A Life Shaken: My Encounter with Parkinson's Disease »

Joel Havemann is an editor at the Washington bureau of the Los Angeles Times.

"I'm flat on my back on a couch that's too short in a windowless room in the bureau.I can't even sit at a computer, much less make a keyboard work. My arms and legs are shaking uncontrollably. Although I am only 53 years old, I have already been struggling with Parkinson's disease for seven years. And right now the disease is winning." So begins Joel Havemann's account of the insidious disease that is Parkinson's. Into his own story, Havemann weaves accessible explanations of how Parkinson's disrupts the brain's circuitry, how symptoms are managed through drugs and surgery, and how people cope with the disease's psychological challenges. The paperback edition brings the discussion of treatment options and research thoroughly up to date. new world of medication dependence, compromise, and, eventually, an almost spiritual epiphany of acceptance and appreciation. This is not a typical treatise on an individual's life with disease. It is filled with useful facts about PD, including diagrams, and a glossary that will be a useful resource for patients . . . Although this book would seem of primary interest to patients and families affected by PD, physicians will find the book engaging, easy to read, and valuable. We learn much from our patients, and Havemann's book is no exception." Matthew B. Stern, Neurology information. He brings a journalistic style to the tale and explains PD and its treatments in easy-to-understand language. His description of the progressive nature of the disease is poetic and haunting." Robert A. Hauser, Journal of the American Medical Association and vivid portrayal of his personal experiences adapting to living with the disorder." Stephen B. Dunnett, Nature Medicine Author Bio:Joel Havemann is an editor at the Washington bureau of the Los Angeles Times.

Stephen G. Reich

By combining his personal experience with Parkinson's disease with his skills as a journalist,Mr. Havemann has turned out a lively narrative that not only has the potential to touch people personally,but also provides a masterfully clear explanation of how the brain works and moreover everything about Parkinson's disease from its history through all clinical aspects,treatment,and research.