An easy, insightful read
One reviewer mentioned that the authors writes in a chatty, conversational tone--that's an accurate description. I found this book an easy read and very insightful and useful for helping me get on track to recovering and caring for myself, as well as preventing future relapses.
The author recommends useful tips for recovering from an illness: put your life before your illness, listen to your body, conserve your energy for healing, change the things that harm you, and get the help you need. His recommendations come from what's worked for patients, friends, family members, and a lit review of what other authors have written.
Thanks to the tips in The Art of Getting Well, I feel better equipped to recognize when I feel stressed, to calm myself down in a soothing way, to recognize the signs and ask for help when I need it, and visualize healing and becoming the healthy person I want to be, to honoring myself by putting myself first without negatively impacting others.
This is a book I will keep on my shelves to reflect upon for years to come.
Informative, empathetic and educational, highly recommended
Genre: Health/Self Healing
Title: The Art of Getting Well
Author: David Spero, R.N.
"Illness is the best teacher, awareness is the best medicine, self care is the best care." David Spero's health-coaching motto.
They say timing is everything, very true of the arrival of this book for my review. After lying awake most of the night with my throbbing limbs, hands and feet, I opened my package and thought "Oh no, not another self help book." Ultimately I quickly changed my mind as I started to read this practical and informative guide to a 5 step program for recovery. The aim of this book is to provide a key to improving our quality of life and even possibly improve our overall condition.
The book is based on science and medicine and readers will find references in the back of the book. David Spero's own professional and personal experience provides the background and basis. It has been written for the millions of people suffering from a "chronic" or "progressive" condition and all caregivers. I believe anyone that reads it would benefit.
Included are true stories, easy to identify with, where to get help, how to ask for it but most importantly, the book encourages readers to take responsibility for themselves. Educate yourself about your condition, identify your body's signals and be proactive in the course of treatment. Perhaps the first step is to understand that we DESERVE to be able to take the time to help ourselves, slow down and enjoy our lives. Pain is a personal experience and to each individual it is `very real.'
The author, David Spero R.N. has devoted over 30 years as an R.N./Health Coach, specializing in chronic illnesses. His goal is to maximize the quality of life of his patients. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis approximately 20 years ago. He has personally experienced illness and has learned how to help himself and improve his situation. His book is well written in a warm and caring way, inspiring readers to live their lives as successfully as possible. In this reviewer's opinion, he has achieved his goal. He shares his depth of knowledge and confirms his motto. After reading Chapter 1 your will want to finish it quickly, then reread it in detail as you set up your own program for wellness.
I Thank you David, for setting me on a realistic course and highly recommend this book. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbooks Reviews
Illness as a gift
David Spero wrote a helpful and positive book for anyone facing life with illness. It was well written and covered all the key issues for living successfully with chronic illness. He offers a wide range of solutions to help others improve their quality of life as well as shift their attitudes about illness in general. I could see my own journey in the book and thought it captured the essence of illness as a powerful spiritual teacher.
A great book from a knowledgeable, wise, and compassionate author
The Art of Getting Well, by David Spero, is a very informative, enjoyable, and inspiring book for those of us with chronic illnesses. David has included many helpful examples, from his own and other's lives, of what works and what doesn't. He describes standard and alternative treatment options for the reader to consider. He also gives many valuable ideas to help the chronically ill have better lives whether or not their condition improves. I highly recommend this book.
The Art of Living Well
You don't have to have a chronic illness to get a lot out of Spero's "The Art of Getting Well." Maybe that's because living in our fast paced and relatively crazed culture qualifies all of us as chronically ill. Whatever the case, the accessible style and reassuring tone of this book give you the confidence and motivation to make real changes in your life. I'm especially pleased that Spero does not fall into the "blame the victim" camp. Getting sick is not our fault, although we can have a say in how or whether we get well, up to a point. Sometimes our luck runs out, but our spirit can still remain strong, furthered along by the compassion of bonafide healers and primo storytellers like Spero. Get two: one for yourself and one for a friend.
