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Life in Rewind
“A surprising tale of success by medical science confronted with a nearly insurmountable disorder. Well-rounded, powerful, and inspirational.” — Kirkus Reviews In the vein of Manic and Girl, Interrupted , and the popular stories of Oliver Sacks, Life in Rewind is the captivating true story of promising young athlete Ed Zine’s sudden descent into severe mental illness, and the brilliant Harvard doctor, Michael A. Jenike, who broke through the boundaries of traditional medicine to save him. Written by Terry Weible Murphy with Zine and Jenike, Life in Rewind provides a shocking picture of severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and the surprising and unorthodox lengths to which a doctor goes to help his patient. The Washington Times calls this, “[An] extraordinary story.” It is that and much more.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2009
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290 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 22, 2010
I was intrigued and horrified by this book. I cannot imagine having to live this way. I came away thinking that people who jokingly say they have OCD issues have absolutely no idea what they're talking about.
February 22, 2016
I have a friend that has OCD. I didn't ask - she just told me. I didn't pry - she just seems like a normal person to me. She didn't get upset when I didn't put my boots where she suggested. She doesn't seem to get upset about anything really. This book suggests that she might be upset behind the façade (and no - I didn't put that hinkey little thing under the c in the last word - the spell checker did that).
So - this book is about someone with OCD. It kind of crept up on him day by day until by mid-book he spends most of his time 'immobilised' in his room in the basement because every time he moves, he feels compelled to do so many extra things in his mind and body that it just isn't worth moving. He loses weight and seems to be living in filth that he can't remove because ... his mind won't allow him to.
It's like there are two people operating in him - one that says that he doesn't have to do all this extra stuff and one that says that if he does not - something terrible will happen (basically: all his friends and family will die - like his mother did).
He gets therapy - but it doesn't help - at first. Then he meets a girl and falls in love and his love for this girl strengthens the part of him that says that he does not have to do all the extra stuff.
And it's as simple as that.
Except that it isn't. People are pretty complicated things and the odds of getting the boost you need by falling in love are pretty long.
My friend doesn't seem to want to fall in love anytime soon.
I wish she would.
I wish we all could.
Love could save the day for us all.
So - this book is about someone with OCD. It kind of crept up on him day by day until by mid-book he spends most of his time 'immobilised' in his room in the basement because every time he moves, he feels compelled to do so many extra things in his mind and body that it just isn't worth moving. He loses weight and seems to be living in filth that he can't remove because ... his mind won't allow him to.
It's like there are two people operating in him - one that says that he doesn't have to do all this extra stuff and one that says that if he does not - something terrible will happen (basically: all his friends and family will die - like his mother did).
He gets therapy - but it doesn't help - at first. Then he meets a girl and falls in love and his love for this girl strengthens the part of him that says that he does not have to do all the extra stuff.
And it's as simple as that.
Except that it isn't. People are pretty complicated things and the odds of getting the boost you need by falling in love are pretty long.
My friend doesn't seem to want to fall in love anytime soon.
I wish she would.
I wish we all could.
Love could save the day for us all.
June 20, 2009
I guess it was curiousity that attracted me to this book. I've seen stuff about OCD on television, showing people with rituals about touching things, not stepping on cracks, and the like. I hoped to learn what goes on inside these people, that leads them to take up such behaviours. I can say I got more than I bargained for with this book. Not only does the book explain the case of one man who developed OCD: how it came on, (gradually at first), what he was thinking, and why he felt the need to observe so many difficult and immensely time consuming behaviors. It also shows how the disease narrowed his life to the point where he became a reclude, living in a single room, and having minimal contact with members of his family. He was like a possessed person, controlled by self imposed rituals that made his life torture. Fortunately, he was helped by a doctor who specialized in OCD. Although none of the drug therapies they tried helped him, and he didn't respond to the behaviour modification therapies they tried to teach him, somehow he got to a point where he realized OCD was his enemy and he successfully fought back. As much as it's a story about OCD, it's just as much a story about the strength of the human spirit and its ability to overcome adversity.
August 18, 2009
Even more amazing and inspiring than "The Blind Side" -- a devastating true story with a happy ending. (You may notice that I give nearly all of my books five stars -- this is not because I have low standards, but because I have exceptional powers of book-selection)
PS The writing is actually quite crappy in this one -- it doesn't matter, though, because the story is so compelling that Murphy need only lay out the facts...I find the fact that she italicizes on nearly every page (sometimes more than once on a single, small page) very irritating, but it's easy enough to overlook
PS The writing is actually quite crappy in this one -- it doesn't matter, though, because the story is so compelling that Murphy need only lay out the facts...I find the fact that she italicizes on nearly every page (sometimes more than once on a single, small page) very irritating, but it's easy enough to overlook
November 27, 2012
My son suffers from OCD but until I read this book I had no idea how challenging this condition is. From outside the rituals just look odd but most of the pain and some of the rituals are unseen. It's so hard to understand why otherwise clever people can't stop the illogical behaviour. I hope I can be more supportive towards my son and others now. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five was the very American overuse of superlatives, which I found irritating but accept is a personal response. I would happily recommend this book to anyone.
October 20, 2013
A really great book about Ed Zine, and how he learns to control the OCD that has crippled and controlled him for most of his life, and the wonderful doctor Michael Jenike who helps him. A very emotional read.
February 8, 2022
Amazing story of ocd and learning how to manage it, truly inspiring
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2014
At first, I was so motivated to read this because it was based on true story. I loved true stories. After first few pages, I remember thinking, "Oh no. This is gonna be one long history-taking depiction." I'm expecting a high-end narrative style comparable to the likes of Mitch Albom since I have had him earlier before this book (it's not fair, I know).
But I had never been so wrong when I realized how much hard work it took for the author to compile such an inspiring story like this. And the way the story progressed, it was perfectly timed and the chronology was triumphant. It was easily understandable and I found myself mulling over the horrible truth that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) could be this crippling.
Anyway, it's great story of determination and courage. If there are few messages extracted from this book on which I could hold forever in my brain; it's that OCD is incurable and mental illness is a not a joke.
It was basically a compilation of interviews with the patient himself (Ed Zine), the well-renowned, exceptionally compassionate psychiatrist (Dr. Michael), and several other people who were involved directly or indirectly during the course of Ed's debilitating mental disorder. What made the situation worse and pitiful was; Ed's cognitive faculty was totally intact and functional, I mean he knew the countings and repetitions were absolutely meaningless but the OCD was like a demanding mistress.
Ed's 'resurfacing' time was marked when he finally found the motivation to at least control the OCD, after Dr Michael broke down in front of him, feeling there's nothing left in his arsenal of medicine and therapy to help Ed out of his own 'hell'. The most phenomenal part of his recovery was when he threw all the 'timeholders' in his basement as he chose beautiful, loving Mayada over his OCD.
OCD is manageable as long as the surrounding people are supportive and are willing to take part in the 'healing' process. Of course there would be the nasty nay-sayers but, let them be damned.
But I had never been so wrong when I realized how much hard work it took for the author to compile such an inspiring story like this. And the way the story progressed, it was perfectly timed and the chronology was triumphant. It was easily understandable and I found myself mulling over the horrible truth that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) could be this crippling.
Anyway, it's great story of determination and courage. If there are few messages extracted from this book on which I could hold forever in my brain; it's that OCD is incurable and mental illness is a not a joke.
It was basically a compilation of interviews with the patient himself (Ed Zine), the well-renowned, exceptionally compassionate psychiatrist (Dr. Michael), and several other people who were involved directly or indirectly during the course of Ed's debilitating mental disorder. What made the situation worse and pitiful was; Ed's cognitive faculty was totally intact and functional, I mean he knew the countings and repetitions were absolutely meaningless but the OCD was like a demanding mistress.
Ed's 'resurfacing' time was marked when he finally found the motivation to at least control the OCD, after Dr Michael broke down in front of him, feeling there's nothing left in his arsenal of medicine and therapy to help Ed out of his own 'hell'. The most phenomenal part of his recovery was when he threw all the 'timeholders' in his basement as he chose beautiful, loving Mayada over his OCD.
OCD is manageable as long as the surrounding people are supportive and are willing to take part in the 'healing' process. Of course there would be the nasty nay-sayers but, let them be damned.
May 10, 2016
This book started rather slowly, and I was a little frustrated by the idea that OCD is only triggered by some psychologically damaging event (since as far as I can tell, it can also occur for no apparent reason, or as a result of an infection, etc.).
In the second half, as Ed Zine and Michael Jenike's relationship is explored, we learn more about OCD, the doctor-patient relationship, and therapies that actually work on OCD, the pace picks up a lot. Terry Weible Murphy does an amazing job of putting all the information into a readable story, while managing to convey something of how it feels to be trapped by OCD, to be a family member, or a doctor that can't do anything. The subtitle here is a little misleading - Michael Jenike didn't set Ed Zine free, Ed did it himself. Jenike provided a few of the tools, however.
Interestingly, my copy has a different subtitle from the one portrayed here: "The Story of a Young Courageous Man Who Persevered Over OCD and the Harvard Doctor Who Broke All the Rules to Help Him." I think this one is better, giving more credit where it's due.
In the second half, as Ed Zine and Michael Jenike's relationship is explored, we learn more about OCD, the doctor-patient relationship, and therapies that actually work on OCD, the pace picks up a lot. Terry Weible Murphy does an amazing job of putting all the information into a readable story, while managing to convey something of how it feels to be trapped by OCD, to be a family member, or a doctor that can't do anything. The subtitle here is a little misleading - Michael Jenike didn't set Ed Zine free, Ed did it himself. Jenike provided a few of the tools, however.
Interestingly, my copy has a different subtitle from the one portrayed here: "The Story of a Young Courageous Man Who Persevered Over OCD and the Harvard Doctor Who Broke All the Rules to Help Him." I think this one is better, giving more credit where it's due.
January 29, 2010
The author of this book does a very good job of describing the subject's OCD and what it was like to be trapped in the cycles of obsession and compulsion. Unfortunately, this is one of the things I didn't like about the book. I mean, it would be hell to live through these intricate thought processes, so why would I want to read through them in all their obsessive detail? It doesn't seem like it would be a helpful book for others with OCD, mainly because Dr. Jenike didn't really do anything to help Ed overcome his problem. It's more like Ed decided he didn't want to have OCD anymore and then "flipped the script" on his own. Dr. Jenike wasn't even THERE for most of Ed's recovery.
And, speaking of Dr. Jenike . . . the author got far too hero-worship-y for me. Sometimes bucking the system and breaking the rules because you don't like them doesn't make you a hero, it just kind of makes you an ass. Dr. Jenike just seemed like an ass.
And, speaking of Dr. Jenike . . . the author got far too hero-worship-y for me. Sometimes bucking the system and breaking the rules because you don't like them doesn't make you a hero, it just kind of makes you an ass. Dr. Jenike just seemed like an ass.
April 5, 2009
“Time equals Progression, Progression equals death” is the silent mantra that runs 24/7 in Ed’s head and therefore runs his life. Ed is trapped in a self imposed prison; a prison in which only Ed can conjure the key for release. Author, Terry Weible Murphy’s book “Life in Rewind”, introduces us to Ed and his mental prison. The reader immediately has compassion for Ed and therefore this book reads as a fast paced mystery, because we want to know how Ed uncovers the key that sets him free. I recommend this book to readers of mystery, suspense, life and love. Tears are shed and memories are made through all of Ed’s prison breaks and recapture’s. This is a story of a man convicted to life in prison who truly is not guilty of the crime, yet DNA testing is not the key to his release.
December 12, 2013
This book was fascinating. As a mother to a son who has OCD I found it both terrifying and uplifting. During the book I became profoundly aware of just how much support and assistance my son may need as an adult. Managing and staying-on-top of his OCD will be a family responsibility, not allowing his OCD to over take him. I appreciated reading about Ed's profound struggles and then learning of his amazing recovery. I know that the doctor of this story was not the one that 'cured' Ed, however we should all be so lucky to have this doctor for ourselves or any doctor that cares that much for that matter. OCD can be a tricky and devastating mental illness and I think the author did a fabulous job of showing the reader that it is in fact an illness and not a behaviour.
September 7, 2013
I have to say, I was really drawn into his story. Already by chapter 2 I was heartbroken and crying. I understood what happened to him, but I was very interested to know what happened to him.. I continued to read, falling asleep and continuing again with valor that I have not felt in reading for quite some time. Some parts of the narrative was repetitive, kind of like an advert or academic report, for example the parts where he kept saying Rudy was a big shot player, but the write proved himself when he started to write about the story of the Dr. I was even more interested to know how he would help him.His story is inspirational. I hope he continues to heal.
May 18, 2009
Summary: Ed has severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. After emotionally repressing the death of his mother, he felt compelled to save the lives of his family and friends by rewinding every action that he does to stop the progression of time. This book follows his progression into madness, eventually ending up confined to his basement, and his struggle to end the cycle.
Review: This was a well-written engaging memoir of a difficult situation. You leave the story with hopefulness that you can overcome any obstacle put in your way if Ed can overcome his OCD
Review: This was a well-written engaging memoir of a difficult situation. You leave the story with hopefulness that you can overcome any obstacle put in your way if Ed can overcome his OCD
May 23, 2013
A scary true story which shows how a combination of circumstances can throw someone from a sane individual into the depths of hell that is OCD. I am very fortunate not to have this condition and I also don't know anyone who has, but the author has now made me vividly aware of how incredibly debilitating it can be. I think most people who have no experience of mental illness do not understand the trauma, but this book helps us to understand it a little bit. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, however, and the book ends on a positive note.
January 19, 2012
Livro de leitura obrigatória para quem sofre, ou é familiar ou amigo de alguém que sofre, de POC – Perturbação Obsessiva Compulsiva. Conta a história real de Edward Zine, um jovem vítima de um caso extremamente grave de POC e descreve a sua luta para controlar esta perturbação, cujo tempo médio de diagnóstico, nos EUA, é de 17 anos.
Li a versão em inglês e não faço ideia se existe tradução para português.
Li a versão em inglês e não faço ideia se existe tradução para português.
December 28, 2013
This story illustrates just how big a difference can be made with compassion and respectful treatment of those suffering from mental illness. The description of how Ed's OCD isolated him in his basement in filth, hoarding items to stop the progression of time made me angry at the producers (and viewers) of shows like Hoarders. They make a spectacle of and profit off people who are obviously suffering from some form of mental illness.
January 5, 2018
"Life in Rewind" is probably the only book I've read that accurately describes what it's like to live with OCD. Ed's story is tragic but uplifting, and I would recommend this book for anyone who knows someone that is dealing with OCD (possibly not for everyone with OCD themselves, as some of the descriptions of Ed's rituals may be triggering). "Life in Rewind" gave me a lot of hope that things will get better eventually, and I'm really glad that I was able to read it.
March 16, 2010
This is the true story of young man who suffers from a most severe form of OCD. It really opened my eyes to human suffering.
The writing is okay. The story is compelling, but it is not really a diagnostic or a how-to guide book. If anything this young man's experience shows how individual and varied OCD and subsequent treatment can be.
The writing is okay. The story is compelling, but it is not really a diagnostic or a how-to guide book. If anything this young man's experience shows how individual and varied OCD and subsequent treatment can be.
January 15, 2012
I'd give it 3.5 stars. At the start it was said to read that he watched his mother die, a very good story about a man triumph over OCD (obsessive compulsion disorder). My favourite part was my Mayada was introduced and how accepting she was to his illness and even married him (it touched my heart). A good book to be read by anyone especially if you got stuck with your own life.
February 21, 2013
It was interesting, but I didn't care for how the story was told... too much like just a recounting of facts. Ed's process of dealing with his OCD seemed more of a "cold turkey" approach. The inclusion of the doctor in Ed's story felt more like the author's hero worship of him, than his ability to help someone with OCD.
September 18, 2012
M-Tear started reading this book yesterday at 10:30 last night. She didn't stop until 2 this morning. Yeah, M-Tear had school today. Very smart, she knows.
Anyway, this is one of the most touching books ever, M-Tear laughed and cried. It is a very good book that M-Tear will remember forever, and she would reccomend it to anybody.
Anyway, this is one of the most touching books ever, M-Tear laughed and cried. It is a very good book that M-Tear will remember forever, and she would reccomend it to anybody.
December 10, 2017
I learned a lot about OCD through this book. Edward Stine had to repeat movements over and over again so his loved ones would never die and he could rewind life.. he live in his dads basement for 2 years without leaving and only taking one shower . It is horrible to think someone has to live this way.
June 22, 2009
Well-written, very compelling true story. Sometimes painful, but riveting.
September 11, 2009
Fascinating look into the life of someone with severe OCD.
July 20, 2009
Very honest book. I truly admire Dr. Jenike who admits that his medical treatment failed. However, his friendship with this remarkable OCD patient. Worth reading.
October 9, 2009
Interesting.
Currently reading
September 8, 2010This is truly one of the most facinating and touching stories I have ever read. I can't say enough how much I loved this book.
Want to read
November 16, 2010Sometimes you buy a book and then wonder how did this get on my bookshelf unread!! Will read soon after the pile on the table.
December 20, 2010
a great book,especially if you suffer any form of ocd.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews