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My Life, Deleted: A Memoir
Scott Bolzan went to work on December 17, 2008, like any other Wednesday. By that afternoon, he'd lost every memory of his past.
Awakening in a hospital with no memory of who he was or how he got there, the forty-six-year-old didn’t know that the petite blonde at his side was his wife of twenty-four years, Joan—or even what a wife was. He couldn’t remember the births of his...more
Awakening in a hospital with no memory of who he was or how he got there, the forty-six-year-old didn’t know that the petite blonde at his side was his wife of twenty-four years, Joan—or even what a wife was. He couldn’t remember the births of his...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
October 4th 2011
by HarperOne
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I am not a huge fan of non fiction however this book didn't really feel like how I'm used to a non fiction book to be. Some parts were boring and tedious but I got through it.
Having a knowledge of who Joan is and having met her personally long before the accident I do have empathy for them. Think about it this way they built this life style, they weren't handed it. Scott was the bread winner. All of a sudden the main bread winner who was able to make the money for those cars, and yachts no long...more
Having a knowledge of who Joan is and having met her personally long before the accident I do have empathy for them. Think about it this way they built this life style, they weren't handed it. Scott was the bread winner. All of a sudden the main bread winner who was able to make the money for those cars, and yachts no long...more
Some reviewers have complained about the many details of Scott's day-to-day existence ("I met Jim for lunch at Smith's Cafe, where he had a fish taco with a Dr. Pepper and I had a stromboli and Coke, even though I had no real idea what a stromboli was ..."), but I thought that added to the experience of recent details filling the 47-year void. He knew so little about anything, that at first I was surprised he could even communicate at all. His wife's asking him to pick up a bag of potato chips a...more
Meh.
This memoir was horribly written, but I'd be willing to overlook that if the story was compelling. It's hard to feel sorry for somebody complaining that they are worried about mounting bills, upset because their health insurance might lapse and they won't be able to pay for a $870 test, yet in the next breath wonder if they should take the BMW or the Porsche to visit their $325,000 yacht. Meanwhile, the sixteen year old daughter drives a Tahoe and two other cars sit idle in the garage. No, I...more
This memoir was horribly written, but I'd be willing to overlook that if the story was compelling. It's hard to feel sorry for somebody complaining that they are worried about mounting bills, upset because their health insurance might lapse and they won't be able to pay for a $870 test, yet in the next breath wonder if they should take the BMW or the Porsche to visit their $325,000 yacht. Meanwhile, the sixteen year old daughter drives a Tahoe and two other cars sit idle in the garage. No, I...more
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3.5 True Story.
A man hits his head and goes to the emergency room. Little by little, he loses all his conscious memory. He doesn't know who his wife is, and by the way, what is a wife? A bedroom? And who are all these people who know him? And most of all, who is he?
This is a story of permanent memory loss. Scott Bolzan is assured that his memory will return. He waits in vain and is forced to begin his life over. Re-learn things he knew by heart before, and be re-introduced to his family and frie...more
A man hits his head and goes to the emergency room. Little by little, he loses all his conscious memory. He doesn't know who his wife is, and by the way, what is a wife? A bedroom? And who are all these people who know him? And most of all, who is he?
This is a story of permanent memory loss. Scott Bolzan is assured that his memory will return. He waits in vain and is forced to begin his life over. Re-learn things he knew by heart before, and be re-introduced to his family and frie...more
It is harder to think of a more intriguing memoir than one that is written by someone who has completely lost all their memory from a seemingly less than traumatic head injury from a fall in a bathroom. Add in that he was an ex-NFL football player, successful business man and committed family man, and you have the makings of a dramatic story or so you would think. Unfortunately the book was overly detailed, plodded and dragged at times and was just not well written. But overlooking it's faults,...more
I liked this book. I'll say 3.5 stars. Not so much for the writing but the idea of it was facinating to me. This man falls on his head and loses all of his memory from his previous 46 years. When this plot occurs in fiction, the person roams around not knowing his family and friends or where he lives. In this true story, his wife and kids come to the hospital, bring him home but they are complete strangers to him. He doesn't remember how to run his business or even basic information and life ski...more
Scott Bolzan, a successful businessman and former NFL offensive lineman, was on his way up to his office in a downtown Phoenix office building when he decided to stop off at a restroom on the main level. As he entered, he slipped on something. His feet flew out from under him and he fell backward, hitting his head so hard on the tile floor that it split open to the bone. The result of this accident left Scott with the worst case of retrograde amnesia that had ever been recorded. In this heartfel...more
On a recent flight to Florida, I opened my guilty pleasure for my in-flight entertainment. Yep, I was ready to go armed with the latest edition of People magazine. One of my favorite sections of People has always been the Book Reviews and that is where I discovered My Life, Deleted. Once on the ground, it wasn’t long before I made my way to the nearest bookstore to purchase my copy because I was too impatient to wait until I got home to get to the library and I figured I’d have that in-flight ti...more
So what would it feel like to awaken from a fall with a splitting headache and no memories at all. The Bolzano recount the ordeals of relearning the world and that aspect of the book is intriguing. However the look at their lives prior to the accident is appalling. Their heroin addicted son becomes a more sympathetic character as you read details of the multi addictions of his parents. A past felony, obesity requiring a stomach band, multiple suits regarding his business, addictions to expensive...more
I can only imagine how my life would change without my treasure box full of memories. In many ways, I think my past defines my present, my life. So it was with great interest that I read this book.
It was a good read. My expectations were higher than it read, however. And, I believe, that is because I anticipated an impassioned book based on the story itself - awaking from an unconscious state due to a fall with a total loss of memory - not just personal items.
As I pondered the book upon complet...more
It was a good read. My expectations were higher than it read, however. And, I believe, that is because I anticipated an impassioned book based on the story itself - awaking from an unconscious state due to a fall with a total loss of memory - not just personal items.
As I pondered the book upon complet...more
This book was ok. It was selected as a book club read so that's why I picked it up. I really don't think there was enough material here to compile a book. I found myself reading the same scenario over and over again and thinking, "Haven't I already read this?"
I think the book was poorly written and gave extraneous detail that no one cares about like what the author ordered when he went out to eat and what everyone who was with him ordered too.
I also couldn't identify with the author because he...more
I think the book was poorly written and gave extraneous detail that no one cares about like what the author ordered when he went out to eat and what everyone who was with him ordered too.
I also couldn't identify with the author because he...more
My Life, Deleted by Scott Bolzan, a Kindle book I began reading on July 29th. It wasn't until about a quarter the way through that I realized that, dang, I've been reading about mental issues alot lately....
Beyond Scott's description of the accident itself and the treatment he received immediately after, his story comes off alot like one of the motivational speeches that he and his wife may be giving publicly right about now. Yes, I have the scope of his injury and the onset of memory loss, but...more
Beyond Scott's description of the accident itself and the treatment he received immediately after, his story comes off alot like one of the motivational speeches that he and his wife may be giving publicly right about now. Yes, I have the scope of his injury and the onset of memory loss, but...more
I first heard about this man from my NIU alumni magazine. The author was an NIU football player. It's an intriguing, horrifying thought - a slip one day and the memory of your entire life is deleted? This man has overcome a LOT. It was especially interesting how some of his personality changed, and how he went to being a simpler man in some material aspects. I really felt for him with the splitting headaches/insomnia and cannot imagine what he and his wife went through, and still go through ever...more
It's an interesting story, and I am sure they are lovely people, but I just didn't 'feel' them. I know it probably has more to do with me than them, but when they were planning vacations to Hawaii and Paris and wondering how they were going to pay their bills, well, I disconnected. As annoying as this is, I think that if they didn't have the financial resources that they had I would've cared more about them.
The amnesia aspect is interesting, and a little scary, but even that was a little flat....more
The amnesia aspect is interesting, and a little scary, but even that was a little flat....more
Freak accident causes this guy to lose memory. What I found fascinating is his wonder of all the excess in his life after the accident. Put things into perspective. A little bit of a downer in that his son is addicted to drugs. Kind of too much detail in a 2 year recovery, and ended in a weird spot. Never found out if he got a huge settlement from the accident, but apparently this guy speaks now around the country.
The author slips in the bathroom and suffers a brain injury that permanently erases his long term memory - a horrible permanent amnesia. I found the writing style tedious at times - do we really need to know that he drank "Diet Coke" and the guest visiting him drank "Coke." The extra details were very awkward and unnecessary. Still, I found it interesting to read about his experiences and how he learns to cope with having no past.
Scott Bolzan shares his story of rediscovering life, love and family in his book My Life, Deleted: A Memoir. After a freak fall in his office building that left him with a brain injury and the resulting retrograde amnesia and penetrating headaches, Bolzan lost all 46 years worth of memories and had to be reintroduced to his wife, kids, parents and other family and friends and relearn how to live life.
I enjoyed this book but I agree with another reviewer that when they started selling their yacht and numerous valuable watches I felt less empathy. I can't believe that they would get any financial aid for their daughter's education with all that they have.
I really got frustrated with their son and sometimes felt, poor little rich kid.
But a good read in itself.
The reason why this book didn't resonate with me was because I didn't really feel any empathy for this man. I don't know what it was but he just didn't appeal to me or make care about him. Because of this I think I criticized every word of what was written in this book. I thought the idea of the story appealed to me, but not the subject of the story.
Fascinating story of his traumatic brain injury and how it impacted his whole life and his sense of self. He's very open and honest about his feelings and his experiences; especially when he talks about falling in love with his wife all over again (which he had to do because he didn't remember who she was).
Really interesting.
Really interesting.
Pretty decent biography for a man with no real memory. We all have all these questions about what memory loss feels like first-hand and this will give you a very good insight. My prayers are with you to Scott that is. No not you, reviewer reader. In conclusion of my not very long review, it's a good read.
I loved the book. Lots of food for thought. We are really defined by our memories. I would like to have understood a bit more why the apparent lack of pursuit of legal action, especially in light of the fact that Scott's life changed so dramatically. I would recommend this book as a must read.
Aug 17, 2012
Stacia O'connell
added it
This was an amazing story of faith and love. Even tho he retained no memories of his past, he and his family were able to rebuild a new relationship with a truly strong bond. He and his wife fell in love with each other all over again. I was moved to tears over this triumphant story.
Amazing story, could not imagine loosing your memory and not remembering anything about your past life or your family. Makes you appreciate everything you have and makes you think about what is truly important stuff or the relationships you have. Definitely recommend this book.
After a fall the author developed an unusual type of amnesia. Story of his life afterwards, trying to learn about his previous self & re-learning many basics of
life, his family, friends, & his work. Seemed repetitious to me so I gave it just
an "okay" rating.
life, his family, friends, & his work. Seemed repetitious to me so I gave it just
an "okay" rating.
This book was really fascinating, about an ex-NFL player who slipped and fell one day, hit his head, and couldn't remember anything about the past. A really redeeming story and a true example of "in sickness or in health, til death do us part."
My mom checked this book out of the library. When I read the description on the inside front cover, I immediately stole it away to my room and read it before she could. It was incredibly interesting and taught me quite a bit about amnesia, actually.
It seems impossible to imagine that one's memories, such an integral part of who we are, could be deleted. How Scott and his wife battled thru medical tests, everyday life and family dynamics presents an intriguing story.
The human brain fascinates me, as do related issues such as amnesia and brain injury. I have sympathy for this man and his family, however, I had trouble connecting with them, and I didn't find the book to be very well written.
I couldn't imagine losing my life's memories and certainly don't think I would be as strong as Scott. Thank you for sharing your story of loss, courage, love and determination-a truly remarkable individual and family!
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| SPSV Mrs. Rodgers...: Adrian Cabiles | 1 | 8 | Sep 29, 2012 08:04pm |
Scott Bolzan, born in Chicago, Illinois, is a former professional football player, pilot, and successful businessman. Drafted by the NFL’s New England Patriots, he played several seasons at offensive guard for the Cleveland Browns and with the USFL, Memphis Showboats. He is currently the Founder and CEO of Legendary Jets in Tempe, Arizona, and has been married to his college sweetheart for 25 year...more
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