Books to Inspire

LISTEN TO BOOKS IN THE CAR OR WHILE YOU FOLD THE LAUNDRY

A few of my favorite books to get started. I spend a lot of time in my car, and when I am home don’t sit in one place very well, so I love to listen to audiobooks because I can be driving, or folding laundry or basically anything.
Audible often has a free trial if you have not tried that before. I would start with the Younger Next Year book and then Michael J Fox’s books after that.
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The Mindful Body

The Mindful Body by Dr. Ellen Langer

A New Way to Think About Living with Parkinson’s Disease

The Mindful Body by Dr. Ellen Langer is one of the most hopeful and eye-opening books I’ve read since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Langer is a Harvard psychologist who has spent years studying how the way we think and what we believe can actually change our physical health. Her message is simple but powerful: our thoughts and mindset matter—maybe even more than we realize.

One of the most memorable stories in the book is about an experiment she did years ago, often called the “counterclockwise study.” She brought a group of older men to a retreat that was made to look exactly like it did 20 years earlier—same music, same furniture, same magazines. They were told to live as if they were 20 years younger. They talked about their younger selves in the present tense and did things they hadn’t done in years. And something amazing happened. Their bodies responded—they got stronger, their posture improved, some had better vision and joint movement. All because they believed they were younger, and they acted like it.

That story stayed with me. As someone living with Parkinson’s, I’ve often felt boxed in by what doctors or society expect from people with this condition. We’re told it only gets worse. But over time, I’ve met others—people just like me—who are living full, active lives many years after their diagnosis. That gave me the confidence to push my own limits too. I’ve learned that with exercise, a positive outlook, and staying curious about what’s possible, we can surprise even ourselves.

Dr. Langer’s book isn’t about pretending you don’t have Parkinson’s or ignoring medical advice. It’s about not letting the diagnosis control every part of your life. It’s about being mindful—paying attention, noticing new possibilities, and refusing to accept limits that might not even be real.

She explains mindfulness in a way that’s very down-to-earth. It’s not about sitting in silence or using fancy apps. It’s about being present in the moment, questioning old assumptions, and staying open to change. For people with Parkinson’s, that can be life-changing. Instead of focusing on decline, we start to notice strength, flexibility, and joy in places we didn’t expect.

This message fits so well with my own experience. I lift weights. I ride my bike. I stay active and challenge myself every day. Not because I’m in denial—but because I know that the mind and body are deeply connected. When I expect myself to improve, I often do. This book put into words what I’ve always felt in my heart: that healing and progress are possible, even with Parkinson’s.

The Mindful Body doesn’t promise miracles. But it does offer something just as important—freedom. Freedom to think differently. Freedom to try new things. Freedom to believe in ourselves again.

If you or someone you love is living with Parkinson’s—or any illness that feels like it’s taken over your life—this book is well worth reading. It gently invites us to wonder: what if your body is listening to your thoughts more than you ever imagined?

Parkinson’s How to Reduce Symptoms Through Exercise

This is a straightforward guide that is easy to read that takes you through the history of exercise in people with Parkinson’s and has a lot of practical tips on how to exercise, types of exercises and how to stay motivated.

Jay Alberts is one of the pioneers in the study of how exercise impacts those with Parkinson’s disease, and it is his research study that I credit with getting me off my butt and back on the bike. This started this whole crazy chain of events for me.

Younger next Year

 This is actually one of my favorites. It is written by a retired attorney and his physician. It is humorous while at the same time has information that is important to everyone getting older, and all of it applies even more so to those of us with Parkinson’s disease.

I have not read the women’s version, but from what I understand it is very similar but also includes discussions on menopause and other issues specific to women.

Join the Younger Next Year Book Club! – Discuss how this book applies and can be helpful to all of us with Parkinson’s disease.

I tried to do a book club with this book on The Parkinson’s Fight Club Facebook group, but I couldn’t figure out how to make it work on that platform. I will try again on the website and start with the comments from my initial go at it from the Facebook group.

Younger Next Year

The Women’s edition is also very good, and worth reading.  I thought it was interesting that and true that as women age we become more confident and less concerned with trivial thingsl.

The New Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Book: Partnering with your Doctor to get the Most from your Medications

I read this shortly after my diagnosis, and it helped me to understand the role of medications in the management of Parkinson’s disease, and helped me educate myself about the different types of medicine and benefits and potential side effects from each.

It helped me to understand the medications I was on, and helped me know what questions to ask my movement disorder specialist as we were trying to figure out the best regimen for me.

It is much more in depth and not light reading, but it is well written and has a lot of valuable information.

Can’t Hurt Me

David Goggins is over the top extreme, even for me. He has a compelling story, and his story demonstrates how many obstacles we are able to overcome if we can learn to push ourselves to discomfort on a regular basis.

Run With It

This was written by Joe Drake, who I had the opportunity to meet at the 2024 Boston Marathon. His is the story of a non-athlete diagnosed with Parkinson’s who somehow managed to run all 6 of the Abbott Marathon Majors in the same year, and is still going. He is an engineer so he is comically methodical in how he approached his diagnosis, and it is a good story about how life’s biggest challenges often turn into our biggest opportunities for growth.

Ending Parkinson’s Disease

This book starts with a fascinating history of Parkinson’s disease presenting itself at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and continuing to become more and more prevelant. It is a call to action to further investigate and eliminate environmental toxins contributing to this ongoing increase in Parkinson’s disease.

Michael J Fox’s Books

I listened to all of these on Audible, which was great because he personally reads each one. He is so optimistic and shows so much gratitude and humor despite all of his challenges. I listened to them all back to back so they all blend together in my head, but definitely worth listening to or reading.

Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself

This is a highly entertaining memoir, as Alan Alda contemplates the meaning of his life after a near death experience while in Chile. As he begins to figure out how to make the most at this new chance at life, he goes back and looks at several of the inspirational speeches he had given throughout the years and contemplates it all in a fun and often hilarious way. This was written prior to his Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Atomic Habits

I enjoyed this book and it helped me stay on track for keeping good habits, but I wouldn’t call it life changing. I would put this in the category of worth your time to read, but not necessarily life changing.

David and Goliath

I really enjoyed this book, and as I read considered myself in the role of David taking on the Goliath Parkinson’s Disease. It was more of a fun read and helped inspire me to keep fighting.

Range

This one not really specific to Parkinson’s disease, but a thought provoking look into how youth sports has changed to the point where many kids start specializing in a sport in elementary school.

It highlights the benefit of doing a lot of different sports, which I have translated into both my approach towards my childrens’ sports and my own.

There is benefit in doing a lot of different types of activities and in the end those who do a lot of different sports end up with fewer injuries, have more fun and are better athletes overall, than those who specialize in one.

Endure

It’s been a while since I’ve read this one, but I remember I liked it! I will come back to this and write a more insightful review…

The Sports Gene

This one also not really specific to Parkinsons’ but I found it fascinating. It goes into the history of genetics in sports and how people living in the different regions of the world evolved differently.

I also loved reading about the research that has been done at what genetic qualities make some better at a sport than someone else. For example, the number one predictor of what makes a great baseball player is not reaction time, but visual acuity.

I also found the history of Jamaica and how its history impacted that the quality of sprinters who come from there today.

It is entertaining and interesting, again probably wont’ change your life but I really liked it.

Being Mortal

This is another one of my favorites. This is one that I think should be required reading for everyone, especially anyone who works in medicine.

There are some comical stories about different approaches to make long term care facilities more enjoyable and positive for those who need them. It also addresses ways to improve end of life care to make the end more dignified.