned veteran, this book is for YOU. Ardra Shepard puts words in to voice and on paper the running dialogue within all of us. So few writers can successfully manage to naturally convey streaming consciousness as well as she has in this book. If you have been blessed with MS or have a family member, friend or coworker labeled with it, this is all the information you wish you knew about since diagnosis. Fallosophy is too good to be called a memoir or an autobiography. It is a real life narrative of actual experiences combined with hilarious wit and an honest perspective of daily life with MS. The audio version is excellent because the story is told by Ardra herself, so expect what will most likely be an award winning performance because it was completely devoid of any mispronunciations and all inflection were placed exactly where they should be. Loved it!
June 3, 2025
A collection of essays written with confident self-awareness and an intimacy that made me feel lucky to have been invited into her world.
At the age of 23 – when a blurry-eyed hangover turns out to be optic neuritis – Ardra Shephard’s life is tossed in the air with the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. An aspiring opera singer who spends all her rent money on singing lessons and vodka shots, who’s dating a (THE) bartender, who’s showing up late to work, and basically doing what young people do, Ardra doesn’t let her new life fall to the ground. She juggles doctors’ appointments; an annoying nurse; heat-induced muscle weakness; good intentions, but bad delivery; disability biases that assume a person on disability can’t enjoy life; going to therapy, self-catheterizing like a boss; unwanted prayers; improv classes; choir practice; Louboutin heels; the C-word (not that one); the anxiety that her partner might be one of the 15 people killed annually by icicles; the anxiety of MAiD (and how society still manages to devalue disabled lives) and losing a friend, and her parents deluded faith in her. Ardra not only keeps life in the air, she builds a career as a television host, freelance writer, consultant, podcaster, blogger, doggy-mama, wife, and the queen in her very own Ardra-archy.
FALLOSOPHY was an enjoyable read from start to finish, not only because it is written with self-deprecating humour but because it is full of the self-aware, self-centred, self-loving honesty that many people can only hope to have – with or without an MS diagnosis. That Ardra’s life turned out to be pretty close to how she’d imagined it before the diagnosis is a testament to her own determined dream to have a life full of adventure, love, friendship, and beauty. But this book isn’t just a beautiful memoir, it’s an education about the importance of accessibility for everyone (not just 15% of everyone) and a reminder that language and intent matter.
At the age of 23 – when a blurry-eyed hangover turns out to be optic neuritis – Ardra Shephard’s life is tossed in the air with the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. An aspiring opera singer who spends all her rent money on singing lessons and vodka shots, who’s dating a (THE) bartender, who’s showing up late to work, and basically doing what young people do, Ardra doesn’t let her new life fall to the ground. She juggles doctors’ appointments; an annoying nurse; heat-induced muscle weakness; good intentions, but bad delivery; disability biases that assume a person on disability can’t enjoy life; going to therapy, self-catheterizing like a boss; unwanted prayers; improv classes; choir practice; Louboutin heels; the C-word (not that one); the anxiety that her partner might be one of the 15 people killed annually by icicles; the anxiety of MAiD (and how society still manages to devalue disabled lives) and losing a friend, and her parents deluded faith in her. Ardra not only keeps life in the air, she builds a career as a television host, freelance writer, consultant, podcaster, blogger, doggy-mama, wife, and the queen in her very own Ardra-archy.
FALLOSOPHY was an enjoyable read from start to finish, not only because it is written with self-deprecating humour but because it is full of the self-aware, self-centred, self-loving honesty that many people can only hope to have – with or without an MS diagnosis. That Ardra’s life turned out to be pretty close to how she’d imagined it before the diagnosis is a testament to her own determined dream to have a life full of adventure, love, friendship, and beauty. But this book isn’t just a beautiful memoir, it’s an education about the importance of accessibility for everyone (not just 15% of everyone) and a reminder that language and intent matter.
March 22, 2025
“The book should make people laugh, not because MS is funny. MS is terrible, but life in general is terrible and finding the sick joke in a serious situation can be incredibly therapeutic.”
—Ardra Shephard
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis around the same time as Ardra and reading her experiences of first symptoms and navigating treatment choices in the early 2000s felt like finding the company and community that I wish I had back then. I have been following Ardra’s blog for years and I loved learning more about her life and her engagement with navigating MS and Disability through her funny, engaging, accessible writing style. This book is a meaningful read that connects an individual experience to broader Disability issues.
I have heard Ardra say on her podcast that fear is the worst symptom of MS and I will be honest, engaging with some of these chapters sparked some engagement with my own MS fear. MS has a long list of possible symptoms and outcomes, and it is such an individual experience. This book tells stories about progression and honours the fear, grief, challenge, and resilience that comes from figuring out how to cope with what happens next. I am so grateful for Ardra telling stories about her experiences with tests, treatments and tools because it makes me feel more informed, connected and prepared as I navigate my own MS experience.
Thank you to Ardra Shephard for the gifted copy. #Fallosophy #ArdraShephard #TrippingOnAir”
Take care of yourself while reading as there is content related to ableism, chronic illness, and medically assisted death.
—Ardra Shephard
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis around the same time as Ardra and reading her experiences of first symptoms and navigating treatment choices in the early 2000s felt like finding the company and community that I wish I had back then. I have been following Ardra’s blog for years and I loved learning more about her life and her engagement with navigating MS and Disability through her funny, engaging, accessible writing style. This book is a meaningful read that connects an individual experience to broader Disability issues.
I have heard Ardra say on her podcast that fear is the worst symptom of MS and I will be honest, engaging with some of these chapters sparked some engagement with my own MS fear. MS has a long list of possible symptoms and outcomes, and it is such an individual experience. This book tells stories about progression and honours the fear, grief, challenge, and resilience that comes from figuring out how to cope with what happens next. I am so grateful for Ardra telling stories about her experiences with tests, treatments and tools because it makes me feel more informed, connected and prepared as I navigate my own MS experience.
Thank you to Ardra Shephard for the gifted copy. #Fallosophy #ArdraShephard #TrippingOnAir”
Take care of yourself while reading as there is content related to ableism, chronic illness, and medically assisted death.
April 15, 2025
More Than a Memoir
Fall-osophy; My Trip Through Life with MS by Ardra Shephard is more than a memoir; it is a resource for the newly diagnosed, a rallying cry for greater accessibility for the disabled, and a chronicle of how one young woman’s need to see inspiring images of ‘babes with mobility aids’ fueled her mission to disseminate them herself, going so far as to create the beauty-for-every-body, groundbreaking, television makeover show, Fashion Dis.
Throughout the book, Ardra explores MS and its ties to media representation, experimental treatments, and disability rights as a cultural phenomenon, exploring such topics as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), accessibility, and fundraising priorities through the lens of her own ethnographic experiences. She does so with candor, humour, and, at times, a touch of snark.
Described recently by Chatelaine Magazine as a "darkly comedic page-turner”, Fall-osophy has been praised by barczablog as “a fun book”. ”It’s authentic,” reveals the blog, “so blunt I couldn’t stop reading”. Shephard’s writing has also been described as ‘brave’, ‘romantic’, and ‘energetic’. I found the book to be real, raw, and relatable. Ardra, herself, has been characterized by author Jenny Lawson as a badass.
Whether or not you look to this book as a resource for understanding multiple sclerosis (it is that), don’t expect to find tasteless platitudes about chronic disease within its pages. Instead, keep a pencil handy, as I did, to record the many truths about life that this writer is so good at identifying. You won’t be disappointed.
I can’t wait to order the audio version.
Fall-osophy; My Trip Through Life with MS by Ardra Shephard is more than a memoir; it is a resource for the newly diagnosed, a rallying cry for greater accessibility for the disabled, and a chronicle of how one young woman’s need to see inspiring images of ‘babes with mobility aids’ fueled her mission to disseminate them herself, going so far as to create the beauty-for-every-body, groundbreaking, television makeover show, Fashion Dis.
Throughout the book, Ardra explores MS and its ties to media representation, experimental treatments, and disability rights as a cultural phenomenon, exploring such topics as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), accessibility, and fundraising priorities through the lens of her own ethnographic experiences. She does so with candor, humour, and, at times, a touch of snark.
Described recently by Chatelaine Magazine as a "darkly comedic page-turner”, Fall-osophy has been praised by barczablog as “a fun book”. ”It’s authentic,” reveals the blog, “so blunt I couldn’t stop reading”. Shephard’s writing has also been described as ‘brave’, ‘romantic’, and ‘energetic’. I found the book to be real, raw, and relatable. Ardra, herself, has been characterized by author Jenny Lawson as a badass.
Whether or not you look to this book as a resource for understanding multiple sclerosis (it is that), don’t expect to find tasteless platitudes about chronic disease within its pages. Instead, keep a pencil handy, as I did, to record the many truths about life that this writer is so good at identifying. You won’t be disappointed.
I can’t wait to order the audio version.
June 18, 2025
From the first page, Shephard’s voice is magnetic—equal parts sardonic bartender and soulful philosopher. She doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of MS, nor does she wallow in them. Instead, she crafts a narrative that is as stylish as it is sincere, weaving humor, heartbreak, and hard-won wisdom into every chapter. Her prose is tight and deliberate, each word chosen with care, making the book not only emotionally resonant but also a joy to read.
What sets Fallosophy apart is its refusal to conform to the tired tropes of disability narratives. Shephard dismantles the myth that a disabled life is a diminished one, showing instead that joy, beauty, and ambition are not only possible—they’re essential. Her reflections on identity, independence, and the societal gaze are deeply moving and refreshingly candid.
Whether you live with MS, love someone who does, or simply crave a story that will make you laugh, cry, and rethink what it means to thrive, Fallosophy is a must-read. Ardra Shephard has given the world a gift: a book that doesn’t just tell a story—it changes the conversation.
What sets Fallosophy apart is its refusal to conform to the tired tropes of disability narratives. Shephard dismantles the myth that a disabled life is a diminished one, showing instead that joy, beauty, and ambition are not only possible—they’re essential. Her reflections on identity, independence, and the societal gaze are deeply moving and refreshingly candid.
Whether you live with MS, love someone who does, or simply crave a story that will make you laugh, cry, and rethink what it means to thrive, Fallosophy is a must-read. Ardra Shephard has given the world a gift: a book that doesn’t just tell a story—it changes the conversation.
March 23, 2025
As someone who doesn’t have a chronic illness, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Fall-Osphy, but I gained so much from Ardra Shephard’s powerful and engaging memoir. Based on her original diaries, she offers an honest, candid look at life with multiple sclerosis, blending humour and vulnerability in a way that makes her journey both relatable and deeply moving.
The book is laugh-out-loud funny! Shephard finds humour in even the darkest moments, showing her strength and resilience. The memoir is filled with humour and reflections on day-to-day life, but underneath it all is a profound sense of hope. Shephard demonstrates that even when life doesn’t go as planned, there’s still room for growth, joy, and - in her case - advocacy and purpose.
Very readable. Recommend.
The book is laugh-out-loud funny! Shephard finds humour in even the darkest moments, showing her strength and resilience. The memoir is filled with humour and reflections on day-to-day life, but underneath it all is a profound sense of hope. Shephard demonstrates that even when life doesn’t go as planned, there’s still room for growth, joy, and - in her case - advocacy and purpose.
Very readable. Recommend.
July 3, 2025
Sudden vision and other issues lead to a shocking diagnosis putting Ardra's hopes of leaving her corporate job for a singing career in the dumps
With humour and self-awareness Ardra takes the reader through a maddening journey of doctors with the bedside manners of toddlers, and her own body betraying her time and again. Each experience makes you laugh with her then want to fight on her behalf. Little is held sacred and the book gives you a detailed understanding of the reality of living with MS without ever feeling heavy with dry facts.
Well known in disability and MS circles thanks to her popular blog and social media outlets and the disability channel's makeover show "Fashion-Dis", Ardra turns her self-deprecating humour that built her online following to a full-length memoir.
With humour and self-awareness Ardra takes the reader through a maddening journey of doctors with the bedside manners of toddlers, and her own body betraying her time and again. Each experience makes you laugh with her then want to fight on her behalf. Little is held sacred and the book gives you a detailed understanding of the reality of living with MS without ever feeling heavy with dry facts.
Well known in disability and MS circles thanks to her popular blog and social media outlets and the disability channel's makeover show "Fashion-Dis", Ardra turns her self-deprecating humour that built her online following to a full-length memoir.
March 1, 2025
Ardra’s memoir is hilariously heartbreaking, taking you on a rollercoaster of emotions in each of its chapters. One moment you’re tipsy with her and laughing (spoiler alert!) at the awfulness of the bathroom in a downtown pub and the next you heart is splitting as she crumples to the floor and you watch, horrorstruck, as she holds on to the dirty toilet to save herself. She makes your tummy hurt as you laugh, your eyes wet as she suffers and shows you how good fortune and bad can be two sides of the same coin, and how it takes love and time to comprehend this reality when dealt a hand that can fell the best of us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2025
I tore through this in less than a day. Ardra has a really amazing ability to write in a hilarious and raw way that still manages to not pull punches or sugarcoat the reality of living with a really terrifying diagnosis like MS. She deftly interweaves her own personal story to interrogate wider issues around disability representation, MAID and lack of adequate funding for ppl with disabilities, accessibility etc. I really am grateful to her for finally writing an MS memoir that isn’t a self help or wellness book, and doesn’t try to wrap it all up in a pretty bow at the end. Everyone should read this, not just those of us with MS.
July 31, 2025
I'm so glad Ardra's memoir of life with MS is available on audio now!! I really enjoyed getting to listen to her tell her own story in her trademark candid, no holds bar style. She's honest about the difficulties of living with a debilitating chronic illness and chronic pain, talks about her diagnosis, her limitations, instances of ableism and the lack of accessibility in the world as well as touching on the issue of Medical Assisted Suicide (something that's legal in Canada and in particular for MS patients). Highly recommended reading for anyone with MS or looking to learn more about what its like for those who do have it!
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