An inspiring life testament

books:

	• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Vintage International) Jean-Dominique Bauby Vintage, 2007 - 131 pages average customer review:based on 191 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Life Worth Living

Jean-Dominique Bauby is a victim of 'Locked-In Syndrome." At the age of 43, he suffered a massive stroke that left him unable to move or speak. His only means of communication -- his left eyelid. Bauby spent weeks painstakingly dictating this memoir -- letter by letter.

I read this book in one sitting, it was that captivating. Through short vignettes, Bauby manages to describe the minute intimacies of his life in astonishing detail. From his first experience in a wheelchair, to bath-time, and finally through the development of his communication 'code' - Bauby's emotions touch on both anger and sadness without becomings desperate or hopeless.

There are also times of hope and, ultimately, love -- when he describes the visits of his children or memories of this father. Throughout the book, I was struck by Bauby's ability to be thankful for small things -- the ability to move his limbs a fraction of an inch, sitting in the Cinecitta, and the the ability of his mind to fly away like a butterfly.

It is not until the end of the book that Bauby describes his last day as a 'perfectly functioning earthling.' This most important day in his life is detailed with very little emotion. This makes the catastrophic details all the more haunting.

This is one the most poignant memoirs that I have ever read, and one of my favorite books of 2008.

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Excellent!

This is a wonderful book. Very quick read. Makes you truly appreciate your own life. Highly recommended.

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An inspiring life testament

Bauby gives us a truly remarkable and inspirational story of his life trapped inside a body that no longer serves him.

But his mind remains as sharp as ever.

He transcends his immobility with grace and a remarkable gift of a rich, lucid imagination.
He is free in his mind to enjoy all of life and it's lush sensory gifts and memories...to take flight as if a butterfly.

A heartbreaking true story.

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What a great read!

This book was an eye-opening and amazing view into the internal life of a man under tragic circumstances. It is a very human look - sometimes funny and sarcastic and at times tragically sad - into Bauby's mind and spirit which never gives in.

Stunningly beautiful

Absolutely amazing. And a quick read, too, so you really have no excuse to miss it. SHUT UP. NO EXCUSE. Jeez, you can even borrow it from me, okay?

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, page 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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recommendations

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