Richard Rossi Books

Make sure to get the newer (2001) version of this text. Amazon will be more than happy to send you a "new" earlier edition (1999) if you aren't careful. Unfortunately, the 1999 cover of "Living with Stroke" is of very low contrast, and thus difficult to read. So, older folks or people with low vision may be a bit put off by the cover. (But don't let this scare you away. The text within is large and readable.) The newer version may very well contain more up-to-date info.

In response to a family emergency, I ordered four books on stoke recovery. Two had been recommended to me as being helpful for lay people: (1) "Living With Stroke: A Guide For Families" (Senelick, Rossi & Dougherty, 1999) and (2) "Stoke and the Family: A New Guide" (Stein, 2004). I ordered these for my family members (and myself). Two more were written at a much more scholarly, technical level for clinicans: (3) "Recovery after Stroke" (Barnes, Dobkin, & Bogousslavsky, Eds, 2005), and (4) "Stroke Rehabilitation: A Function-Based Approach" (Gillen & Burkhardt, Eds, 2004).

Each of these books has much to recommend it. I hope to write reviews of all four later. I can see why the first two are standouts, and have been helpful to so many people. They are well-written, concise books with plenty of important information. They will help you quickly become an educated consumer of medical care. (They won't always familiarize you with medical controversies and choices, but they do a remarkable job of capturing the key issues. Controversies include the use of anti-seizure meds, and the use of statins for cholesterol reduction, especially in women.).

This book describes the various physical manifestation of stroke (e.g., left vs right hemisphere), types of stroke (e.g., thrombotic, embolic, hemorrhagic, lacunar), diagnosis, pharmacological treatments, risk factors, and the basic rehabilitation spectrum--from physical therapy and activities of daily living to impact of stroke on daily life. The book offers creative ideas for navigating each of the key components. I especially liked the fact that the book does a nice job of covering psychological issues. I'm not talking about old-school psychoanalysis here. I'm talking about things like behavioral, cognitive, and family systems approaches to psychological health. There are plenty of tools provided for dealing with cognitive distortion, pessimism, etc. The book is concerned with the health of the patient AND the health of family and friends.

I believe that many people will be able to complete the book in a night or two. That's important when time is of the essence and you are trying to educate yourself quickly.

If you are a family member and or a caretaker: This is the book to bring with you to the hospital waiting room. You are likely to be waiting for long periods between visits with doctors and nurses, and you'll have many questions. You'll learn much more detailed general information from this book than the 10 minutes you spend consulting with the doc. What this book doesn't explain is how to deal with hospital staff who are busy and not always concerned with communicating with family members. But it provides plenty more. You can use this book to educate other family members and friends who might not be as thorough and bookish as you, and win them over to a sensible and realistic agenda.

If you are a professional, you may find this book helpful, for a variety of reasons. First off, you might consider recommending this book, or the book by Stein, to your patients. Moreover, you might use the language in these books to explain situations and decisions to patients and their families. The authors have taken care to discuss emotionally and cognitively complex material in a sensible and clear manner.

Recently, my 31 year old, pregnant sister had an emergency c-section and then had complications that resulted in her suffering TWO strokes. Doctors would not tell us anything, no one could even tell us what they thought would happen with her. Luckily I found this book. This is a primer for strokes -- it gives everything from a lesson on how the brain works to how a rehabilitation program is put together, to how to cope emotionally as a caregiver. It is a quick read, chock full of substantial information, clear and well-written. You don't have to read straight through: it is well indexed and has a clear table of contents so you can get to the information you need most quickly. The most valuable part of the book is the glossary of terms that helps you navigate the medical-speak you are going to hear. Start with this book and you'll be equipped with solid information and understanding. This book was a godsend in a time of crisis.

As a stroke survivor, I can honestly say that this is the one to own. It explains your stroke to both you and your family in laymen's terms, yet never speaks down to you or leaves you feeling hopeless. A must for the stroke survivor and his/her family.

this book has been fantastic for helping families and other caregivers of individuals who have suffered a stroke! this book hadn't been written back when my own father suffered his strokes. i really wish that it had been - it would have been of immense help to my own family. now, i am fortunate to be able to recommend it and lend it to families, who all find it to be well written, easy to read and understand, and full of helpful and practical advice in dealing with our loved one, protecting them, and helping us to communicate more clearly and cope more effectively. an excellent contribution to the field!

I bought this film for my cousin who watched this movie on HBO. I am not very intrested in films but my cousin tells me that this is one of the best american films he has seen till now. It appears that kids will enjoy this film but elders may not.

I love this movie. I had it already on DVD. Now I have it for Psp to take along on trips.

A librarian friend's review (from the Monroe County Library System webpage):

Billy Bob does it again. This man, in addition to being an incredibly intense actor, shows himself to be a screen comedian on par with the best of our time. But unlike a Will Ferrell or Bill Murray, Thornton didn't make his name mugging on SNL. His delivery is slightly cruel. He's a comic you respect but are a little afraid to get near. In Bad Santa (2003) and Daddy & Them (2001), Thornton seems as depressed and weary as only alcoholics, or abstaining alcoholics, can be, and capable of violence. Despite the fact that The Bad News Bears (2005) is essentially a kiddie movie, even more so than Bad Santa, Thornton's relentlessly dark delivery keeps you coming back for more. There's no one quite like him in movies at this time. You might have to go back to W.C. Fields to find a movie comic with a delivery so dark and seemingly won by hard living.

I didn't think this was as awful as many reviews claim, in fact I think it is "good old days" hindsight that has many claim the original was so much better. In fact, this is almost a carbon copy of the original from the musical score right down to the disturbing clone who plays Tanner. There are updates to be sure and I thought there were some unnecessary moments and changes made (why the switch from Chico's Bail Bonds to a strip club?) but it is every bit as "offensive" as it was in 1976 and it is what it is: a crude movie about a bunch of misfits who show the sleepy little world of suburbia that not everyone is a perfect little tool. Is it an original idea? No. But it does make for some good laughs and there is enough of a message, albeit a heavy-handed one, about sportsmanship, the "everyone's a winner" mentality vs. the "win at all costs" attitude, and acceptance.
Billy Bob Thornton and Greg Kinnear do well reprising Matthau and Morrow and the kids are all fittingly obnoxious when they need to be.

There was nothing on so I decided to watch this piece of crap movie. No wonder kids nowadays are so stupid and bratty, their parents let them watch and act like the ones on this movie...and celebrating at a certain 'adult'/desperate mens restaurant with kids? Come on! I cant believe how many people thought this movie was good, or even OK. Its garbage and shows how low society is falling.

I just happen to run across this at the library.....I could NOT put it down. It is raw and real. You must read this if this is the type of book that interests you. It is written so well...so clear. I zoomed right thru it.

Rossi's inability to look at his situation from his victims' and society's point of view is somewhat understandable seeing as how he obviously lacks the capability of critical thinking. After all, this inability is what handed him his current residential predicament. He does reiterate several times throughout the book that he takes responsibility for the heinous crime associated with his death sentence, however he falls short of delivering any real sense of regret for the crime itself. Sort of, "Okay - yeah I killed someone but look at what I'VE had to endure....".

I was disappointed that there wasn't more of an insight into daily routines and mental and emotional transitions that a death row inmate makes after years of reflection. This book was more a sponsorship of prison reform than anything else.

What I was able conclude about my own views after reading Rossi's account: 1) I remain an opponent of the death penalty, 2) I strongly support legislation regarding Life Without Parole sentences, 3) I firmly support humane treatment in our penal systems but do not support country club style institutions. Prison is a place for people who have victimized and violated codes of trust within our society. The more violent the crime, the more restrictive a person's sentence should be. We shouldn't forget the men and women that must protect against and for the prisoners. Many inmates have nothing to lose (death row inmates) and are mentally capable of doing whatever they deem necessary to free themselves. Remember the escape attempt Rossi describes? Restrictions and structure are absolutely necessary to protect inmates from each other and to secure the prison staff. Death row inmates have already committed crimes that are considered especially heinous.

Although I would like to someday see Rossi removed from death row, I hope that he never walks as a free man in our society again.

If you are looking for something that is nice and happy, you won't be able to find it in this book. Waiting to Die is a first hand account of a death row prisoner's life told by Richard Michael Rossi. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Rossi began to develop an addiction to cocaine and amphetamine. He becomes clean, but once again picks up the habit when he moves to Arizona. While on a cocaine high, he shoots a guy over a dispute about a typewriter. This eventually lands him behind bars. Rossi describes the inhumane treatment of the prisoners in Arizona's death row. He blames the politicians for taking away their privileges and making life even harder for them. Rossi complains about their inadequate food, medical neglect, and the abuse from the prison guards. I found this book rather boring and hard to sympathize for those prisoners, after all they did do something to land them there in the first place. In Rossi's case, his actions can not be justified. Even though he was high on cocaine, he still took the life of another human being. Along with that, the book was not well written, it lacked the professionalism that makes a book, a piece of art.

I am a lover of good non-fiction...discovering new worlds and the learning about the lives of real people and their experiences. That was my anticipation when I purchased "Waiting to Die"...I thought I would get some juicy insight into prison life and gain a better understanding of what life is like "on the inside". What I got was ~150 pages of whining and complaining from Mr. Rossi. He spends lengthy sections of this book trying to convince his readers how terrible prisoners are treated on death row (duh...it's prison), and how these conditions are a result of mean-spirited politicians and a corrupt and inept judicial system. I was looking for insight into prison life...what I got was a 150 page diatribe on how inmates are victimized, mistreated, and lonely, and how America lacks morality and conscience.

Warning...I NEVER write reviews on books or anything, but I'm taking the time to write this one. DO NOT BUY THIS TRASH!

This book is a good read, a deep and insightful book, it is harsh at times, it is sometimes unbelievable to read what happens in the lives of incarcerated people. We all have to read this book, to see what warehousing all these millions of people does to us as a society. Do we really want to treat other human beings this way. This is a good read for anybody interested in the subject of Human Interest, politics, human rights issues etc. It is worth reading, and it is certainly going to touch the heart of all readers.
It has definitely convinced me once and for all that the death penalty serves no purpose in a modern day society.

So many truly great people in history have been unfairly persecuted and prosecuted like Rossi...Christ, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela...The backlash against Rossi for confronting evil in Pittsburgh is unimaginable until reading this book. Small minds in a small town condemned him and the backwoods reporters sold the lie until this book showed their hypocrisy in black and white.. Kudos to Sherrie Rossi for her courage to write the book

The book is an incredible expose on the media sharks and their efforts to destroy a family who stood for truth. I cried reading the fianl chapter of Richard's, sharing the lessons he's learned through suffering. They are a family of grace and faith that have a lot of compassion through going through the fire. I'm happy they are successfully ministering in LA to people's real needs.