Disabled Books

WOW! I was worrying if it was old book but it was so neat. WHEW!! I read it and put it away in the shelf. I feel good to read. Thank you!

This book reminds parents of deaf children how crucial it is that they give their child a language rich environment regardless of whether they decide on signing or not. I am an educational interpreter and see children who are so far behind on their language skills because they don't get enough language support at home. I really encourage anyone who has a deaf child or works with deaf children to read this book.

A truly outstanding and eye-opening resource for parents of deaf children. Our deaf son is 14 months old and we have been reading numerous publications to try to prepare ourselves for his education. This book is full of important and eye-opening recommendations that I'm sure we will use on a daily basis in the years to come.

David A. Stewart and Bryan R. Clarke are two dedicated teachers with years of experience working with deaf children. In Literacy And Your Deaf Child: What Every Parent Should Know, Stewart and Clarke effectively collaborate to create an instructional guide specifically appropriate for parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children who want to do everything they can to ensure their hearing-impaired child learns to read and write with fluency and competence. Also discussed are the practices and issues of hearing aids, cochlear implants, speech reading, and sign communication. Emphasizing the developmental link between American Sign Language and English literacy for children who learn and use it, Literacy And Your Deaf Child is an excellent informational and guide volume and is very highly recommended for anyone who works with hearing-disabled children.

Ms. Banks' story is very well written. She clearly explains her situation and makes me feel as though I was experiencing the years with her. However, I could not empathize with her. I have the same disease but wasn't diagnosed until the age of 19. My mom was diagnosed at 35 and, as she was growing up, many doctors told her parents that all of the symptoms were in her head because there was absolutely nothing wrong with her. Therefore, I feel it was much harder going through childhood and teenage years when you have this disease and are not aware of why these things are happening to you than experiencing life as Ms. Banks (who I feel was quite lucky considering the circumstances).

This book touched me in so many different ways. There are so many people living with disabilities, but it takes a special person to come out and expose themself to the world as Ms. Banks has done. This was truly a no-holds-barred personal journey. I really loved the last chapter in which Ms. Banks shares with us her feelings now, the hardships of everyday life, and the lessons she has learned throughout life. I really believe everyone can gain something from "Melodies of My Life."

Banks' journey takes hold of you from the very beginning! It was an amazing read and I think she is brave to share her life with the world. My favorite chapter is "Womanhood," because I related to her on various levels. She addressed some of the same issues that I deal with, making me feel as though I wasn't alone. Melodies is a must read! Don't sleep on this open and refreshing book.

If you pick up this book, Melody of my life, you will be glad you did.
Ms. Banks life journey to date is not only a personal revelation but cherish memories of her daily life. She paints her life struggles and triumphs with keen sense of responsibilities and stunning illustrations like a master artist. She got my full and undivided attention from the beginning to the end of the book. Likewise, she will get yours.

Inspirational and heartwarming story for any family with a special needs child - or any mother! Maura Weis is an incredible woman and shares her story beautifully.

Before the age of two, little Hannah Weis was just like any other toddler. Bright, happy, resilient, and full of laughter. "Miles from the Sideline: A Mother's Journey with her Special Needs Daughter" is the story of what happened in the following decade where her development suddenly slowed, and how her mother, author Maura Weis, has had to deal with all the turmoil and triumph that comes from raising a daughter who just isn't like everyone else in the world, a daughter with special needs. "Miles from the Sideline: A Mother's Journey with her Special Needs Daughter" is a deftly written memoir that is highly recommended for other parents of special needs children and for community library memoir collections.

It is rare that I start and finish a book in one sitting. I could not put this one down! Maura Weis shared her experiences as the mother of a special needs child with intense honesty and humility. As she exposed her journey from denial to acceptance, I found myself awed by her transformation from the challenges presented in dealing with her daugher's situation to a spiritual awareness and healing. This metamorphosis allowed Maura to tell her readers why she finds it a privilege to be Hannah's mother. Her accounts transform the reader as well. In the beginning, I could completely understand and relate to the questions she had as a mother. Who to trust? What to do? When to do it? Where to go? Why me or why my child? And as Maura unfolded her story, I also completely understood how she was driven to find the answers to those questions. By the book's end, I was no longer reading Maura's mind, knowing how a mother agonizes for her child and will do anything to make things better. I was peering into her soul, understanding how a mother's love is, indeed, orchestrated by God. It is a symphony of faith, hope, and love. And, as demonstrated by Maura Weis, a mother's love is untiring and indestructible. If you are the parent of a special needs child, this book will no doubt validate all of your utmost concerns and give you incredible hope. And if you are not the parent of a special needs child, this book will give you a new awareness and keen compassion for both the child and the parent. The glimpses of Maura's "black-haired, blue-eyed beauty" will make you long to know Hannah, for you will believe that to know her is to love her. Consider this book a retreat, and a spiritual awakening. It is truly a fabulous read!

In the last 5 years I've read as many books as possible on autism and cerebral palsey... as one of my boys is autistic, and the other has CP. Some books lay claims to "curing" these disorders, others walk you through how to deal with schools and therapists... Maura Weis' book walks you through her families journey so incredibly honest and real, that I felt by the end of the book that I, too, had the ability to deal with my son's disabilities - that I am not alone - and that I can find peace in God's plan for these boys. Many of my friends who do not have special needs children, found it inspirational in their own journeys with different crosses they bear in their lives. Thank you, Maura, for sharing your story to help others.

This delightful book covers the full gamut of emotions. A myriad of topics ranging from flatulence to world events are covered in this book. This is Donna Williams, uncensored and ready to disclose her brilliant insights and gems of wisdom and humor. Gems like this should put to rest the misperception that people with autism are incapable of seeing beyond the literal and are incapable of using metaphoric language. If you want to climb the mountain into the world beyond the neurotypical, then join us in reading this treasure.

From surreal to hilarious, the collection in Not Just Anything is as diverse and disclosing as all of Donna Williams' autobiographical collection put together. From farting to terrorism, from merging with objects to mania, from explorations of psychopathy to celebrations of eccentrics, Donna Williams holds back from nothing here. For anyone who likes to dip into another world, here is the dipping pool.

If you can get your hands on this book, and if you read only one book by Donna Williams, read this one.

This is a collection of poems, stories, paintings, and photographs. It's very uneven -- some of them are great, and some of them are just kind of there. Some of them are silly and humorous, others are serious and frightening or uplifting.

My only complaint, if I had one, would be that some of the poems -- like "The Loft", and "The Mountain" -- contain ideas of a sort of compartmentalized nature that I find unfortunate, especially since she applies some of these hierarchies of understanding to all autistic people in her later books. But the other poems more than make up for this.

My personal favorites include "Cat's Cat", "Simply Be", "Chortle", and "Enemy Lines", among others.

"Cat's Cat" is a combination poem/short story about a cat. What I like about it can be summed up well in the last line -- "'Cat's Cat,' said Cat, in Cat." The cat's perspective on the "blob" who lives with and takes care of him is both amusing and real. "Simply Be" reads almost like a prayer or a plea. "Chortle" is a funny poem about the arrogance and snobbery of a person going on about his fancy toilets. "Enemy Lines" is a darker poem about living in a hostile environment.

These poems show the variation of topics in this book, but really you'd have to read it. It describes emotions and experiences I've yet to see described so clearly elsewhere. Some people seem to love this book and some seem to hate it, but I like it a lot, despite its flaws and unevenness. It's definitely, in my opinion, her best book, and possibly the best (or close to the best) book of poetry by an autistic person. It's about a whole lot more than autism, but many autistic people find it speaks to us directly.

These poems affected me, touched me, sometimes made me chuckle. They are full of the creativity and inspiration for life that is Donna Williams. In other words, they are another installment in the Donna Williams autobiography series though told episodically, and more sensingly. The book is a journey of feeling, quite an experience.

The revised edition of Partners in Independence by Ed & Toni Eames is a welcome addition to literature of how dogs touch and enrich our lives. The Eames' have given us an informative and entertaining look at the lives of those who have chosen to be partnered with an assistance dog. This book has appeal not only to those interested in the disabilities rights movement or the assistance dog movement, but to all dog lovers.

The second edition of "Partners in Independence: A Success Story of Dogs and the Disabled," by Ed and Toni Eames, will be of interest to those who want to understand more about dogs partnered with people who have disabilities. This edition is published by Barkleigh Productions, Inc. The Eameses are activists for the rights of people with disabilities, including the right to be accompanied by a trained and well-behaved assistance dog in public places.

The book covers a wide range of information about assistance dogs to people with disabilities. You'll find legal information, insights into life with various disabilities and how dogs can help, and a great deal of the history of dogs assisting people with disabilities. You'll also read warm stories, travel tales, some of the politics of the disability rights movement, and etiquette of how to help (and how not to try to help) a person with a disability you encounter in public.

The Eamses estimate there are about 20,000 assistance dogs--that's the total of guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs for disabilities such as mobility--working in the United States. Compared to even therapy dogs, this is a relatively small number, and many people have encountered few if any assistance dogs in their lives. It's no wonder that the legal rights of disabled people to have their assistance dogs with them in public are not well understood by most people--not even otherwise dog-savvy people. This book will clear up a lot of confusion, and it's fun to read in the process.

As someone who suffers from a disability (epilepsy), it was a pleasure to learn that not only wasn't I alone, but that my seizure alert dog is part of a greater whole. The assistance dog movement is growing and through this book more people will learn of its benefits.

I am a legally blind former Dairy Herdsnam. I was enthralled by the stories in this book, and grateful for the info given about the different guide dog schools. It helped make my choice of which school to apply for a dog easier. I think this book should be required reading for anyone entereing the special needs/education professions!

As an educator, I am impressed with the ability of the author to explain how various types of disabilities affect the ability of a learning diabled person to learn. It is done in a way that is understandable to the general population. Her dedication to aid citizens with special needs to reach their potential is apparent. Her techniques for teaching individuals with special needs are simple and easily implemented. I would highly recommend this book for music teachers and parents of a person with special needs.

If you have a student with a special need or are considering teaching one, this book by Kowalski is a must-read. Kowalski, a pediatric occupational therapist and classically trained pianist, draws on her wealth of medical and musical knowledge to create an innovative approach to teaching music students with special learning needs. By giving a concise, easy to read "crash course" in several common disabilities and the body systems affected, Karen Kowalski prepares her readers for the extremely practical and applicable teaching strategies that follow. Heartwarming and inspirational, the testimonials given at the end of the book are a tribute not only to students who have persisted in music despite their personal challenges, but also to the music teachers who have encouraged these students to "[play] it their way".

This book is enjoyable to read and provides creative, multisensory strategies for teaching piano to all types of learners.
The strategies are made clear through wonderful illustrations. I especially enjoyed the last chapter where several accomplished musicians with disabilities are described. I highly recommend this book to occupational therapists and music educators alike!

This book is essential for today's piano instructor. More and more individuals with special needs are taking piano lessons, and their unique situations require a unique approach. Karen Kowalski has a proven track record, having brought the joy of playing music to students in situations where the traditional methods don't apply. This book is a great way to tap into her experience and effectiveness. Highly Recommended.

This well written guide to self regulated strategy development (SRSD) provides the teacher a clear description of how to integrate a systematic, but not cook-book, writing strategy instructional block into the classroom.
I really like how the text is written to be digestible. Reading a five hundred page text is not what this book is about. It is about getting the information to teachers. Yes, the research is there, but it is plainly stated and well contextualized. There are a ton of lesson plans/ideas in the whole second part of the book. This is proving to be an excellent resource for the design of my class' writing strategy instruction. I highly recommend it for any K-12 teacher teaching writing.

I used this book as the basis for a Writers' Workshop for several of my students with written expression disabilities. The lesson are well written and easy to follow. The students really learned the strategies and used them in their written work. The blackline masters for handouts really saved a lot of time. The first part of the book deals with some meta-cognitive strategies for students. I did not use these as much.

Overall, great book and resource for teachers.

This book provides an approach to writing instruction that has been unbelievably far more effective with my students than any other writing program that I have ever used - and I have been teaching writing for close to 20 years! It is easy to use, but includes all the most effective practices we all know that we should use but don't have a comprehensive plan for how to use in step by step way such as modeling, analyzing models with structured checklists, providing scaffolds but also how to fade them and ensure transfer of skills to other classes and settings. I could go on and on, but won't describe the approach as well as the book does. Parents and teachers have been amazed at the dramatic improvements their children have made with this approach.

"Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students" is the collaborative effort of academicians and teachers Karen R. Harris, Steve Graham, Linda H. Mason, and Barbara Friedlander. Comprised of thoroughly 'user friendly' curriculum lessons ranging from twenty to 60 minutes each, "Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students" is designed to enable the classroom teacher to advance and enhance their student's writing skills such as constructing essays and writing reports for state competency tests; work with every phase of the writing process from initiation to revision; reinforce new writing strategies and skills through individual practice and in group instruction; develop critical self-regulation skills students can use independently; support effective instruction with step-by-step guidelines and optional scripts; and even train students to use effective mnemonic devices that are easily grasped and remembered. Enhanced with photocopiable support materials including cue cards, graphic organizers, sheets for graphing writing performance, an mnemonic charts, "Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students" is a very strongly recommended as a language arts and literacy curriculum and classroom instruction plan supplemental resource.

I am a teacher and have had close contact with families who have had dyslexic children. This author does a great job of communicating the emotion, questions, struggles, and fears that a mother has. Her son also writes vignettes at the end of each chapter expressing his own point of view and struggles and fears. She weaves into the story enough clinical information to define dyslexia, explain its symtoms, and discuss ways to deal with it. But the main impact is the author opening her heart to the reader.

Reading David has been a very emotional experience for me. My son, the same age as David, was diagnosed with a Learning Disability. I have only been reading a few pages a day as I cry with every emotion expressed that hits home - and they all do. What Lissa Weinstein has been able to write about has been cathartic for me. Her advice and the feelings expressed by her and her son will help guide my family through this Labyrinth. Thank-You for writing this book!

This is a terrific book, a virtual roadmap for anyone interested in dyslexia, or learning disabilities in general. Weinstein is a clinical psychologist and university professor, with a depth of experience in dealing with childhood learning disorders that is challenged when she has to deal with her son David's dyslexia. As a mother, she understands and conveys the dynamics of dyslexia in a way that illuminates both the helplessness any parent may feel when faced with a child's reading difficulties, and as a psychologist, she offers real self-help, insight, advice and solutions (all with a minimum of jargon) for dealing with a multi-faceted problem that does not go away just by adding some tutoring or changing the curriculum. The passages describing her dawning awareness that her own son has a serious learning disability, and her own feelings of guilt, are especially poignant. The real reward in this book, however, is the voice of her son David - whose words, taken down verbatim by his professor mother, reveal with astonishing directness the hurt, bewilderment, and courage of a child who just doesn't begin reading along with his classmates and the strategies he employs both to try to learn and to hide his failures. The book is a must for anyone dealing with learning disabilities, in the classroom or the home.

The book, Reading David, by Lissa Weinstein helped me deal with my own son's struggle with dyslexia. Lissa and David touch the emotions of both mother and child through the unique, overweleming journey of dyslexia. The reader experiences the triumphs and struggles of everyday living. This book taught me that my son is a very bright, unique individual who desires to fit in. I felt someone was feeling what I was feeling and that it was okay to be angry one day and joyful the next because living with dyslexia is such an up and down rollercoaster.

I picked up Myrna Orenstein's book knowing little about LD and nothing about undiagnosed learning disabilities (ULD). Her clear and personal writing style makes it easy for the average reader to understand some of the struggles people with ULD face.

The book becomes increasingly meaningful as Orenstein calls for better methods for teachers to identify children having academic trouble, and to give a second thought to the class clown or the disorganized and constantly late student. Orenstein's message is supported further throughout the book, as she urges parents, teachers and therapists to work together; to recognize that this disability is attatched to developmental issues inside AND outside of learning in the classroom. Attention is called to bridge the gap between LD specialists and psychotherapists, so that these smarter-than-average children can reach their potential.

Her personal experiences, reseach, and writing introduce the everyday reader to the world where people are wrongly labeled "lazy," or "unmotivated." Her focus on adults and ULD gives insight for LD specialists, therapists, and, like myself, the average reader.

SMART BUT STUCK

What if Horatio Alger had been a dyslexic?

Sure, he's only a fictional character, but his bootstrap mentality and "work hard and you'll succeed" ethics have become what America believes is reality. If he had been a real American, there would have been a one-in-five chance that he would have had some type of learning disability. If he had, his handiwork in certain areas would have only been met with frustration, shame, and the "chasm".

Dr. Myrna Orenstein, in her book "Smart but Stuck", challenges the American myth that a person's strengths and weaknesses are determined solely by intelligence, motivation, and hard work. Orenstein has learned from her own experience and the experiences of others that many extremely intelligent people are unable to learn conventionally in certain areas.

Through the stories of twenty very different and very bright Americans who grew up with undiagnosed learning disabilities (ULD), she explores the painful and trying emotional journey these individuals were forced to go on in order to come to terms with themselves and their learning disorders.

Dr. Orenstein's book compelled me to go down a difficult, but in the end wonderful, road of self-discovery. I have always been a slow reader - not to the point of being diagnosed with a learning disability, where most weekends of college have been spent solely in the library. It frustrated me to no end. Was I not trying hard enough? Could I be tugging those bootstraps a little higher? Was I just plain stupid? Who could explain why I excelled in things such as writing, painting, problem solving, and math and yet read as slow as the children I babysat for?

The first important thing Orenstein's book gave me was the realization that I was not alone. I unquestionably saw myself (my experience and emotions) within the stories and voices of her twenty case studies. The second invaluable thing I learned was that I wasn't going to be able to get rid of my slight disability, but that it was nothing that I should be ashamed of. My slow reading was a weakness within me that I was going to have to accept and learn to effectively live with. Myrna Orenstein's book inspired me to search for new ways to compensate for my reading speed.

SMART BUT STUCK invigorated me to use the people around me and my strength in creative problem solving to find solutions to compensate for my weakness.

In SMART BUT STUCK, Orenstein provides a powerful portrait of the emotional journey undergone by many American adults who have grown up with undiagnosed learning disabilities. Her book illustrates that if a person approaches their learning disability with the right attitude and the necessary support, they can learn to effectively live with it so that it in no way imprisons their intelligence, strength, and success.

Through the powerful accounts of real Americans, Orenstein makes it clear that it is possible to expand America's traditional myth of the path to success. Her book shows that, as both a culture and as individuals, we must be open at certain times to creatively approach conventional learning in order to compensate for learning disabilities. SMART BUT STUCK combines an approach that I appreciate with an in-depth manual for professionals, including therapists, counselors, and educators, to use when measuring the impact of undiagnosed learning disabilities on their clients and students.

For several years I have been searching for information related to my personal experience with LD. There are many excellent books that have helped me understand and cope with a diagnosis that came unexpectedly into my life when I was in my 40's.

I discovered "Smart but Stuck" quite by accident as I searched a database of doctoral dissertations. When I called to find out how I could get a copy of a dissertation about adult diagnosed LD, I was told it had recently been published. Immediately I came to Amazon and ordered a copy for myself.

Dr. Orenstein's book gave me an understanding that is fundamental to anyone trying to put all the pieces of their personal LD puzzle together.

Her concept of the "chasm" is an essential building block for LD's trying to understand their disability in the long view. We all cope with self-defining events from our childhood. Often these events have been pushed into the recesses of the subconscious mind because they are unpleasant reminders of how we were seen by peers and adults whose subtle and not so subtle negative reactions permanently altered our self images.

"Smart but Stuck" has had a liberating effect on me. I deal with the obvious issues related to my LD every day. Using this book, I have begun to go back and reaccess my experiences as a student in a more positive way.

I would recommend this book to anyone with LD at any age or stage of their diagnosis and treatment. While it is specifically related to adults, it will add another dimension at any stage of the LD learning process.

Dr. Orenstein's book should be required reading for parents and counselors as they seek to understand and support someone with LD.

I picked up Myrna Orenstein's book knowing little about LD and nothing about undiagnosed learning disabilities (ULD). Her clear and personal writing style makes it easy for the average reader to understand some of the struggles people with ULD face.

The book becomes increasingly meaningful as Orenstein calls for better methods for teachers to identify children having academic trouble, and to give a second thought to the class clown or the disorganized and constantly late student. Orenstein's message is supported further throughout the book, as she urges parents, teachers and therapists to work together; to recognize that this disability is attatched to developmental issues inside AND outside of learning in the classroom. Attention is called to bridge the gap between LD specialists and psychotherapists, so that these smarter-than-average children can reach their potential.

Her personal experiences, reseach, and writing introduce the everyday reader to the world where people are wrongly labeled "lazy," or "unmotivated." Her focus on adults and ULD gives insight for LD specialists, therapists, and, like myself, the average reader.

Strong at the Broken PlacesA great story about a much maligned man. Max was a man literally torn apart by the Vietnam war. With unbelievable drive and passion for life and God, Senator Cleland tells an inspirational story about the tenacity of the human spirit and his personal greatness. Of late, this true American hero has been maligned by the "Chickenhawks" of the Bush administration and their lackeys. "Strong at the Broken Places," in this most recent edition, tells Max's story of climbing out of darkest depths of the Vietnam war and from his horrible wounds to become a state legislator, Secretary of State of Georgia, head of the Veterans Adminsistration and finally a United States Senator. His story in this book is real, inspirational and a credit to him.

Seldom in life will a person find treasures in an empty sea....but in light of the book " Strong at the Broken Places", the author discovered just that! By grace alone, a man seeked " hidden riches in a void ocean echoed with uncertainty & battled waves that would capsize any country!". When speaking of this leader, I can only use these scenarios of my imagination to convey to others what this man is made of! If it was bottled, a top could not contain it! If it were canned, there would not be a label to describe it! If it were a product, no shelf could hold it !...... And if I had money, I would give all I had to buy it .............But, the fact remains that " Max Cleland " is in a category of his own & the ingredients of this recipe stem from unimaginable events that come at a price that most could not afford. This is a man who gave all & became the gift that kept on giving! Max Cleland has never ceased to reach the peaks during the ride of his life! Unselfishly, he attributes his positive energy & successes to people & inspiration from the Lord. Truly, this book recounts the will of a man wounded in battle who along the way became a respected United States Senator, Head of the Veterans Administration, & Georgia Secretary of State....... not to mention a role model for for any person facing lifes difficult challenges. So if you are interested in a " ride of your life" try this book on for size! The pages had me holding on & I felt every fall & praised every climb taken in the footsteps of this American Hero. Some people in this world just don't know the meaning of the word " failure"! Max Cleland is one of those people..... For the life of me, I could not help from reading in astonishment & at the same time fully comprehending the complexity of this human. Perhaps that is why I have read this book ( former & revised edition ) 24 times! My guess is that over time I might be fortunate to develop into the stuff that his recipe calls for! Moreover, my hope is that other people can find in themselves what Max Cleland has tapped into! Even though life can knock a person down, it can't take away the human spirit unless you let it! Once again, 50 stars for " Strong at the Broken Places" & 1000 stars for the author, Max Cleland.

Max Cleland's personal narrative is really terrific and makes a wonderful contrast to other narratives from the Vietnam era. Cleland suffers in war, but then struggles to find his soul and to transcend the pain of human existence through the perspective of religion and through religious belief. I have used this book as an interesting contrast with the cliche- ridden narrative by Ron Kovic, a volume written with a professional writer and conforming to the made-to-order "Vietnam-as-victim" formula. Students need to know that many American men came out of the tragedy of war better, stronger, more spiritual people than they went in; the "corruption of innocence" motif may sell in Hollywood and elswhere, but it does not conform with the actual experience of veterans--so says this book and so say the veterans polled in 1980 by the veterans administration. As I say, this is a story too seldom told and heard even less. Another uplifting story is _For God and Country_ by Rick Eilert, a man who found the veterans hospital folks to be concerned and caring and discovered that there were true heroes in the beds of the VA....Not victims, but heroes. Some day, somebody will make films about the experiences of Cleland (now a US Senator) and Eilert. ---Peter Rollins, Vietnam vet and admirer of these two wounded veterans

Seldom in life will a person find treasures in an empty sea....but in light of the book " Strong at the Broken Places", the author discovered just that! By grace alone, a man seeked " hidden riches in a void ocean echoed with uncertainty & battled waves that would capsize any country!". When speaking of this leader, I can only use these scenarios of my imagination to convey to others what this man is made of! If it was bottled, a top could not contain it! If it were canned, there would not be a label to describe it! If it were a product, no shelf could hold it !...... And if I had money, I would give all I had to buy it .............But, the fact remains that " Max Cleland " is in a category of his own & the ingredients of this recipe stem from unimaginable events that come at a price that most could not afford. This is a man who gave all & became the gift that kept on giving! Max Cleland has never ceased to reach the peaks during the ride of his life! Unselfishly, he attributes his positive energy & successes to people & inspiration from the Lord. Truly, this book recounts the will of a man wounded in battle who along the way became a respected United States Senator, Head of the Veterans Administration, & Georgia Secretary of State....... not to mention a role model for for any person facing lifes difficult challenges. So if you are interested in a " ride of your life" try this book on for size! The pages had me holding on & I felt every fall & praised every climb taken in the footsteps of this American Hero. Some people in this world just don't know the meaning of the word " failure"! Max Cleland is one of those people..... For the life of me, I could not help from reading in astonishment & at the same time fully comprehending the complexity of this human. Perhaps that is why I have read this book ( former & revised edition ) 24 times! My guess is that over time I might be fortunate to develop into the stuff that his recipe calls for! Moreover, my hope is that other people can find in themselves what Max Cleland has tapped into! Even though life can knock a person down, it can't take away the human spirit unless you let it! Once again, 50 stars for " Strong at the Broken Places" & 1000 stars for the author, Max Cleland.