Suggested Book & A/V List
Books from Brain Injury Survivors
Brain on a String (And Other Strategies for Staying Organized When Gray Matter Isn’t Working Like It Used To)
By P.J. Long, Psychotherapist
A book to help you stay on top of everyday chores.
Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide: Welcome to Our World
By Larry & Beth Jameson
Beth is a brain injury survivor. This book talks about relationships and provides insight into the difficulties that arise when one person in a marriage or relationship suffers a traumatic brain injury. The authors pass along their own practical knowledge about what they experienced and how they still have a great marriage.
Brain Storm: A Journey of Faith Through Brain Injury
By Laura & Bruce Allen
Brain Storm is a down-to-earth, practical, yet real presentation of the frightening, often gut-wrenching truths and experiences associated with a brain injury. This book clearly allows the reader to travel through the storm of a brain injury through the unique perspectives from both the survivor and the caregiver. A must-read for every brain injury survivor and their caregiver, family, and friends and for anyone needing to understand and believe that you can “weather the storm” to become a better person than before. Order online at Amazon.com
Coping With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
By Diane Roberts Stoler, Ed. D. and Barbara Albers Hill
Dr. Stoler is a brain injury survivor. This book covers every aspect of brain injury, such as: how the brain works; how the brain can be injured; procedures used to diagnose and treat the brain; common physical, mental, and psychological symptoms of brain injury; suggestions for coping; advice on financial, insurance, family matters, the rehabilitation process and possible outcomes; etc.
Cracked: Recovering After Traumatic Brain Injury
By Lynsey Calderwood
Every Good Boy Does Fine
By Tim Laskowski
Tells story of wanting to fit into the world without being pitied, looked down upon.
From Tragedy to Triumph: Journey Back From the Edge
By Jessica Elizabeth Taylor
A testimony of an incredible journey from a young girl to becoming a mother, a wife, and highly successful businesswoman, only to have it all dashed by a terrible head and brain trauma which left her for years in the murky annals of confusion and terror. This story is an inspiration for all brain-injured people; it will also help families gain a much-needed perspective on the various behaviors and functions following such a trauma.
To order, go to Amazon.com.
Visit www.jessicaetaylor.org.
Gifts from the Broken Jar
By P.J. Long, Psychotherapist
Tells the quieter tale of savoring the ordinary and discovering life’s wonders.
How to Conquer the World With One Hand and an Attitude
By Paul E. Berger and Stephanie Mensh
An inspiring uplifting story of stroke recovery. (A stroke patient’s brain injury is very similar to other brain injuries.)
I’ll Carry the Fork, Recovering a Life after B.I. (Brain Injury)
By Kara L. Swanson
A moving, first-person account of living with TBI.
In An Instant (A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing)
By Lee and Bob Woodruff
This is the true story of how ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff sustained a brain injury in January 2006 while in Iraq, and how he and his family coped with his injury and recovery process. This is a frank, compelling, yet heartfelt account. Their story is told from both Lee’s (his wife) and Bob’s perspectives.
In Search of Wings
By Beverley Bryant
Beverley describes her efforts, following a brain injury, to adapt her work as a gymnastics judge and ultimately to find a new profession to regain her self-esteem and confidence.
My Reality Check Bounced: Humor from a Brain Injury Perspective
By Brain Injury Survivors Editorial Board
Edited by John Youngbauer, Mandy Goodnight, Jeanne Hetherington
Over My Head: A Doctor’s Own Story of Head Injury from the Inside Looking Out
By Claudia L. Osborn
Details the doctor and clinical professor of medicine’s experience from the moment of impact through her remarkable comeback.
Rambling Down Life’s Road
By Kevin Pettit
Provides unedited excerpts from his diary following his brain injury. This book is meant to give you a view from the inside out of what it’s like to have a traumatic brain injury, to encourage you to avoid having and causing a brain injury, and to get you to laugh.
Silent Cries (follow-up book, Traveling Forward)
By Michael Francis Ciafone
Michael at age 10 was in a tragic accident that changed his life forever. He was inspired to write Silent Cries, followed by his second book, Traveling Forward. His intention was to give hope and encouragement to the brain-injured community. His message is about pressing forward and never giving up.
Smile and Jump High! … the True Story of Overcoming a Traumatic Brain Injury
By Donald J. Lloyd, Shannon L. Kehoe, and Susan E. Lloyd
Starlight Press
Monroe, GA
(770) 266-7791
Spiritual Growth Book 1
By Michael House
A manuscript by minister Michael House who suffered a traumatic brain injury at the age of 17.
TBI Hell: A Traumatic Brain Injury Really Sucks
By Geo Gosling
A recent college graduate who is single explains his “TBI Torture” of being surrounded by young cute women, but being in no shape to impress them.
TBI Purgatory: Comes After Being in TBI Hell
By Geo Gosling
This is the follow-up to TBI Hell. How do you understand what someone feels if he can’t tell you? Have you ever wondered what it was like to be trapped inside a non-functional body? Geo tells his story from the heart and with little outside influence.
The Brilliance and the MADNESS – Letting Brain Injury Out of the Closet
By Anne Margaret McKenzie
Anne lives in New Zealand. She wrote this book to encourage others and to help create awareness in our communities, wherever we live, whoever we may be.
The Courage to Come Back: Triumph Over TBI – A Story of Hope
By Michael Coss
This book is a moving account of Michael Coss’s journey facing the challenges of traumatic brain injury. Michael hopes his book will serve as an inspiration to other brain injury survivors and their family members, and to also let the general public know about the benefits of hyperbaric chambers. The proceeds of his book go to helping give financial support for children to provide brain injury treatments for them.
The Ghost In My Brain – How a Concussion Stole My Life and How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Helped Me Get It Back
By Clark Elliott, Ph.D.
When Elliott suffered a concussion, his life changed overnight from that of a rising professor with a research career to a humbled man struggling to walk and to remember the names of his five children. He was told there was little that could be done to help him recover. This all changed when Elliott met two brilliant research clinicians working on brain plasticity. Within weeks the ghost of who he had been started to emerge.
The Stanger Inside of Me
By Randal Flutur
I am a brain injury survivor of 27 years from an auto accident that killed my best friend, who was driving, instantly. I have lived with this unending nightmare for all these years and just published my first book. It gives a great insight into TBI and PTSD, and apart from having my awareness and ability to put feelings into words, it is every head-injured person’s story of his/her life.
You can find my book on Amazon.com.
To Wherever Oceans Go
By Beverley Bryant
An inspiring story of recovery. It is the fabric of one woman who refused to set limits on her potential.
Tour de Life: From Coma to Competition
By Saul Raisin and Dave Shields
When Life Doesn’t Stick To The Game Plan…because the doctor has bad news
By Carol A. Hacker
Carol is a brain tumor survivor. She sensitively shares her personal story of diagnosis and recovery along with practical tips and techniques. All profits from this book are donated to the brain injury cause.
Note: This book may be purchased by calling, faxing, or emailing Carol Hacker:
(770) 410-0517
Fax: (770) 667-9801
carol@carolahacker.com
Wounded, Trapped and Voiceless
By Phyllis Klenk and Greta Emling
This book is about Physsy, who was thought to be in a coma for three years. The coma was a result of a slow brain bleed which caused major damage to her brain. This book’s main purpose is to share with others that when a loved one is non-responsive, keep talking to them and continue to stimulate their brain and exercise their body. You can buy the book at Greta’s website, and read about Physsy’s emergence from her coma and her recovery process.
You can purchase Greta Emling’s book on Amazon.
Watch Physsy’s YouTube video:
Books from Caregivers of Brain Injury Survivors
A Change of Mind
By Janelle Biagion
Janelle recalls the complex and confusing world of brain injury she and her family entered when her husband was injured in a motorcycle crash while on duty as a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman.
A Three Dog Life: A Memoir
By Abigail Thomas
A wife, Abigail, tells the story of her husband’s injury.
Being With Rachel: A Story of Memory and Survival
By Karen Brennan
Written by Rachel’s mother, this book describes what they went through, and her feelings and emotions.
Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide: Welcome to Our World
By Larry & Beth Jameson
Beth is a brain injury survivor. This book talks about relationships and provides insight into the difficulties that arise when one person in a marriage or relationship suffers a traumatic brain injury. The authors pass along their own practical knowledge about what they experienced and how they still have a great marriage.
Brain Storm: A Journey of Faith Through Brain Injury
By Laura & Bruce Allen
Brain Storm is a down-to-earth, practical, yet real presentation of the frightening, often gut-wrenching truths and experiences associated with a brain injury. This book clearly allows the reader to travel through the storm of a brain injury through the unique perspectives from both the survivor and the caregiver. A must-read for every brain injury survivor and their caregiver, family, and friends and for anyone needing to understand and believe that you can “weather the storm” to become a better person than before. Order online at Amazon.
Climbing the Mountain: Stories of Hope and Healing after Stroke and Brain Injury
By Candis Fancher, Lindsey McDivitt, Jacquelyn B. Fletcher
An inspiring anthology of stories by stroke/brain injury patients and their family members. The stories chronicle the amazing transformations in communication and cognitive abilities that can occur on a patient’s road to recovery.
Crooked Smile: One Family’s Journey Toward Healing
By Lainie Cohen
A family’s son is injured, and is not given a good prognosis. This book tells his recovery process.
Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope
By Gabrielle Giffords & Mark Kelly
The saga of U.S. Congressional Representative Gabby Giffords being shot and the details of her step-by-step recovery process. This is an honestly told story in the words of her astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, and from Gabby’s heart. A reminder of the power of true grit and the patience needed to overcome unimaginable obstacles.
In An Instant (A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing)
By Lee and Bob Woodruff
This is the true story of how ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff sustained a brain injury in January 2006 while in Iraq, and how he and his family coped with his injury and recovery process. This is a frank, compelling, yet heartfelt account. Their story is told from both Lee’s (his wife) and Bob’s perspectives.
Ketchup on the Baseboard
By Carolyn Rocchio
Tells the personal story of Carolyn’s family’s journey after her son, Tim, sustained a brain injury. Chronicling his progress over more than 20 years, she describes the many stages of his recovery along with the complex emotions and changing dynamics of her family and their expectations.
No Stone Unturned: A Father’s Memoir of His Son’s Encounter with Traumatic Brain Injury
By Joel M. Goldstein
The father tells the saga of his 16-year-old son Bart’s traumatic brain injury when Bart was catastrophically injured in a car wreck. This book shares all of the various “alternative” methods the family researched and used to aid in Bart’s recovery.
Paralyzed but Not Powerless: Kate’s Journey Revisited
By Kate Adamson
The touching story of a woman’s survival and recovery from a double brain stem stroke.
Reconstructing David
By Deanna Scott
An intimate story of a mother’s dedication and devotion to her teenage son’s recovery after a brutal motorcycle accident, and the long slow journey back from traumatic brain injury. An encouraging book for someone who is going through the difficulties of dealing with a brain-injured family member.
To order:
Email:
dss993@comcast.net
Write:
Reconstructing David
1459 Eastwood Avenue
Highland Park, IL 60035
Online:
Amazon.com
Where Is the Mango Princess?
By Cathy Crimmins
A poignant memoir of brain injury recovery, told by a caregiving spouse.
Why Scotty?
By Wynell Hunt with Terry Lee
Written by Scotty’s mother, this touching story describes the ordeal of Scotty’s devastating car wreck, the hospital stay, rehabilitation, and his triumphant road back to recovery.
To order:
Write:
C.O.P.I.N. Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 1962
Cumming, GA 30028
Online:
Amazon.com
Books for Veterans
In An Instant (A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing)
By Lee and Bob Woodruff
This is the true story of how ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff sustained a brain injury in January 2006 while in Iraq, and how he and his family coped with his injury and recovery process. This is a frank, compelling, yet heartfelt account. Their story is told from both Lee’s (his wife) and Bob’s perspectives.
Until Tuesday
By Luis Carlos Montalván
Until Tuesday is a book about a highly decorated 17-year veteran and former captain in the U.S. Army. He sustained a TBI in Iraq followed by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder upon returning home from combat. In increasing pain and limitations, he became withdrawn from loved ones and society in general. Then he met a dog named Tuesday, a beautiful and sensitive golden retriever trained to assist the disabled. Golden retrievers are truly Man’s best friend and make the best service dogs because of their even temperament. This is a story about how a dog like Tuesday can make a brain injury survivor whole again.
Books Online
Brain Storm: A Journey of Faith Through Brain Injury
By Laura & Bruce Allen
Brain Storm is a down-to-earth, practical, yet real presentation of the frightening, often gut-wrenching truths and experiences associated with a brain injury. This book clearly allows the reader to travel through the storm of a brain injury through the unique perspectives from both the survivor and the caregiver. A must-read for every brain injury survivor and their caregiver, family, and friends and for anyone needing to understand and believe that you can “weather the storm” to become a better person than before.
Available on Amazon.com.
TBI Hell: A Traumatic Brain Injury Really Sucks
By Geo Gosling
A recent college graduate who is single explains his “TBI Torture” of being surrounded by young cute women, but being in no shape to impress them.
Available on Amazon.com.
TBI Purgatory: Comes After Being in TBI Hell
By Geo Gosling
This is the follow-up to TBI Hell. How do you understand what someone feels if he can’t tell you? Have you ever wondered what it was like to be trapped inside a non-functional body? Geo tells his story from the heart and with little outside influence.
Available on Amazon.com.
Children
Brain Injury Survival Kit: 365 Tips, Tools and Tricks to Deal with Cognitive Function Loss
By Cheryle Sullivan
This book is a great road map for people with brain injury and for families of people with brain injury. What this book does not do: It does not delve on the reasons how or why there is brain damage, or to the degree or extent of brain damage. It does not compare severe vs. mild brain damage. It does tell of all kinds of symptoms, many more than I personally have. Dr. Sullivan showed ways to get around them or ways to deal with them. But most importantly she showed me that one can learn to accept and live with brain damage. My life changed and I had no direction from the medical field. The doctors fixed the physical, but then left me adrift. I read several books once my reading comprehension returned and not one of the books offered any solutions to fix or help. Dr. Sullivan’s book is a no nonsense book with honest to goodness answers for ways to deal with every day issues, not only to help the person with a brain injury, but will also help the family of the brain-injured understand what is happening and how to help. She also offers resources for all kinds of additional help that is available. This book is easy to read and will be used time & time again.
Available on Amazon.com.
Children With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Parent’s Guide (The Special Needs Collection)
By Lisa Schoenbrodt
As a parent of a son with TBI, I have battled schools to find a teacher, administrator, specialist … anyone who understands the confusion and disorganization in my son’s brain. This book, among other things, clearly states the stages of brain rehabilitation, lists possible symptoms, explains in layman’s terms how things can appear one way one day, and differently the next. I can speak intelligently to untrained educators using quotes from this book to explain aberrant and unexpected behavior as exhibited by my son. And believe me, the teachers are UNTRAINED in TBI. Ask me, I am a teacher! Everything I have learned about TBI, I taught myself after my son fell and damaged his brain — and this book is the best place to start that I can recommend.
Available on Amazon.com.
Reconstructing David
By Deanna Scott
An intimate story of a mother’s dedication and devotion to her teenage son’s recovery after a brutal motorcycle accident, and the things she learned through David’s eight weeks in a coma from traumatic brain injury. The book provides an insight into roles that instinct and love play in the care and recovery process. You will be enraged, you will laugh, you will cry, and to top it all you will finish the book wanting to know more and looking forward to Book Two.
To order:
Email:
dss993@comcast.net
Write:
Reconstructing David
1459 Eastwood Avenue
Highland Park, IL 60035
Available on Amazon.com
Unthinkable: A Mother’s Tragedy, Terror, and Triumph Through A Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury
By Dixie Coskie
Following her own child’s harrowing traumatic brain injury, Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie wrote a highly acclaimed book which emotionally and passionately documented her nightmarish journey as mother and caregiver. Each chapter concludes with tips for coping and participating throughout the process.
Available on Amazon.com.
Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s traumatic Brain Injury
By Dixie Coskie
This book is the companion guide to Coskie’s book listed above. Provides powerful tips and tools to help any parent faced with a child that has a traumatic brain injury.
Available on Amazon.com.
Why Scotty?
By Wynell Hunt with Terry Lee
Written by Scotty’s mother, this touching story describes the ordeal of Scotty’s devastating car wreck, the hospital stay, rehabilitation, and his triumphant road back to recovery.
To order:
Write:
C.O.P.I.N. Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 1962
Cumming, GA 30028
Available at Amazon.com.
Guides, Workbooks, and Textbooks
Alternate Therapies In The Treatment Of Brain Injury And Neurobehavioral Disorders: A Practical Guide
By Gregory J. Murrey
Describes a number of safe and effective therapies for the lifelong process of people with brain injury.
Brain Disorders Sourcebook
By Dr. Roger Cicala
A thorough book on brain injury.
Brain Injury Medicine: Principles and Practice
By Nathan Zasler
A comprehensive guide to all aspects of the management issues involved in caring for the person with brain injury — from early diagnosis and evaluation through the post-acute period and rehabilitation.
Brain Injury Survival Kit, 365 Tips, Tools, and Tricks to Deal with Cognitive Loss
By Dr. Cheryle Sullivan
Brain on a String (And Other Strategies for Staying Organized When Gray Matter Isn’t Working Like It Used To)
By P.J. Long, Psychotherapist
A book to help you stay on top of everyday chores.
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness
By Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
Dr. Amen takes you through numerous brain injury issues, and has solutions for strengthening the brain.
Creative Mind: Tapping the Power Within
By Ernest S. Holmes
Empathy for the Brain, After Insult and Injury
By William Grimes
An episodic tour of brain injuries and the strange behavior that often accompanies them. Focuses on the poor treatment available to many patients.
Head Cases — Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath
By Michael Paul Mason
Head Injury (The Facts)
By Audrey Daisley, Rachel Tams, and Udo Kischka
Head Injury: The Facts, A Guide for Families and Caregivers
By Dorothy Gronwell, Phillip Wrightson, and Peter Waddel
Explains that a person injured with a brain injury can gradually rebuild a meaningful life again.
Healing Anxiety and Depression
By Daniel Amen, M.D.
Healing the Hardware of the Soul — Enhance Your Brain to Improve Your Work, Love and Spiritual Life
By Daniel Amen, M.D.
Keep Your Brain Alive
By Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D.
Teaches you how to use all of your five sense to enhance “brain power” well into your later years. Neurobics, a scientifically proven method of exercising the brain, is described fully within the 148 pages.
Living With Brain Injury: A Guide for Families
By Richard Senelick, M.D. & Karla Dougherty
The authors believe that there is life after brain injury. They provide a guide to help you accomplish this.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Postconcussion Syndrome: The New Evidence Base for Diagnosis and Treatment (AACN Workshop Series)
By Michail A. McCrea
The editor has gathered together many of the best and most current peer-reviewed publications on mild traumatic brain injury and compiled an excellent reference.
Mindstorms: The Complete Guide for Families Living with Traumatic Brain Injury
By John Cassidy and Karla Dougherty
Missing Pieces: Mending the Head Injury Family
By Marilyn Colter
This book will help your family know that there are thousands of other people just like yourselves who have been through this same experience. Provides hope and understanding.
Preventing Alzheimer’s: Ways to Help Prevent, Delay, Detect, and Even Halt Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Forms of Memory Loss
By Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
To help you win the battle against the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
Saying Yes to Change: Essential Wisdom for Your Journey
By Gordon Dveirin
Outlines the three classical stages of change that constitute a rite of passage.
Stroke of Insight
By Jill Bolte Taylor
Successfully Surviving a Brain Injury — A Family Guidebook (From the Emergency Room to Selecting a Rehabilitation Facility)
By Garry Prowe
You face a maze of urgent, complicated, and time-consuming medical, insurance, financial, legal, family, and personal issues. You have so many questions and you’re not sure where to turn for help. This book is based on the experiences of hundreds of people living with a brain injury, their families, and the medical professionals. Written by a husband whose wife survived a brain injury, and their quest to help others.
Available on Amazon.com.
The Better Brain Book: The Best Tools for Improving Memory and Sharpness and Preventing Aging of the Brain
By Dr. David Perlmutter and Carol Colman
The Brain That Changes Itself — Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
By Dr. Norman Doidge
You will find this book in the Science aisle. Dr. Doidge provides a summary of the current revolution in neuroscience. He explores the the fact that the age-old distinction between the brain and the mind is changing, as the power of positive thinking finally gains scientific credibility. Various stories about recoveries, treatments, and new methods are presented and used to explain the fact the the brain can be “rewired” and “remapped.”
The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat
By Oliver Sacks
Oliver Sacks is a neurologist who explores neurological disorders with a novelist’s skill and an appreciation of his patients as human beings.
The Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Workbook
By Douglas J. Mason
Gives a very thorough overview of traumatic brain injury (TBI), then breaks it down into all of the individual problems associated with TBI … anatomy of the brain, what happens to the brain after TBI, measuring the severity, setting goals, medical care, physical aspects of TBI, how the senses are involved, cognitive issues, and emotions. Throughout this book there are a lot of mental exercises … mazes, number and letter searches, abstract puzzles, etc.
Waiting to Clear — Brain Injury: Early Stages of Recovery
By Mary M. Castiglione, P.T. and Cynthia C. Johnson, M.A.
Available on issuu.com.
Will to Recover: One Man’s Refusal to Give Up
By Tommy Hayes
Your Brain, The Missing Manual
By Matthew MacDonald
One part science-guide, and one part self-help. Ready-to-follow advice on everything from eating right for your brain, to improving your memory.
Videos and CDs
What should you know about brain injury and recovery? Watch a series of incredible videos produced by the Shepherd Center. They feature some of the nation’s top physicians, neuroscientists, and brain injury experts to help you understand brain injury and gives you practical advice for coping with brain Injury.
Written and directed by Lyell Davies, City University of New York, and Richard Franklin, a brain injury survivor of 17 years.
Rick explores the impact that brain injury has had on himself and other survivors, and reveals helpful approaches.
“The goal of Brain Injury Dialogues … is to educate the public and provide survivors, their families and health professionals an accurate, empowering account of the many challenges associated with brain injury.” — Jaclyn Law, Managing Editor, Abilities Magazine of Canada
Run time: 52 min. with a 25-minute bonus feature of Prof. Mark Sherry speaking to a Support Group for brain injury survivors.
The story of Jason Crigler, one of New York City’s most sought-after guitarists. Chronicles Jason’s powerful and unusual story. Explores the nature of hope, faith, and healing.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death
The story of a magazine editor who suffered a massive stroke while driving his son home. The story of his struggle to “write” his story. This is a TRUE story.
Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Gary Small have put together a workbook, training cards, and two CDs to help keep your brain young, sharpen your mind, enhance your concentration, and build verbal fluency.
The Many Faces of Traumatic Brain Injury
Created by the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Unique to this video are individuals who have experienced mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as acquired brain injury (ABI) who relate their personal stories about their initial diagnosis and their lifelong challenges in living with TBI.
To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports
The story of ABC news anchor, Bob Woodruff, who sustained a serious, life-threatening brain injury when his Humvee was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while covering a story in Iraq (as one of the many Embedded Reporters). The ABC News special “To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports” is available on DVD.