Strong at Broken Places: Voices of Illness, a Chorus of Hope
by Richard M. Cohen

Available for $16.47 at Amazon

Reviewed by TexOP
MSWorld Chat Host

This is the second time I have attempted to read this book.  The first  occurred at a time when I had no room for more negativity in my life.

To fully appreciate the book one has to realize it is not about a pleasant stroll in the park--it is about us...a tiny isolated segment of society that is coping with a progressive debilitating mean spirited disease.

The author, Richard Cohen, has multiple sclerosis and is battling cancer. He is, by the way, the husband of Meredith Vieira, currently the host of a popular TV shows.

Cohen's mission is to connect and expose the impact of  debilitating, progressive disease. Cohen does this through a series of meetings with  five people; all of which are sick. The very first of those chronicled in the book is a victim of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Denise is a  gritty young woman with a fierce need to preserve her independence. I was surprised to see how similar her coping strategy was to mine with multiple sclerosis.

Let me say here, my best friend died of ALS. We had been friends since high school. His was an ugly death occurring over a space of five years.

ALS, Crohn's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bi-polar disease and multiple sclerosis are addressed in the book. Cohen's unique approach gives readers a strong dose of each victim's day-to-day reality. Considering the end times of ALS, Crohn's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma disease, I'll  stay with MS.  

About the book title - clever to say the least. I suggest you read the book and see if you buy into the book title!

I am not a big reader, however, I read this book from cover to cover in three days. I am better off because I did so. The book changed some of my views about myself and fellow sufferers of serious diseases.