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478th out of 1,852 books
—
1,788 voters
Blindsided: Lifting a Life Above Illness: A Reluctant Memoir
Illness came calling when Richard M. Cohen was twenty-five years old. He was a young television news producer with expectations of a limitless future, and his foreboding that his health was not quite right turned into the harsh reality that something was very wrong when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. For thirty years Cohen has done battle with MS, only to be amb...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
January 30th 2004
by Harper
(first published 2004)
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48th out of 148 books
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90 voters
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A Goodreads member named Jessica sums this book up perfectly......
She writes:
At the beginning of this book, Richard M. Cohen warns the reader that he doesn't have all the secrets. Fair enough, I thought, he doesn't have all the secrets for everyone, but certainly he's figured things out in his own life, or he wouldn't be writing a book, right?
Wrong. While I appreciate Cohen's candor in his descriptions of how he has dealt with MS and colon cancer, his book lacks a consistent theme. Is Cohen a st...more
She writes:
At the beginning of this book, Richard M. Cohen warns the reader that he doesn't have all the secrets. Fair enough, I thought, he doesn't have all the secrets for everyone, but certainly he's figured things out in his own life, or he wouldn't be writing a book, right?
Wrong. While I appreciate Cohen's candor in his descriptions of how he has dealt with MS and colon cancer, his book lacks a consistent theme. Is Cohen a st...more
I had avoided reading this book for so long for obvious reasons. I was afraid to. After seeing him speak with Meredith a couple of monthes ago at an MS luncheon, I felt the time had come. I cannot even begin to express how incredible this book was for me. I felt that he was inside my brain, expressing every thought and feeling I too have had over these past 5 years- I will beg my family to read this book, to gain a little more insight into why I am the way I am. I guess these are traits we share...more
I chose this book because I've watched Merideth Viera on her various TV shows including and since The View, and also read magazine articles about her. Some of them, which her husband, Cohen, mentions in the book portrayed Cohen as a sickly invalid fully dependent on his wife. Looking at the photo on the cover, I felt surely that couldn't be the case, so I wanted to read his side of the story, told in his own words.
If you just look at Cohen piece by piece, perhaps you'd agree with the magazines....more
If you just look at Cohen piece by piece, perhaps you'd agree with the magazines....more
I wanted to like this book - because as a physical therapist, I've worked with so many people with M.S. and because I admire Meredith Viera so much. The first part of the book was interesting, sad and inspiring but then Cohen just kept repeating himself in different ways. By the end of the book, I was screaming at him to just "deal with it!" Dealing with any chronic disease is difficult and dealing with cancer (twice) on top of that made his life even more difficult. But wishing for a "normal" l...more
At the beginning of this book, Richard M. Cohen warns the reader that he doesn't have all the secrets. Fair enough, I thought, he doesn't have all the secrets for everyone, but certainly he's figured things out in his own life, or he wouldn't be writing a book, right?
Wrong. While I appreciate Cohen's candor in his descriptions of how he has dealt with MS and colon cancer, his book lacks a consistent theme. Is Cohen a stoic? Sometimes, but not others. Does Cohen think it's a good idea to hide il...more
Wrong. While I appreciate Cohen's candor in his descriptions of how he has dealt with MS and colon cancer, his book lacks a consistent theme. Is Cohen a stoic? Sometimes, but not others. Does Cohen think it's a good idea to hide il...more
Audiobook...........This was a moving and depressing account of one man's life with Multiple Sclerosis, and how it has challenged him to grow as a person, and the ways the illness has impacted his family. Cohen is eloquent, and tells the tale of his life. He loves life and has been creative and determined in keeping it that way, despite the progressive nature of the illness. It is a heartbreaking story, yet realistic. I would recommend this to anyone who has a family member or loved one coping w...more
As someone who suffers from a chronic illness herself, Richard Cohen echoes thoughts and feelings I myself have felt and stated. His memoirs travel through his life with multiple sclerosis while trying to hold a career and a family and details how he's had to make sacrifices along the way. It was interesting to see how I could relate to the author even though my diagnoses came decades later. It goes to show that no matter when the illness hits, we all share similar thoughts. It's a definite read...more
The first 3/4 of the book was excellent. A great insight into the challenges faced by an individual and their family in having to deal with a debilitating, chronic illness...in this case MS. Richard M. Cohen is to be admired for his coping and focusing on doing as much as he could, continuing ahead in the face of loss of functions of his body. Then to be faced with colon cancer twice. At this point, the book became very difficult to read. I'm sure without doubt that his life is a difficult life...more
Angry, painful, bitter, grim, with some resignation, if not acceptance, toward the end, Cohen hates everything about having MS (and later colon cancer), what it’s done to his body, his life, his dreams, his family. This was tough to read, and seemed a bit disorganized, choppy and repetitive at times, but it was clearly his reality. An unflinchingly honest portrait of how life with a chronic, debilitating illness must be. This one did make me grateful for the health I enjoy and so often take for...more
In this book Cohen documents his 30 year struggle with Multiple Sclerosis. What was it like to have a definitive diagnosis? How has the disease manifest itself? How has MS impacted his family - his wife, Meredith Viera, and their three children? What is it like to see his physical prowess ebb? What happens when he learns that he has cancer in addition to MS?
This is a quick read. It’s about coping.
Cohen describes the subtle changes to his body and how he's tried to live as normal a life as possib...more
This is the memoir of Meredith Vieira's husband, who has battled MS for many years.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of my sister-in-law's MS diagnosis, and I know the battle is a difficult and lonely one. One of those battles where a person tries many drug cocktail combinations to find the best possible combination, and then the symptoms change and you have to start all over again. A battle where the symptoms are devastating, but not always visible to others, so the person doesn't really se...more
This year marks the 10th anniversary of my sister-in-law's MS diagnosis, and I know the battle is a difficult and lonely one. One of those battles where a person tries many drug cocktail combinations to find the best possible combination, and then the symptoms change and you have to start all over again. A battle where the symptoms are devastating, but not always visible to others, so the person doesn't really se...more
Richard Cohen, a man afflicted with multiple sclerosis and colon cancer, writes about his experiences dealing with illness with denial, anger, and finally acceptance. His frank honesty in dealing with multiple sclerosis since his diagnosis at 25 is inspiring and makes the average healthy individual thankful for everything he or she often takes for granted. His worry about passing the condition on to his children is painful as his worry about being a strong role model because of his physical limi...more
It seems nearly impossible to convey to a "well" person, the physical challenges and isolation of living with chronic or terminal illness. The "patient" is trying to come to grips with not only the constance of deterioration but the indifference, impatience or insincerity of acquaintances who pronounce themselves friends. Richard M. Cohen talks about it all with humor and pathos. He speaks for many who may not be able to articulate this complex issue as eloquently as he does.
I'm not sure if I just relate to Cohen because I have MS or if others (not living with a chronic illness) would also find this an amazing story. I have to say that I don't alway see eye to eye with how he handles his illness...but then I'm fortunate to not have to deal with MS AND cancer AND blindness AND still deal with a career AND be in the public's eye! Wow...a very emotional read. (By the way, Richard Cohen is married to Meredith Vieira from The View.)
Interesting, but I didn't care much for the ending and found myself wishing he'd written a bit more about his relationship with his wife, Meredith Viera. He was already ill and legally blind when she and he married. I'm sure that took a lot of getting used to.
She and he are both strong characters and each one has a sharp, sometimes biting sense of humor. I'd have liked to read more about it. Otherwise, I did enjoy the book.
She and he are both strong characters and each one has a sharp, sometimes biting sense of humor. I'd have liked to read more about it. Otherwise, I did enjoy the book.
I read this shortly after discovering that I too have MS. A beautiful story of courage and pain. It took everything I had to not cry for the pain this man has had to endure, and his constant struggle to stay positive. More than worth reading - this could change the way you think about illness. And, as icing on the cake - the writing is incredible.
Cohen’s account of living with MS and recovering from colon cancer twice is extremely honest and informative for families coping with similar challenges. He lets it all hang out, his anger, embarrassment, and frustrations, but also conveys the message that it is possible to live a rich and fulfilling life with a chronic illness. Closer to 3-1/2 stars.
Richard M Cohen might be better known as Mr. Meredith Vieira. He has battled MS for more than 30 years and shares an insight like none I've ever read. Money doesn not buy you everything. Favorite passage is "While he may not have chosen to live with illness, illness did choose him." He is a successful senior producer for CBS News and CNN
A stirring, if rather self-pitying memoir of dealing with illness, mental illness and the things that one can not change. I found it to be useful, but it might be too much for some readers. Take with some caution, but still recommended.
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_13766...
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_13766...
A raw and painful look at Richard Cohen's lifelong struggle with multiple sclerosis. He dives into the impact it's had on his career as a television news producer, his relationship with his wife, Meredith Viera, and their three children.
A thought provoking book on the merit of human life in all different conditions.
A thought provoking book on the merit of human life in all different conditions.
I didn't learn anything new from reading this book. It was more of an affirmation than anything else. I too took the deep denial route.
I had to let go of the anger because it was slowly eating mealive.
Now I've accepted and acknowledged my affliction and just live with it. EVERY DAY.
I had to let go of the anger because it was slowly eating mealive.
Now I've accepted and acknowledged my affliction and just live with it. EVERY DAY.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was thought provoking and really made me look at myself and family and the time that we get to spend together. I really value all of it and would not trade anything for them but this book really had an angry/sad/mad tone to it. I understand that living with MS and multiple cancers it not a happy situation but this was not what I was expecting. I cringed when reading about how Richard would yell at his children and wife because of his heath issues. Again,...more
While i empathize with the writer's terrible struggles with cancer, disease and blindness, i was irritated at his self-congratulatory tone about his wife, his money, his upscale NY life.
Try living w/ a disability on $289 a month. That said, kudos for his honesty
Try living w/ a disability on $289 a month. That said, kudos for his honesty
Non-fiction. Good. He's a TV news producer and works with Dan Rather. Gets MS at 25-yrs old. Marries Meredith Vieira, who is on The View and the Today show. Talks about how his health is deteriorating. Lives in rural NY with 3 kids.
This is a well written account that gives insight into how challenging a life can become when visited by constantly disintegrating health. It makes one grateful for life's tender mercies.
Once I picked it up and began reading it - I could not put it down. I literally stayed up late until I finished it.
Richard is a gifted writer. He is also a man who has had his share of challenges.
It's an inspirational book. He's an inspirational man.
Richard is a gifted writer. He is also a man who has had his share of challenges.
It's an inspirational book. He's an inspirational man.
Honest thoughts from a person coping with chronic illness. Not always uplifting, emotional or inspirational but it is real.
tv producer gets MS. I was expecting a powerful and profound book, what I got was poorly written ramblings of his journey.
Richard Cohen has lived with multiple sclerosis for over 30 years. He chose not to be defined by it and to live each day as it comes. I think he managed to do just that until a second bout with colon cancer almost did him in physically as well as mentally. In the end as much as he would like to have lived a normal life, he wonders if he would have some of the same desirable attributes to his personality that having a chronic illness has given him. He is married to Meredith Viera and has three ch...more
I guess I'd be angry too, but after reading this book I mainly felt sorry for Meredith & the kids.
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