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Strong at the Broken Places: Voices of Illness, a Chorus of Hope Audiobook
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(3.05) - 181 listener ratings
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In an extension of his New York Times bestselling book Blindsided, author Richard M. Cohen depicts one year in the lives of five individuals who are living with serious chronic illness and of their families. These "citizens of sickness," as Cohen calls them, were selected for the diversity of their ages, races, socioeconomic positions, illness types, stages of wellness, and gender. Cohen profiles: —Denise, a woman with ALS, from suburban Los Angeles, California —Buzz, a man with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, from Franklin, Indiana —Sarah, a twenty-seven-year-old woman with Crohn's disease, from Cleveland, Ohio —Ben, an eighteen-year-old freshman at Saint Mary's College of Maryland, with muscular dystrophy —Larry, a man with bipolar disease, from Cleveland, Georgia Intimately involved with every aspect of their lives, Cohen formed intense relationships with his subjects, interviewing their families and friends, shadowing them on the job, accompanying them to doctor's visits, and being available and present for the important moments of daily triumphs and setbacks. Though each individual's illness wreaks havoc in a different way, there is much common ground to be found in the emotional impact of chronic illness and the need to rise above the disease. Listeners will be carried into the hearts and minds of those who cope with sickness daily and will learn about self-determination, courage in the face of adversity and ignorance, keeping hope alive, and finding strength and peace.
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"The author, Richard M. Cohen, suffers from multiple schlerosis and has had two bouts of colon cancer. In this book, he highlights the lives of five people who fight personal battles with chronic and/or terminal illness: Denise (ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease); Buzz (non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma); Sarah (Crohn's disease); Ben (muscular dystrophy); and Larry (bipolar disorder). Different in age, gender, race, and economic status, they are alike in wanting to live life on their own terms. After forming intense relationships with each and talking with their families and friends, Cohen presents riveting case studies giving details of their setbacks, victories, persistence, and fight to live meaningful lives. I found the book extremely informative, interesting, and inspirational."
— MaryHelen (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Extraordinary.”
— Larry King -
“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 (RI) Journal -
“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
Strong at the Broken Places Listener Reviews
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" By Meredith Vieira's journalist husband, who knows his subject well as a sufferer of MS, this book examines the lives of five very different people--each of whom suffers from a chronic and destructive illness, from Crohn's to ALS, to muscular dystrophy to bipolar disorder. Each faces his/her illness with courage, one with faith. Excellent insights for any reader. Language and adult subject matter discussed frankly make the book adult or for mature teens. "
— Sandra, 2/6/2014 -
" A good book for understanding disability experiences and paths to self-advocacy. However, the author's drama and interpretation gets in the way. "
— Shami, 1/9/2014 -
" I read this for work. I think the students of the disability awareness course will be assigned to read it. "
— Becky, 1/9/2014 -
" I couldn't finish, it was too depressing "
— Amy, 12/28/2013 -
" This is an amazing book with insights to several chronic diseases. I loved the way that the people demonstrated their strength of character and truly showed how important is to remember what you have, not what you do not have. "
— Jill, 12/4/2013 -
" Thoughtful insight into what life with chronic illness is like. Note: Some of the worse editing and grammar I have ever seen in a printed book! Really interfered with the story. "
— Kathryn, 11/24/2013 -
" Ok, I didn't read the whole book yet. But I read the chapter that was one of my primary interests in getting the book, and that was disappointing. It didn't resonate with me, and I didn't find it to be "A Chorus of Hope." I might get around to the rest of the book someday, but maybe not. "
— Sonnet, 10/24/2013 -
" I really recommend this book to anyone who wants an inside perspective on what its like to live with chronic illness. Six very brave men and women were followed in this book and I commend them for sharing their personal journeys. "
— Aubs0730, 10/16/2013 -
" I didn't like it because it was depressing. Although I don't know what I was expecting. "
— Kim, 9/17/2013 -
" From these remarkable people, I have been given a gift of renewed gratitude for lives well lived in spite of chronic illness/injury. This is a work that brings honesty and joy to the discussion of the ways we cope individually & collectively with chronic conditions. "
— Cody, 8/24/2013 -
" This book enlightened me to what people with chronic illness' experience. "
— Betty, 8/4/2013 -
" it has taken me a long while to commit to any book and finish it. however, i'm glad that i read this book. if you know anyone that suffers from either chronic or mental illness, then you should pick this up. i am constantly in search of understanding of myself and other people... this helped me. "
— Ann, 5/28/2013 -
" pretty depressing book about five people with chronic illnesses and how they handle it. "
— Kitty, 5/7/2013 -
" Not a bad idea just a little slow in getting there. For something I am interested in it dragged "
— Jennifer, 12/30/2012 -
" This book was a powerful testimony to the struggles of having chronic illness...so often we read about people being stigmatized by race or gender but thr chronically ill is an untouched topic. This book really was inspiring and eye opening, "
— Kim, 12/5/2012 -
" An intimate look at five people and their courage in dealing with five life-altering diseases. This is a great read for anyone in need of some sympathy-training or if you just need to remember that some people are worse off than you. "
— Melissa, 11/14/2012 -
" How people with chronic illnesses learned to surmount obstacles in life. "
— Robin, 6/28/2012 -
" I really didn't like this much, starting off with disagreeing over the definition of a chronic illness. "
— Sharron, 6/9/2012 -
" listening to it on CD, the narrator sucks, I should have just read it. "
— Heather, 3/19/2012 -
" This book actually changed me--reading honest accounts of real (i.e. non-inspirational)people facing difficult chronic illness made me both more aware and less afraid. It's not the best-written book, but the content is very worthwhile. "
— Zoë, 6/21/2011 -
" This book was a powerful testimony to the struggles of having chronic illness...so often we read about people being stigmatized by race or gender but thr chronically ill is an untouched topic. This book really was inspiring and eye opening, "
— Kim, 11/13/2010 -
" A good book for understanding disability experiences and paths to self-advocacy. However, the author's drama and interpretation gets in the way. "
— Shami, 12/1/2009 -
" From these remarkable people, I have been given a gift of renewed gratitude for lives well lived in spite of chronic illness/injury. This is a work that brings honesty and joy to the discussion of the ways we cope individually & collectively with chronic conditions. "
— Cody, 3/11/2009 -
" pretty depressing book about five people with chronic illnesses and how they handle it. "
— Kitty, 2/4/2009 -
" Not a bad idea just a little slow in getting there. For something I am interested in it dragged "
— Jennifer, 9/20/2008 -
" listening to it on CD, the narrator sucks, I should have just read it. "
— Heather, 8/28/2008 -
" This book actually changed me--reading honest accounts of real (i.e. non-inspirational)people facing difficult chronic illness made me both more aware and less afraid. It's not the best-written book, but the content is very worthwhile. "
— Zoë, 8/23/2008 -
" I didn't like it because it was depressing. Although I don't know what I was expecting. "
— Kim, 7/21/2008 -
" Probably one of the amazing and yet saddest and emotionally draining books I've ever read, some parts were just downright gut wrenching, you have to marvel at the struggle that these people go threw, and be thankful you're not dealing with something similar. "
— Michael, 6/28/2008
About Richard M. Cohen
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. In his acclaimed memoir, Blindsided, he chronicles his life with multiple sclerosis as well as two bouts with colon cancer. He is a contributor to the Health and Fitness section of the New York Times and lives with his family outside New York City.