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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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.
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.
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.
Alan Alda: 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.
