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How I Rescued My Brain: A Psychologist's Remarkable Recovery from Stroke and Trauma
‘A clear affirmation of the importance of mindfulness and compassion for healing … enlightening and inspiring. Beautifully demonstrates that healing is more than the absence of injury. There is hope for everyone affected by stroke: recovery is possible.’
KATE RICHARDS, AUTHOR OF 'MADNESS: A MEMOIR'
As a psychologist specialising in court assessments, David Roland often saw the toughest, most heartbreaking cases. The emotional trauma had begun to take its toll — and then the global financial crisis hit, leaving his family facing financial ruin.
So when he found himself in a local emergency ward with little idea of where he was or how he got there, doctors wondered if he had had a nervous breakdown — if the strain of treating individuals with mental-health problems had become too much. Eventually they discovered the truth: David had suffered a stroke, which had resulted in brain injury. He faced two choices: give up or get his brain working again.
Drawing on the principles of neuroplasticity, David set about re-wiring his brain. Embarking on a search that brought him into contact with doctors, neuroscientists, yoga teachers, musicians, and a Buddhist nun, he found the tools to restore his sense of self: psychotherapy, exercise, music, mindfulness, and meditation.
How I Rescued My Brain is the story of David’s neurological difficulties and his remarkable cognitive recovery. It is also an account of a journey to emotional health and wellbeing. In the tradition of Marc Lewis’s Memoirs of an Addicted Brain and Jill Bolte Taylor’s My Stroke of Insight, this is an amazing tale of one man’s resilience, and his determination to overcome one of the most frightening situations imaginable — the fear that he had lost his mind, and might not get it back.
KATE RICHARDS, AUTHOR OF 'MADNESS: A MEMOIR'
As a psychologist specialising in court assessments, David Roland often saw the toughest, most heartbreaking cases. The emotional trauma had begun to take its toll — and then the global financial crisis hit, leaving his family facing financial ruin.
So when he found himself in a local emergency ward with little idea of where he was or how he got there, doctors wondered if he had had a nervous breakdown — if the strain of treating individuals with mental-health problems had become too much. Eventually they discovered the truth: David had suffered a stroke, which had resulted in brain injury. He faced two choices: give up or get his brain working again.
Drawing on the principles of neuroplasticity, David set about re-wiring his brain. Embarking on a search that brought him into contact with doctors, neuroscientists, yoga teachers, musicians, and a Buddhist nun, he found the tools to restore his sense of self: psychotherapy, exercise, music, mindfulness, and meditation.
How I Rescued My Brain is the story of David’s neurological difficulties and his remarkable cognitive recovery. It is also an account of a journey to emotional health and wellbeing. In the tradition of Marc Lewis’s Memoirs of an Addicted Brain and Jill Bolte Taylor’s My Stroke of Insight, this is an amazing tale of one man’s resilience, and his determination to overcome one of the most frightening situations imaginable — the fear that he had lost his mind, and might not get it back.
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2014
21 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
David Roland
41 books14 followersDavid Roland brings a unique blend of warmth, humour and insight to his work as a writer, drawing on his lived experience as well as on his training as a psychologist. He lives in Australia where he swims in the ocean, walks in the forest, drinks coffee and dances salsa. He is the father of three independent daughters whom he describes as being like three different cuisines, cuisines that when you put them on the table work together exquisitely.
He is a graduate of the University of Sydney with a BSc (Hons) and gained his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Wollongong with a research focus on performance anxiety in musicians.
For more than twenty years David worked as a clinical and forensic psychologist in the treatment and assessment of clients ranging from children to adults, for the Children’s Court Clinic and the Criminal Court. He is an Honorary Associate with the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, and a founding member of Compassionate Mind Australia.
David’s latest book The Power of Suffering: Growing through life crises (Simon & Shuster, 2020) draws together the real-life stories of 11 incredible people who survived their crises and grew in transformative ways. David not only narrates these stories, but he also examines them through the lens of posttraumatic growth. He details how to be an ‘expert companion’ to someone going through crisis.
His memoir How I Rescued My Brain: a psychologist’s remarkable recovery from stroke and trauma (Scribe) describes how David implemented his own rehabilitation plan using neuroplasticity, psychology and social connection. This book was shortlisted for an ABIA award in 2015 and it was selected by Reading Well (UK) as a prescription book.
The Confident Performer (NewSouth) came out of David’s PhD research and his work with hundreds of performers, public speakers and examination takers. It has been used worldwide in performing arts teaching institutions.
David is published in Best Australian Science Writing 2015. He has been featured in the Sunday Express, Rolling Stone, The Independent, The Sydney Morning Herald, Huffington Post, The Conversation, Wellbeing, on ABC Television and ABC Radio and podcasts worldwide. In 2015, he was awarded the Stroke Foundation’s Creative Award. He has academic publications in the fields of performance anxiety and vicarious trauma.
He is a graduate of the University of Sydney with a BSc (Hons) and gained his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Wollongong with a research focus on performance anxiety in musicians.
For more than twenty years David worked as a clinical and forensic psychologist in the treatment and assessment of clients ranging from children to adults, for the Children’s Court Clinic and the Criminal Court. He is an Honorary Associate with the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, and a founding member of Compassionate Mind Australia.
David’s latest book The Power of Suffering: Growing through life crises (Simon & Shuster, 2020) draws together the real-life stories of 11 incredible people who survived their crises and grew in transformative ways. David not only narrates these stories, but he also examines them through the lens of posttraumatic growth. He details how to be an ‘expert companion’ to someone going through crisis.
His memoir How I Rescued My Brain: a psychologist’s remarkable recovery from stroke and trauma (Scribe) describes how David implemented his own rehabilitation plan using neuroplasticity, psychology and social connection. This book was shortlisted for an ABIA award in 2015 and it was selected by Reading Well (UK) as a prescription book.
The Confident Performer (NewSouth) came out of David’s PhD research and his work with hundreds of performers, public speakers and examination takers. It has been used worldwide in performing arts teaching institutions.
David is published in Best Australian Science Writing 2015. He has been featured in the Sunday Express, Rolling Stone, The Independent, The Sydney Morning Herald, Huffington Post, The Conversation, Wellbeing, on ABC Television and ABC Radio and podcasts worldwide. In 2015, he was awarded the Stroke Foundation’s Creative Award. He has academic publications in the fields of performance anxiety and vicarious trauma.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 26, 2014
A great read. I found it interesting the shame & the stigma that surrounded the author when everyone thought he'd suffered a mental breakdown compared to his relief & the sympathy he received when it was revealed he'd actually suffered a stroke. It seemed that a mental breakdown was his own fault & implied weakness, but a stroke could not be helped & was forgivable.
I relate to the author's journey of searching for the right people & philosophies to help him. I think it's important for people to understand that a journey of healing does not follow a straight line & that just because someone appears technically qualified to help you does not mean that you should settle for their advice if it does not ring true or feel right for you.
I'm grateful that the author went to the trouble of writing this book & sharing his experiences. It was very helpful to me & I could relate to it, having grown up with trauma & then experiencing severe depression for the last 15 years. I have been on a similar journey of healing, & this book helped me feel less alone.
I relate to the author's journey of searching for the right people & philosophies to help him. I think it's important for people to understand that a journey of healing does not follow a straight line & that just because someone appears technically qualified to help you does not mean that you should settle for their advice if it does not ring true or feel right for you.
I'm grateful that the author went to the trouble of writing this book & sharing his experiences. It was very helpful to me & I could relate to it, having grown up with trauma & then experiencing severe depression for the last 15 years. I have been on a similar journey of healing, & this book helped me feel less alone.
August 12, 2014
A very well written, informative and entertaining book. Essential reading not only for those who have experienced a stroke or brain injury and their loved ones but also for anyone exposed to trauma in his or her work. This book helped me realise that the results of such exposure are not something that I should just live with. It is extremely important that anyone doing such work get some help with dealing with the effects. Important not just for them but also for their relationships with others.
I found the latter parts of the book where David talks about the neuroscience of what he experienced very useful. To know that there is a scientific basis for what we experience and for what we can all do to improve our brains is both comforting and affirming.
I found the latter parts of the book where David talks about the neuroscience of what he experienced very useful. To know that there is a scientific basis for what we experience and for what we can all do to improve our brains is both comforting and affirming.
May 22, 2019
I read this because I was fairly interested in neuroplasticity and the brain's resilience. I wanted to read a real life account (not just a condensed case study) and understand how a brain works when it's not 'really working.' It's rather amazing that the brain repairs itself and its neural connections aand pathways ... And the outside body is just resting all the while.
This book is a memoir, and while I read through all of it, I could have gained as much from the final few chapters on Recovery (considering my topic of interest). I also carried on through the whole book for additional insight pg diagnosis, misdiagnosis and the lessons the author learned from the whole experience. Certainly makes you appreciate the blessing of possessing a functional brain.
Didn't much like the personal side of things, couldn't understand some of his choices. He experiences a financial crises, with his wife. A crisis that they can't seem to solve and because of what everyone thinks to be a 'mental breakdown' he reacts by going on spiritual or more research based retreats abroad. This means, essentially, leaving his wife with their three daughter behind. Sometimes in the name of research, but quite often with friends.
Perhaps I didn’t like it because had his wife made the same choice were she in his position, she would be criticised. I understood her 'compassion fatigue', what he was going through was tough. But, the choices- all those, often unnecessary retreats and trips- I couldn't understand. The author, while perhaps not incredibly aware of all this- he certainly couldn't exercise empathy towards his wife - was self aware. He knew he was quite often self-absorbed, as his children also noticed. But, only human.
This book won't be accessible or relatable to many, but there are still key lessons that can be drawn from the author's hardship.
This book is a memoir, and while I read through all of it, I could have gained as much from the final few chapters on Recovery (considering my topic of interest). I also carried on through the whole book for additional insight pg diagnosis, misdiagnosis and the lessons the author learned from the whole experience. Certainly makes you appreciate the blessing of possessing a functional brain.
Didn't much like the personal side of things, couldn't understand some of his choices. He experiences a financial crises, with his wife. A crisis that they can't seem to solve and because of what everyone thinks to be a 'mental breakdown' he reacts by going on spiritual or more research based retreats abroad. This means, essentially, leaving his wife with their three daughter behind. Sometimes in the name of research, but quite often with friends.
Perhaps I didn’t like it because had his wife made the same choice were she in his position, she would be criticised. I understood her 'compassion fatigue', what he was going through was tough. But, the choices- all those, often unnecessary retreats and trips- I couldn't understand. The author, while perhaps not incredibly aware of all this- he certainly couldn't exercise empathy towards his wife - was self aware. He knew he was quite often self-absorbed, as his children also noticed. But, only human.
This book won't be accessible or relatable to many, but there are still key lessons that can be drawn from the author's hardship.
June 10, 2016
I read this book hoping for an in-depth technical analysis of how a professional turns his powers on himself to fix deep problems. It dips into this throughout chapters but the bulk is more of a life-style channel auto-biography than an analysis of the author's decisions, actions and their effects on his well-being. That's fine if that's what you're after but I lost all interest in the author's personal troubles after an apparent lack of self awareness that had him (after chapters of complaining about their dire financial troubles and how hard it was to deal with his trauma while dodging calls and lawsuits from his many creditors) whining about the floods in South East Queensland causing him to get stuck at his week long yoga retreat and that he was going to be a day late for the all inclusive diving / resort holiday he was taking with his family to Fiji so they could decompress. Being from one of the affected towns and personally knowing people who lost homes and businesses to that flood, I had to pause my reading and laugh at just how little I could relate to his personal struggles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2015
I was mainly after the more technical side of the book and found some of the lengthy background story a bit boring. However, it is amazing that David Roland did as much as he could to recover from his stroke under very trying circumstances where many others would have given up.
The brain is a hobby horse of mine and I like reading about neuroplasticity. Roland's remarkable story
of using music, meditation, mindfulness training, swimming and brain training to recover his brain function is very encouraging to read. I will put his further reading suggestions on my to read list.
Seeing we all have a brain and many of us are living longer we need to be informed about the signs of stroke and how we can aim our own recovery rather than take a helpless stand and rely on the doctors to fix it for us.
Seeing that most stroke victims do not get much better after 18 months tells me not that there is not more recovery to be had, but a lazy, resigned, or uninformed attitude to their own recovery of the sufferers. We need to find out more and take a more active role in our own health.
The brain is a hobby horse of mine and I like reading about neuroplasticity. Roland's remarkable story
of using music, meditation, mindfulness training, swimming and brain training to recover his brain function is very encouraging to read. I will put his further reading suggestions on my to read list.
Seeing we all have a brain and many of us are living longer we need to be informed about the signs of stroke and how we can aim our own recovery rather than take a helpless stand and rely on the doctors to fix it for us.
Seeing that most stroke victims do not get much better after 18 months tells me not that there is not more recovery to be had, but a lazy, resigned, or uninformed attitude to their own recovery of the sufferers. We need to find out more and take a more active role in our own health.
December 13, 2018
What an amazing book! It has all the components to be great. Great writing, a story based on real life. You learn how to better your brain even if you haven’t had any injuries or problems. Makes you aware of some interesting research done on the subject. And overall makes you understand a tiny bit better what someone that went through that feels like, and you’ll learn a bunch about out amazing brain.
Is definitely one of my favourite books now! And would of course recommend.
Is definitely one of my favourite books now! And would of course recommend.
September 11, 2021
I saw this book on Libby and given my recent experience with burnout, depression and trauma, which has resulted in my appearing ok, but not being able to access information, or learn as quickly, or find words, fatigue etc. I decided it was worth a read.
While not having had a stroke, I recognise so much in what the author is saying. I have relied on my 18 month Diploma of Yoga Teacher Training (IYTA NZ)over the time since burnout, to get me through. Frustrated by slowness, anger, hatred of noisy environments….all was familiar.
I have been impatient, wanting to recover. But reading this I discovered once more that it takes time, finding that safe space, and learning to live with my limitations, letting go of past me.
Before reading this book, I had made the decision, in the last week, to let go of my old career. I felt a sense of peace. Not quite sure where it will lead me but the brain is starting to fascinate me…but the cognitive impairment I have may make studying difficult, but I think that this read has helped me to find some acceptance.
Nothing much has grabbed my attention in the last year….but I wanted to read this as the story was so encouraging.
Much gratitude and love to you on your journey, David.
What is in me recognises what is also in you, we are the same, we are one, we are the universe.
While not having had a stroke, I recognise so much in what the author is saying. I have relied on my 18 month Diploma of Yoga Teacher Training (IYTA NZ)over the time since burnout, to get me through. Frustrated by slowness, anger, hatred of noisy environments….all was familiar.
I have been impatient, wanting to recover. But reading this I discovered once more that it takes time, finding that safe space, and learning to live with my limitations, letting go of past me.
Before reading this book, I had made the decision, in the last week, to let go of my old career. I felt a sense of peace. Not quite sure where it will lead me but the brain is starting to fascinate me…but the cognitive impairment I have may make studying difficult, but I think that this read has helped me to find some acceptance.
Nothing much has grabbed my attention in the last year….but I wanted to read this as the story was so encouraging.
Much gratitude and love to you on your journey, David.
What is in me recognises what is also in you, we are the same, we are one, we are the universe.
August 17, 2014
Allow me to declare at the outset that I’m a friend of the author. And one of the things I value most about my friendship with David is how calm and inspired I feel while in his company. How I Rescued My Brain should have a similar effect on readers; hanging out with David on the page will leave you emotionally, intellectually and spiritually nourished. Brimming with clarity, compassion and gentle humour, the book is a skilfully researched and beautifully paced account of a forensic psychologist’s quest to heal his brain from stroke and trauma. It’s a deeply personal story but there’s nothing self-indulgent about the telling. As David writes in the book’s acknowledgements section: “Sometimes, when I was in a pit of despair and searching for a reason to make the effort to keep going, I would tell myself, I have to get out of this and write about it, and perhaps in doing so give hope to others going through a similar experience.” I have no doubt this is exactly what David has achieved. But How I Rescued My Brain is far more than an invaluable resource for those affected by brain injury, it will also appeal to anyone who wants to live a more mindful and connected life.
September 9, 2020
What a joy to find this book! It's certainly not my usual genre, but I found myself hooked from the start. Roland is a lovely writer - his sentences have a real sense of care in their construction and their pacing. There is no sense this book was written in a rush, and it's the better for it. The clear communication of complex brain research was well done, and easy to understand for those of us who are not experts in these fields. It was refreshing to be treated as capable of making sense of complex ideas, and I really enjoyed learning more about the intricacies and mysteries of my own body. Of who I am!
I didn't expect to find so much of personal use in this book, but I learned a lot about the need for community for support, and for enduring patience and kindness in how we treat people in recovery - from brain trauma, but also from the work we do, or even from a hard year. It's hard to understand the cumulative effects of our care for others, especially not the kind of care that Roland's work required everyday. His story, and his research, suggests we need to slow down in how we live our lives as well as in our expectations for what we, and others, are capable of. Of course we're capable of marvellous things, but this is not constantly necessary.
I didn't expect to find so much of personal use in this book, but I learned a lot about the need for community for support, and for enduring patience and kindness in how we treat people in recovery - from brain trauma, but also from the work we do, or even from a hard year. It's hard to understand the cumulative effects of our care for others, especially not the kind of care that Roland's work required everyday. His story, and his research, suggests we need to slow down in how we live our lives as well as in our expectations for what we, and others, are capable of. Of course we're capable of marvellous things, but this is not constantly necessary.
September 1, 2014
"How I Rescued my Brain", is a fascinating book. Beautifully written, with at times an almost child-like candour, David Roland writes on how an undetected stroke almost shattered his life. We learn of his battles with doctors and hospitals to get the right treatment for his brain injury, his mind-numbing meetings with lawyers and insurance companies to ward off financial ruin, the emotionally painful experiences he and his family had to endure, as well as the strategies and treatments he followed to ameliorate the effects of his stroke.
I also found "How I Rescued my Brain" to be more than just a memoir of triumph over adversity- in many ways it is also a thriller. David lets us into his life then captures us with suspense- how will his story end? I was moved to tears by a number of passages, inspired by others, and made envious by the lyricism of his writing. "How I Rescued my Brain" is an enthralling read.
I also found "How I Rescued my Brain" to be more than just a memoir of triumph over adversity- in many ways it is also a thriller. David lets us into his life then captures us with suspense- how will his story end? I was moved to tears by a number of passages, inspired by others, and made envious by the lyricism of his writing. "How I Rescued my Brain" is an enthralling read.
May 17, 2021
I can’t quite put my finger on how I feel about this book. I enjoyed parts of it - mainly his first person account of PTS & experiencing a stroke and his quest to find out what had actually happened to him, however, much like he writes his wife feels, I found myself having compassion fatigue for him as the book progressed. I found myself wanting to know more about his family and his wife and how they had coped with an equally difficult upheaval in their personal lives. He seems to spend most of his time swimming, playing music with a band, taking singing lessons, sleeping, going on meditation retreats and navel gazing, and I couldn’t help feel pity for his wife who must try deal with the same financial crises he is going through and which is the cause of most of his stress, whilst also raising three small children and keeping the family going through his crises.
June 19, 2016
This extraordinary book follows a psychiatrists journey in the lead up to and following having a stroke. It occurred in a stressful period of his life and so was initially diagnosed as a mental breakdown. The author recounts fascinating methods he undertook to invoke his brains neuroplastic ability and get back control over his previously flailing memory and life following his stroke, his work related PTSD and his crumbling marriage. The most interesting aspect for me personally was the authors experience with mindful meditation and the profound differences he found it had to his confused and angry state of mind. Where possible the author backs his tale up with science in a great jargon free way that made the tale very relatable and enjoyable.
May 16, 2020
I have just finished reading 'How I Rescued My Brain' by David Roland. It was an amazing story that reveals the courage and determination David found as he fought his own battle to rescue his brain. It is sensitively and honestly told, while also revealing the heart-breaking impacts on the whole family.
It was a story so close to my own heart as the one who fought the battle for my husband who had a neurodegenerative disease.
There is great value in the methods David used for everyone, not just those affected by brain injury.
It was a story so close to my own heart as the one who fought the battle for my husband who had a neurodegenerative disease.
There is great value in the methods David used for everyone, not just those affected by brain injury.
September 14, 2017
I was expecting this book to be more of a 'how to' and am so glad I was wrong. I learn well from hearing about others experiences and got a lot from reading about David's journey.
Having bipolar disorder I can really relate to the desire to get those neurones firing better and recalibration my thinking and appreciated David's technical explanations that were not too scienc-y.
A great and easy read.
Having bipolar disorder I can really relate to the desire to get those neurones firing better and recalibration my thinking and appreciated David's technical explanations that were not too scienc-y.
A great and easy read.
September 18, 2014
A fantastic, raw, honest and insightful read. There were so many areas in this book I could relate to. David is very skilled at taking a lived experience and explaining it with a neuroscience explanation. In particular, he keeps his explanations easy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who has experienced a severe emotional or brain trauma in their life.
March 3, 2015
A great read. Enjoyed the detail David went into without it being too heavy or scientific. Mindfulness will be something I now look into using with my students. Can't wait to read Dvid's children's books he has coming up.
January 7, 2015
This was like a personal account of discovering and treating a stroke. Along the lines of 'How The Brain Changes Itself.'
October 21, 2017
Astounding. So enjoyed this very personal story of a practitioner's recovery from his brain injury.
May 25, 2021
A really good read. I felt slightly irked that the author kept popping off on retreats whilst his wife looked after his three children🙄. But that aside it was an interesting and engaging read.
February 20, 2022
Everyone at some stage in their lives have dealt with situations that feel Impossible and because of it you are left feeling out of control.
I don’t want to take away from the struggles David Roland have faced to “Rescue his Brain” but I know that at times I have been left feeling just as frightened and helpless.
After losing my father, having a miscarriage & losing our baby Danica all in the space of 2 years, I remember presenting to my doctor and saying “ I’m confident that I’m going through menopause and early stages of alzheimers”. I learned from my doctor that what I was experiencing was my body shutting down functions that were not critically needed so it could focus its efforts on “surviving the trauma”. It was frightening and I felt more disconnected from myself than ever. It was said that what I was experiencing was a form of post traumatic stress.
David Roland speaks to how he battles his brain after repeated traumatic exposure and a stroke. Some of the techniques he tried were being used for alzheimers patients. He did not fit his recovery into a box. Instead he tried to understand the similarities in what he was experiencing to his research and catered his recovery accordingly.
David’s book is an honest account on the struggles he faced medically, mentally, financially and with important relationships in his life.
There is so much more work that can be dedicated to the impact that varying levels of stress & trauma have on the brain and it’s functions. I believe it’s underestimated the short and long term affects that it causes.
I could relate all too well to not being able to recall the name of everyday items, an issue I still struggle with today but have become better at hiding.
I would tend to agree with David’s daughters feedback that the extend of talk about the brain and the affects was a bit difficult to stay engaged in. Mainly because of the terminology and without a medical background I had to keep questioning what was what. The content was very necessary but a more simplistic approach may have made this more digestible.
I don’t want to take away from the struggles David Roland have faced to “Rescue his Brain” but I know that at times I have been left feeling just as frightened and helpless.
After losing my father, having a miscarriage & losing our baby Danica all in the space of 2 years, I remember presenting to my doctor and saying “ I’m confident that I’m going through menopause and early stages of alzheimers”. I learned from my doctor that what I was experiencing was my body shutting down functions that were not critically needed so it could focus its efforts on “surviving the trauma”. It was frightening and I felt more disconnected from myself than ever. It was said that what I was experiencing was a form of post traumatic stress.
David Roland speaks to how he battles his brain after repeated traumatic exposure and a stroke. Some of the techniques he tried were being used for alzheimers patients. He did not fit his recovery into a box. Instead he tried to understand the similarities in what he was experiencing to his research and catered his recovery accordingly.
David’s book is an honest account on the struggles he faced medically, mentally, financially and with important relationships in his life.
There is so much more work that can be dedicated to the impact that varying levels of stress & trauma have on the brain and it’s functions. I believe it’s underestimated the short and long term affects that it causes.
I could relate all too well to not being able to recall the name of everyday items, an issue I still struggle with today but have become better at hiding.
I would tend to agree with David’s daughters feedback that the extend of talk about the brain and the affects was a bit difficult to stay engaged in. Mainly because of the terminology and without a medical background I had to keep questioning what was what. The content was very necessary but a more simplistic approach may have made this more digestible.
May 21, 2021
I wavered between 3 and 4 stars for this book. It took a very long time to finish - it was one of those "read 3 pages, put it down" sort of books. It was quite concise, yet densely written - wavering between medical terms and an almost infant-like description of emotions.
The author also wasn't particularly likeable and lacked self-awareness, particularly when it came to his wife.
Linked to this was that it wasn't relatable. Every time he struggled, he just left his wife holding the kids whilst he jetted off to meditation retreats.
What did bring up the star rating was how the author just laid it all out there. His vulnerabilities, circling thoughts and feeling of despair. There were some 'ah-ha' moments when reading the book too, but they occur only for the very motivated reader.
I'd recommend if you are interested in neuroscience, counselling/therapy and brain health, but walk on by if just browsing the shelves for a nice read.
The author also wasn't particularly likeable and lacked self-awareness, particularly when it came to his wife.
Linked to this was that it wasn't relatable. Every time he struggled, he just left his wife holding the kids whilst he jetted off to meditation retreats.
What did bring up the star rating was how the author just laid it all out there. His vulnerabilities, circling thoughts and feeling of despair. There were some 'ah-ha' moments when reading the book too, but they occur only for the very motivated reader.
I'd recommend if you are interested in neuroscience, counselling/therapy and brain health, but walk on by if just browsing the shelves for a nice read.
June 6, 2025
The first half of this book was all about how the author came to have such a damaged brain (from his work life and self-induced stressful personal life), and there was relatively little about what he actually did to "rescue" his brain, apart from exploring every retreat option.
It does give a good sense of how frustrating it must be to feel not quite right.
I was amazed at the author's lack of self-awareness. He was spending so much time basically just indulging himself that it was a wonder he wasn't divorced earlier. He also had lots of professional connections, and lots of resources (not withstanding his financial issues, again all self-induced) and I wonder how less-well connected and resourced people cope with such a devastating brain injury.
Overall, it seemed to be more about trauma, than recovering from stroke, in the category of an "occupational memoir".
It does give a good sense of how frustrating it must be to feel not quite right.
I was amazed at the author's lack of self-awareness. He was spending so much time basically just indulging himself that it was a wonder he wasn't divorced earlier. He also had lots of professional connections, and lots of resources (not withstanding his financial issues, again all self-induced) and I wonder how less-well connected and resourced people cope with such a devastating brain injury.
Overall, it seemed to be more about trauma, than recovering from stroke, in the category of an "occupational memoir".
June 15, 2019
Really quite interesting, but not for the reasons I thought when I got the book. Much more interesting that the account of the authors' recovery from stroke was the self-portrait of the author, who seems to be a deeply narcissistic, self-obsessed person. As a psychologist you'd expect more self-awareness, so it was fascinating to see the hints of the damage to and neglect of his family as he pursues his own healing. I'd love to read his wife's perspective on the same 10 years. His writing is good, clear, lucid, nice turn of phrase - but I ended up not liking him much at all, perhaps his self-portrait shows others more than he can see of himself?
January 20, 2025
Audiobook from the library 🎧
This book held my attention and was quite interesting but, for me, didn't cover a huge amount of new ground in the field of neuroplasticity (which is what I was mostly interested in when going in).
I thought the stigma he felt (and faced) when he thought he'd undergone a mental breakdown, compared to the relief he (and others) felt when they found out it was a stroke, was really quite sad, especially as he helped people with mental health issues in his pre-stroke life. If a mental health practitioner feels (and legitimises the stigma), what hope do the rest of us have??
This book held my attention and was quite interesting but, for me, didn't cover a huge amount of new ground in the field of neuroplasticity (which is what I was mostly interested in when going in).
I thought the stigma he felt (and faced) when he thought he'd undergone a mental breakdown, compared to the relief he (and others) felt when they found out it was a stroke, was really quite sad, especially as he helped people with mental health issues in his pre-stroke life. If a mental health practitioner feels (and legitimises the stigma), what hope do the rest of us have??
November 27, 2023
I've given this two stars because I thought the descriptions of neuroanatomy were good, and I liked the analogies he used when explaining the effects of the various neurotransmitters. I also thought it was a very brave and honest account, given that he doesn't come across as particularly likeable.
However, this book could have been so better if two-thirds of the author's self-indulgent whining had been omitted. He was so unlikeable and self-absorbed that reading the first half of the book was a real slog.
However, this book could have been so better if two-thirds of the author's self-indulgent whining had been omitted. He was so unlikeable and self-absorbed that reading the first half of the book was a real slog.
November 26, 2021
The journey from having suffered a stroke to the recovery afterwards was very interesting. I didn’t know much about the subject before and this was a nice exploration into how peoples lives can be altered by experiencing strokes. I went in looking for a more logical explanation of neuro plasticity but that’s more my fault for not reading the summery well. Either way this was a very helpful story.
July 18, 2023
A personal description of the experience of stroke (not immediately recognised as one) and recovery. This is not a manual for stroke rehabilitation but does offer interesting insights into his post stroke brain and the different approaches he took to cope and recover. The author had a complicated personal situation pre stroke and describes how he managed his family relationships and the impact on his mental health of his work as a psychologist during this time.
June 23, 2024
I read this book thinking it may have preventative/improvement recommendations if you have not had trauma/brain injury. However, it reads as a memoir and although the very positive impact of meditation and mindfulness is something I’ll look to incorporate, it is probably more useful to those who do face /faced trauma in their life, how to recognise it and treat it. Particularly the section re seeking help for depression and in his case not doing so led to his stroke.
September 21, 2022
A very interesting story of David, a psychologist, suddenly finds himself in a hospital and has no idea why. A very honest and open account of how he found himself with an illness and had to admit he would struggle to manage a full time job after his illness.
It was very detailed and descriptive with lots of facts included, I sometimes get overwhelmed with too many facts and find it detracts from the story, which I did a little in this case, so I did skip some sections, but it was an interesting read to understand how he faced his illness and what he did to try to help himself recover.
It was very detailed and descriptive with lots of facts included, I sometimes get overwhelmed with too many facts and find it detracts from the story, which I did a little in this case, so I did skip some sections, but it was an interesting read to understand how he faced his illness and what he did to try to help himself recover.
April 6, 2023
I am not usually into non fiction and science based books, but this has been written in a story/journey form, following the authors various attempts to help his brain recover from stroke, metal illness, and trauma. It was very well researched and seems to be mostly evidence based. It is a heavy topic but never feels hopeless.
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