Strong at the Broken Places: Voices of Illness, a Chorus of Hope - Hardcover

Cohen, Richard M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060763116 ISBN 13: 9780060763114

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2008

Synopsis

Strong at the Broken Places is the remarkable story of five ordinary people trapped in the complex world of serious chronic illness. In this intimate portrait, acclaimed journalist Richard M. Cohen probes lives of sickness as these individuals struggle to cope. In 2003, Cohen published Blindsided, a bestselling memoir of illness. The outpouring of support revealed to him that not only does the public want to hear from people who overcome the challenges of illness, but that in the isolated world of illness, there are people who want their voices to be heard. Strong at the Broken Places was born of the desire of many to share their stories in the hope that the sick and those who love them will see that they are not alone. Cohen spent three years chronicling the lives of five diverse 'citizens of sickness': Denise, who suffers from ALS; Buzz, whose Christian faith helps him deal with his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; Sarah, a determined young woman with Crohn's disease; Ben, a college student with muscular dystrophy; and Larry, whose bipolar disorder is hidden within. The five are different in age and gender, race and economic status, but they are determined to live life on their own terms. Intimately involved with these patients' lives, Cohen formed intense relationships with each, talked to their families and friends, and shared joy, even in heart-breaking setbacks. Though each individual's illness wreaks havoc in a different way, Cohen shows how their experiences are strikingly similar and offer lessons for us all--on self-determination, on courage in the face of adversity and public ignorance, on keeping hope alive, and on finding strength and peace under the most difficult of circumstances. We are strong at the broken places, stronger than we think. In sharing these inspirational and revealing stories, Cohen and his fellow warriors against illness offer a chorus of hope.

About this title

Review:

"Extraordinary." -- Larry King, Larry King Live

Extraordinary. --Larry King, Larry King Live

"Career journalist Cohen doesn't flinch from probing for truth about relationships, money, fear, and death....One only hopes that, with their group presentation to a class of Harvard medical students, these five taught young medicos as much as they could teach Cohen and, through him, us."--Booklist

"This unusual book gives a voice to the voiceless--the chronically disabled who, in our health-conscious society, are defined by their disease....In this advocacy book, written like a personal journal, Cohen tells their stories....Strong at the Broken Places ends on a note of hope."--Providence Journal

"Extraordinary."--Larry King, Larry King Live

Extraordinary. --Larry King, Larry King Live"

Career journalist Cohen doesn t flinch from probing for truth about relationships, money, fear, and death .One only hopes that, with their group presentation to a class of Harvard medical students, these five taught young medicos as much as they could teach Cohen and, through him, us. --Booklist"

The strength of these profiles derives from Cohen s focus on chronic illnesses that, as he notes, are not sexy and generally do not resolve themselves ....these are stories dense with quotidian details. --Washington Post"

This unusual book gives a voice to the voiceless--the chronically disabled who, in our health-conscious society, are defined by their disease....In this advocacy book, written like a personal journal, Cohen tells their stories....Strong at the Broken Places ends on a note of hope. --Providence Journal"

"The strength of these profiles derives from Cohen's focus on chronic illnesses that, as he notes, are not "sexy" and generally "do not resolve themselves.."..these are stories dense with quotidian details."--Washington Post

About the Author:

Richard M. Cohen is a former senior producer for CBS News and CNN, a three-time Emmy Award winner, and the recipient of numerous honors in journalism.
Mel Foster has narrated over 150 audiobooks and has won several awards. Twice an Audie finalist for 1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History by Charles Bracelen Flood and Finding God in Unexpected Places by Philip Yancey, he won for the latter title.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0060763116
• ISBN 13: 9780060763114
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 329