Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition

By: Michael S Okun MD

Narrated by: Rich Germaine

Parkinson's Treatment English Edition: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life is available in over 20 language translations, so that all worldwide cultures can have access to the secrets that can help those living with Parkinson's disease.

Additionally the book addresses all of the new and emerging Parkinson's disease therapies (stem cells, gene therapy, optogenetics, etc.). The most humbling experience of my life has been the time I have spent with families, and with patients suffering from Parkinson's and chronic neurological diseases. I share the secrets from these experiences in this audiobook.

©2013 Michael S Okun (P)2013 Michael S Okun

Hopeful

Optimistic, hopeful, helpful, and informative outlook about the disease, treatment, and patient. Good insights, comprehensive for lay people

What every PD needs to read

Very helpful. I have Parkinson'Disease and this book was extremely helpful. Thank you! Thank you!! I really needed this book.

Exceptional

Very informative and actionable! Great advice from a great Movement Disorder Specialist seeing many people with Parkinson’s. Well done!!

A Must for the Parkinson's Patient

Would you listen to Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition again? Why?

Worth listening to over and over again to be sure you hear all of the valuable information.

What did you like best about this story?

Full of information garnered by a doctor who is dedicated to the treatment of and insight into Parkinson's and other movement disorders. And especially insightful for someone who is living with this disease but wishes to have a happy productive life.

What about Rich Germaine’s performance did you like?

Very easy to listen to and understand the book's content.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Almost makes you want to sit down and listen to every word at one time. But also something which may be listened to over the course of a few days. And then you can listen to it again and again! A gem of information.

Soothing Delivery of the Best Book on Parkinson's

Would you listen to Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition again? Why?

Definitely. The book is full of hopeful and useful information and is a pleasure to listen to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition?

Hearing Michael Okun's calming advice to patients and their families and caregivers.

What does Rich Germaine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hearing the book read by Rich Germaine is like listening to a friendly, knowledgeable neurologist telling you not to panic.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes; you want to hear what comes next, as it could very well be life-changing.

Any additional comments?

This is the book I wish I’d had on April 28, 2010, when I heard the four words “You have Parkinson’s disease.” The next words I heard from my neurologist were something along the lines of, “Make an appointment for three months from now.” Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly encouraged. My neurologist, who is a good neurologist, simply wasn’t trained in the practice of pointing patients to resources. Many doctors, somewhat understandably, may feel that their role does not extend beyond diagnosis and treatment.
Not so Dr. Michael Okun, the author of Parkinson’s Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life . Okun says, “That moment when I say ‘You have Parkinson’s disease’ is a critical moment. From then forward it will become our shared mission to prevent those two words (Parkinson’s disease) from defining a person or defining a family.” Quite a different story from what I heard.
This book, now in an audio version read by Rich Germaine, is the very first thing that should be purchased by anyone who hears the words, “You have Parkinson’s disease.” The book shares the latest information on research, therapies, lifestyle tweaks, and more. It is a veritable handbook to having Parkinson’s and how to work with it in a positive, forward-moving way. Okun also strikes a note of hope for Parkinson’s sufferers and their families and caregivers, while at the same time remaining realistic about the disease.
Listening to the audiobook, read by Rich Germaine, is like listening to a friendly, knowledgeable neurologist advising you not to panic, that you can still live a long, productive, and enjoyable life. Beyond being helpful for those who have impaired vision or reading challenges, the audio version is an alternative, soothing delivery of Okun’s marvelous book, suitable for anyone of any age. I highly recommend it.

Find HOPE for living well with PD

What made the experience of listening to Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition the most enjoyable?

The mixture of clinical wisdom and real slice of life stories made this book informative as well as enjoyable. It is a must hear for those touched by PD.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dr. Okun brought his extensive clinical knowledge and PD expertise to us in a sensitive and compassionate format. This is truly a rare combination.

What does Rich Germaine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His story telling ability gave life to the real life stories in a way that reading the book did not provide.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but unfortunately I am so busy that this was not possible. The best part about the audio book format for me was the ease in which I could listen between appointments, meetings and chores of daily life.

Any additional comments?

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone touched by PD. Those diagnosed, care partners, healthcare professional....It will be a valuable resource for many and will bring a message of Hope that it is possible to live a long happy life with PD.

Okun Writes THE Book on Parkinson's Disease

Would you consider the audio edition of Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition to be better than the print version?

Yes.

What did you like best about this story?

It is so much deeper than I could ever have imagined in terms of information and reasons to hope for future advances in technology.

Have you listened to any of Rich Germaine’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It's one great big nerve out there….

Any additional comments?

This book is an incredibly worthwhile read. It goes so much deeper than I could ever have imagined in terms of information and reasons to hope for future advances in technology. Having had DBS surgery just 3 months ago, Chaper # 5 on DBS was my favorite. The way Dr. O speculates about the future and what might happen as DBS evolves is far-reaching and promising. Talk about infusing patients with hope! I found the in-depth explanation of the surgery to be educational and I learned quite a bit about the effects of DBS in terms of rejuvenating brain cells.There is so much in this book beyond DBS that will help PD people for years to come. I urge other PD people to read it.

Very basic information on Parkinsons's disease

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No new information. The explanations of the disease mechanism and treatments were general, and I got nothing new out of this book.

Has Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition turned you off from other books in this genre?

Jon Palfreman's Brain Storms is a superior book on the subject.

Did Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition inspire you to do anything?

return the book.

Any additional comments?

This book would be good for a sixth grader, or for somebody with absolutely no science background.

Critical Reading for Newly Diagnosed and Others

Would you consider the audio edition of Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition to be better than the print version?

The audio version is like sitting in your living room listening to someone tell you a fascinating story … about elements that have now become your own life! It flows like a novel and you are anxious to hear the next installment. The print version is great to read afterwards, to be able to fully absorb the richness of the content. Everything in this book is important.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition?

The rich use of metaphors were all memorable moments to me as they explained complex concepts in simple yet vivid terms that gave me that sense of, “Oh, yes, now I get it!” For example, in the chapter on deep brain stimulation (which was brilliant!), when discussing the precision of placing electrodes in the brain, that when moving just one millimeter into another region, the sound of the brain cells changed. The analogy was language changes when traveling from one country to another in Europe. The brain’s sound changes were instrumental in developing the brain maps that surgeons use today.

Which character – as performed by Rich Germaine – was your favorite?

My favorite was Dr. Okun because his compassion and complete understanding of the patient perspective gave me the profound sense that he listened, understood and truly partnered with his patients on their Parkinson’s journey, the therapeutic journey as well as quality of life in all it’s dimensions.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were many moments that moved me and they were the result of several things. The first was Dr. Okun’s very honest, direct approach presented in language understandable to the lay person. Second, his descriptions of the evolution of new therapies as his colleagues worked on new approaches gave one a sense of being “behind the scenes” and led to a greater understanding of how things come about in medicine. As a result, his coverage of what’s happening in Parkinson’s research offers information and insights not found in any other publication.

Any additional comments?

As a Parkinson’s patient myself, and as a support group leader of 3 recently diagnosed Parkinson’s support groups, this book meets a need no other book has. I will recommend it to every individual who is newly diagnosed, as well as to care partners, family members and others with PD. The message to the newly diagnosed that this is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a new journey, is a powerful message they need to hear. Dr. Okun’s approach of realistic optimism offers hope that there is meaningful life and happiness despite, and in fact in some cases because of, PD. The book demystifies, dispels the myths, informs, updates and inspires. A great, enjoyable and informative listing experience.

Too much information

I need to get a hard copy of this book because I could use this book as a reference.