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Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke
dentity Theft is an award-winning book that follows Stanford professor Debra Meyerson’s journey to recover from a severe stroke that initially left her physically incapacitated and unable to speak. In addition to providing realistic expectations for the hard work needed to regain everyday capabilities, Meyerson focuses on the less frequently documented emotional journey in recovery. Virtually every survivor is haunted by questions like: “Who am I now?” and “How do I rebuild a meaningful and rewarding life?” after losing so much of what they had before—capabilities, careers and jobs, relationships, and more. This is a book full of hope for survivors—from stroke or other injuries—as well as their families and support networks.
Debra Meyerson and her husband, Steve Zuckerman, have created Stroke Onward (strokeonward.org), a non-profit initiative of the Social Good Fund, to provide stroke survivors, families and caregivers with more resources to help them navigate the emotional journey to rebuild their identities and rewarding lives.”
Winner of the 2019 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Identity Theft centers on Debra’s experience: her stroke, her extraordinary efforts to recover, and her journey to redefine herself. But she also draws on her skills as a social scientist, sharing stories from several dozen fellow survivors, family members, friends, colleagues, therapists, and doctors she has met and interviewed. By sharing this diversity of experiences, Debra highlights how every person is different, every stroke is different, and every recovery is different. She provides a valuable look at the broad possibilities for successfully navigating the challenging physical recovery—and the equally difficult emotional journey toward rebuilding one’s identity and a rewarding life after a trauma like stroke.
Debra Meyerson and her husband, Steve Zuckerman, have created Stroke Onward (strokeonward.org), a non-profit initiative of the Social Good Fund, to provide stroke survivors, families and caregivers with more resources to help them navigate the emotional journey to rebuild their identities and rewarding lives.”
Winner of the 2019 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Identity Theft centers on Debra’s experience: her stroke, her extraordinary efforts to recover, and her journey to redefine herself. But she also draws on her skills as a social scientist, sharing stories from several dozen fellow survivors, family members, friends, colleagues, therapists, and doctors she has met and interviewed. By sharing this diversity of experiences, Debra highlights how every person is different, every stroke is different, and every recovery is different. She provides a valuable look at the broad possibilities for successfully navigating the challenging physical recovery—and the equally difficult emotional journey toward rebuilding one’s identity and a rewarding life after a trauma like stroke.
288 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2019
96 people are currently reading
993 people want to read
About the author
Debra Meyerson
4 books33 followersIn 2010, when I was a professor at Stanford, I suffered a severe stroke. I lost all movement of my right arm and leg; even worse, I lost all ability to communicate.
While I won my struggle to survive, much of my identity – as a Stanford professor, a speaker and writer, an athlete, a mother and a wife – was taken from me. My mind was working but I was trapped inside a broken body, unable to do what I used to do. And maybe even worse, I couldn't tell anyone what I was experiencing.
With hard work and a lot of help I regained enough mobility to again be independent, and have recovered some ability to speak. But I have come to accept that I will never again have all the capabilities I once had.
I'm still slowly recovering more of my abilities and am continuing to rebuild my identities. I've found few resources to help with the emotional piece of this journey, and have heard the same from many of my fellow survivors. That's why I wrote Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves after Stroke (available May 2019).
As a professor, I studied and taught about how small, everyday actions can disrupt what’s normal, chip away at the status quo, and create positive change. That work led me to write Tempered Radicals, first published in 2001.
Now, in a very different context, I live by the message I previously taught. With small, deliberate efforts, and a lot of conscious choices, I continue my slow recovery, discover more about myself, and shape my new identities.
While I won my struggle to survive, much of my identity – as a Stanford professor, a speaker and writer, an athlete, a mother and a wife – was taken from me. My mind was working but I was trapped inside a broken body, unable to do what I used to do. And maybe even worse, I couldn't tell anyone what I was experiencing.
With hard work and a lot of help I regained enough mobility to again be independent, and have recovered some ability to speak. But I have come to accept that I will never again have all the capabilities I once had.
I'm still slowly recovering more of my abilities and am continuing to rebuild my identities. I've found few resources to help with the emotional piece of this journey, and have heard the same from many of my fellow survivors. That's why I wrote Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves after Stroke (available May 2019).
As a professor, I studied and taught about how small, everyday actions can disrupt what’s normal, chip away at the status quo, and create positive change. That work led me to write Tempered Radicals, first published in 2001.
Now, in a very different context, I live by the message I previously taught. With small, deliberate efforts, and a lot of conscious choices, I continue my slow recovery, discover more about myself, and shape my new identities.
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February 27, 20252025 reads: 37/300
in this book, the author explores the journey to recovery following a stroke. having a stroke reshapes a person’s entire life, to the point of having to reshape their hobbies, jobs, relationships, and more. this was a wonderfully-detailed depiction of life with disability following a stroke, though i would say people with other disabilities could find solace in its pages. i’ve worked with people who experienced strokes before, and this further put their situations into perspective for me. i highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the personal effects of a stroke.
in this book, the author explores the journey to recovery following a stroke. having a stroke reshapes a person’s entire life, to the point of having to reshape their hobbies, jobs, relationships, and more. this was a wonderfully-detailed depiction of life with disability following a stroke, though i would say people with other disabilities could find solace in its pages. i’ve worked with people who experienced strokes before, and this further put their situations into perspective for me. i highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the personal effects of a stroke.
November 19, 2020
I bought this book after having read several articles excerpted from it in the American Stroke Association's magazine. It is written by a former Stanford professor who specialized in identity issues -- until she had a massive stroke, which wiped out her former identity.
I praise this book for being well-written, smart, personable and informative. It had many passages that were very helpful to me. I recommend it to anyone whose life has been impacted by stroke, including survivors, caregivers and family members -- or even people dealing with other life-changing traumas that cause you to lose who you used to think you were (retirement, pandemics, divorce, widowhood, etc.). That's because it is wonderfully hopeful.
Here are a few passages I want to remember from it:
"Stroke may cripple some of our capabilities, shut down aspects of our life we thought were important, knock us off the direction we thought we were headed. But for those of us lucky enough to be survivors, stroke does not steal our future or who we get to become next."
"People are most satisfied when their limits are pushed just to the bounds of what they are capable of. In such situations of achievable adversity, people become more complex." [A paraphrase of Csikszentmihalyi]
"Survivors who are thriving share a few critical things: a dedication to fighting to regain capabilities well beyond twelve months; an outlook driven by building a better future rather than recovering the past; and a commitment to accepting support, setting achievable goals, celebrating small wins and silver linings, and drawing on deeper meaning. They are making a conscious choice to learn from the journey, draw perspective from its challenges, and grow from the experience."
"All stroke survivors I know with substantial disabilities are at least somewhat reluctant to rejoin some of the social structures they enjoyed before their strokes or to build new ones."
And in a quote from Julia, a survivor, who was speaking to her husband: "That's it. The stroke is taking a backseat. It's not going to be at the steering wheel anymore. I want you to be married to me because you're happy and having fun and we're a partnership. I don't want you to be married to me because you're stuck, because you have to be my nurse. I don't want you to be my nurse. I want you to be my husband... That's when things started getting better with our relationship."
Just that last quote was a good enough reason to buy the book, for me.
I praise this book for being well-written, smart, personable and informative. It had many passages that were very helpful to me. I recommend it to anyone whose life has been impacted by stroke, including survivors, caregivers and family members -- or even people dealing with other life-changing traumas that cause you to lose who you used to think you were (retirement, pandemics, divorce, widowhood, etc.). That's because it is wonderfully hopeful.
Here are a few passages I want to remember from it:
"Stroke may cripple some of our capabilities, shut down aspects of our life we thought were important, knock us off the direction we thought we were headed. But for those of us lucky enough to be survivors, stroke does not steal our future or who we get to become next."
"People are most satisfied when their limits are pushed just to the bounds of what they are capable of. In such situations of achievable adversity, people become more complex." [A paraphrase of Csikszentmihalyi]
"Survivors who are thriving share a few critical things: a dedication to fighting to regain capabilities well beyond twelve months; an outlook driven by building a better future rather than recovering the past; and a commitment to accepting support, setting achievable goals, celebrating small wins and silver linings, and drawing on deeper meaning. They are making a conscious choice to learn from the journey, draw perspective from its challenges, and grow from the experience."
"All stroke survivors I know with substantial disabilities are at least somewhat reluctant to rejoin some of the social structures they enjoyed before their strokes or to build new ones."
And in a quote from Julia, a survivor, who was speaking to her husband: "That's it. The stroke is taking a backseat. It's not going to be at the steering wheel anymore. I want you to be married to me because you're happy and having fun and we're a partnership. I don't want you to be married to me because you're stuck, because you have to be my nurse. I don't want you to be my nurse. I want you to be my husband... That's when things started getting better with our relationship."
Just that last quote was a good enough reason to buy the book, for me.
October 17, 2020
I started reading this book when I first received it for review in June 2019, but had to stop after about 50 pages for two reasons: one - the book hit too close to home as my chronic illnesses have many of the same consequences as the author's stroke, and the fact that I've seen first-hand what happens after a stroke; and two - I could not cognitively continue reading. My brain just didn't comprehend the words.
I picked the book up again, tho, and finally finished it about a month ago. The note I wrote then was "UGH. So hard to read. Took forever."
However, I tabbed many of the pages, indicating that a lot of what was in the book resonated with me... but when I looked again, I saw that many of those tabs pointed not to the author's words, but to those she had quoted from others – most often, _Option B_ by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant.
One thing that really stood out - the blurb for this book, and its praise, includes quotes from Adam Grant, Dr. Chitra Venkatasubramanian, Lawrence Bacow, Leora R. Cherney, and Julia Fox Garrison. The problem with this? All of those people are also mentioned and quoted in the book, which to me is a conflict of interest. (It's like a politician saying something at a press conference, and later re-stating their own quote as proof or fact.)
The book itself is organized into three sections - Part One is called "Unwinding of the Self", and as the author states on page eight, is "largely [the author's] journey through the world of stroke, recovery, and shifting identity." Part Two is called "What It's Really Like, Outside and Inside", and "each chapter is dedicated to exploring a particularly critical challenge in the physical and emotional aftermath of strokes". Part Three, "Redefining Recover", "concludes with a summary of the lessons we've collectively learned about rebuilding an identity and a fulfilling life through this journey."
The book also includes short bios of the 25 other survivors she interviewed and whose stories were mentioned, and an index and references. One thing I noticed about these survivors: the author did not explain how she found the survivors to interview, and it appeared that most of them live in California – her state of residence – and quite a few live in St. Louis. I seem to recall that somewhere in the book, the author mentioned that these survivors may not be exactly a cross-section of all survivors and these had some privileges many did not, but I can’t find it, and she did not state that in the Survivor Biographies section.
I agree with the reviewer who stated that they felt like this was like two books in one. I couldn't help but think that the original first draft, written with Sally Collins, might have been better and more relatable, and much more accessible to people who might be helped by the information included in this book.
The first section is written in a very scholarly / academic manner (aka, somewhat boring), with lots of quotes and references. It feels much more instructive and less memoir. As a whole, that makes the book feel like a mish-mash of instructional, preachy, judgmental, memoir, and academic.
I also agree with the reviewers who felt that the stories of the other survivors should have been presented fully, rather than doled out in various chapters to support the author's point on a particular topic. I also agree that doing it as she did meant the book had a lot of repetition. This was especially noticeable in Part Two, which is where most of the survivor stories were shared.
Another reviewer stated that this book could be hurtful to someone who has had a stroke and has not recovered to the extent the author and some of her interviewees did. I agree with this; she seems to covertly blame those who don’t manage to maintain a positive attitude with their lack of recovery progress. As I know from my own life and those of others with chronic illness and who have suffered stroke, sometimes it doesn't matter how much you try and how hard you work and how positive you are – you just don’t get better.
In addition, on page 129, the author writes “But only the most extreme disabilities, which fortunately I don’t have, are a physical obstacle to a healthy sexual relationship.” This felt both very preachy and very judgmental to me. Who determines when a disability is “extreme”? She would probably say mine isn’t, but what she describes is still not attainable for me. It made me feel bad about myself.
The author stated that most stroke patients aren’t offered mental health coaching or therapy. “Given the physical and emotional trauma, as well as the biological impact of stroke, psychological support should be more forthcoming”, she wrote on page 85.
I agree with this sentiment, even as I am quite surprised by it: in my experience, many people with other diseases are pushed toward psychological interventions rather than physical, and are often told their symptoms are ‘all in their head’. Just a quick glance at social media, and you can find many many examples of this, including people with chronic pain, and those who are suffering from ongoing symptoms of the current pandemic.
I also agree with the coping strategy she mentioned on page 47 of celebrating “small wins” – “seemingly little victories that have a large impact on how we perceive our situation”. This has long been a strategy in the disability community. I don’t know if Karl Weick, who she mentioned as developing it, actually created it, or simply wrote about what was already happening.
However, I highly disagree with the coping strategies she mentions on page 47 and 48, which is basically telling yourself that “it could be worse”. This has lead to what many call “the disability Olympics” – and there are no winners. It could always be worse, and it could always be better.
One thing that the author points out that I feel is very important – nearly one-third of all stroke survivors in the US are under the age of 65. The people she interviewed ranged in age from 13 to 64 when they had their strokes. Our culture seems to think that disability only happens to people when they are old, which is simply not the case. This sentiment leads to younger people facing dismissal from both doctors and friends; “you’re too young” was something I heard often, and have heard others have been told as well.
Another important thing the author touches on is in Chapter 16 – “Advocating in the U.S. Medical System”. She only spent 11 pages on this subject, but it could certainly use a lot more. People don’t realize how much work it is to try to get medical care and treatment when you don’t have something simple, like a cold. It is a very confusing, hard-to-navigate system, that turns into a full-time job for patients. The author mentioned that she didn’t like the way a nurse talked to her, and so her husband had to advocate for her – a minor inconvenience, tho it happens all too often, when you consider what she mentioned on page 186 – a letter from her insurance company denying coverage of a procedure she’d already had.
Most people are completely unaware of such challenges. They don’t realize how much time it takes and how complicated it is to deal with all the parts of the “medical system”.
Chapter Eight, “Lean On”, and Chapter 11, “People Are Social Animals”, were especially hard for me to read. Essentially, the author states that a patient’s support network is critical for recovery. Unfortunately, in my case and the case of many other people I know, their friends and families disappeared when they got sick and could no longer do and be the things they were before. Most people I know lost their much-needed support.
On page 196, she states “This is one of the distinguishing features of stroke: the symptoms can be treated, but there is no cure available or recovery guaranteed.” Although this statement is true, it is also a bit duplicitous – stroke isn’t the only disease with no cure. The vast majority of diseases, from those that aren’t often talked about to those that are (Parkinson’s and arthritis being two) don’t have cures. Many other diseases have no treatment, such as adrenal failure.
I also want to point out that Waleed Al-Oboudi states in his three-star review that he was misquoted on page 62 and page 196 – that the rehabilitation process is not vague or a question mark.
Overall, I think this book has a lot of important things to say, and I applaud the author for trying to say it, but I don’t think it’s presented in a way that will do any good for the people who need it most.
Note:
I received this book free from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an unbiased review. I never guarantee a positive rating, and all opinions are my own.
I picked the book up again, tho, and finally finished it about a month ago. The note I wrote then was "UGH. So hard to read. Took forever."
However, I tabbed many of the pages, indicating that a lot of what was in the book resonated with me... but when I looked again, I saw that many of those tabs pointed not to the author's words, but to those she had quoted from others – most often, _Option B_ by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant.
One thing that really stood out - the blurb for this book, and its praise, includes quotes from Adam Grant, Dr. Chitra Venkatasubramanian, Lawrence Bacow, Leora R. Cherney, and Julia Fox Garrison. The problem with this? All of those people are also mentioned and quoted in the book, which to me is a conflict of interest. (It's like a politician saying something at a press conference, and later re-stating their own quote as proof or fact.)
The book itself is organized into three sections - Part One is called "Unwinding of the Self", and as the author states on page eight, is "largely [the author's] journey through the world of stroke, recovery, and shifting identity." Part Two is called "What It's Really Like, Outside and Inside", and "each chapter is dedicated to exploring a particularly critical challenge in the physical and emotional aftermath of strokes". Part Three, "Redefining Recover", "concludes with a summary of the lessons we've collectively learned about rebuilding an identity and a fulfilling life through this journey."
The book also includes short bios of the 25 other survivors she interviewed and whose stories were mentioned, and an index and references. One thing I noticed about these survivors: the author did not explain how she found the survivors to interview, and it appeared that most of them live in California – her state of residence – and quite a few live in St. Louis. I seem to recall that somewhere in the book, the author mentioned that these survivors may not be exactly a cross-section of all survivors and these had some privileges many did not, but I can’t find it, and she did not state that in the Survivor Biographies section.
I agree with the reviewer who stated that they felt like this was like two books in one. I couldn't help but think that the original first draft, written with Sally Collins, might have been better and more relatable, and much more accessible to people who might be helped by the information included in this book.
The first section is written in a very scholarly / academic manner (aka, somewhat boring), with lots of quotes and references. It feels much more instructive and less memoir. As a whole, that makes the book feel like a mish-mash of instructional, preachy, judgmental, memoir, and academic.
I also agree with the reviewers who felt that the stories of the other survivors should have been presented fully, rather than doled out in various chapters to support the author's point on a particular topic. I also agree that doing it as she did meant the book had a lot of repetition. This was especially noticeable in Part Two, which is where most of the survivor stories were shared.
Another reviewer stated that this book could be hurtful to someone who has had a stroke and has not recovered to the extent the author and some of her interviewees did. I agree with this; she seems to covertly blame those who don’t manage to maintain a positive attitude with their lack of recovery progress. As I know from my own life and those of others with chronic illness and who have suffered stroke, sometimes it doesn't matter how much you try and how hard you work and how positive you are – you just don’t get better.
In addition, on page 129, the author writes “But only the most extreme disabilities, which fortunately I don’t have, are a physical obstacle to a healthy sexual relationship.” This felt both very preachy and very judgmental to me. Who determines when a disability is “extreme”? She would probably say mine isn’t, but what she describes is still not attainable for me. It made me feel bad about myself.
The author stated that most stroke patients aren’t offered mental health coaching or therapy. “Given the physical and emotional trauma, as well as the biological impact of stroke, psychological support should be more forthcoming”, she wrote on page 85.
I agree with this sentiment, even as I am quite surprised by it: in my experience, many people with other diseases are pushed toward psychological interventions rather than physical, and are often told their symptoms are ‘all in their head’. Just a quick glance at social media, and you can find many many examples of this, including people with chronic pain, and those who are suffering from ongoing symptoms of the current pandemic.
I also agree with the coping strategy she mentioned on page 47 of celebrating “small wins” – “seemingly little victories that have a large impact on how we perceive our situation”. This has long been a strategy in the disability community. I don’t know if Karl Weick, who she mentioned as developing it, actually created it, or simply wrote about what was already happening.
However, I highly disagree with the coping strategies she mentions on page 47 and 48, which is basically telling yourself that “it could be worse”. This has lead to what many call “the disability Olympics” – and there are no winners. It could always be worse, and it could always be better.
One thing that the author points out that I feel is very important – nearly one-third of all stroke survivors in the US are under the age of 65. The people she interviewed ranged in age from 13 to 64 when they had their strokes. Our culture seems to think that disability only happens to people when they are old, which is simply not the case. This sentiment leads to younger people facing dismissal from both doctors and friends; “you’re too young” was something I heard often, and have heard others have been told as well.
Another important thing the author touches on is in Chapter 16 – “Advocating in the U.S. Medical System”. She only spent 11 pages on this subject, but it could certainly use a lot more. People don’t realize how much work it is to try to get medical care and treatment when you don’t have something simple, like a cold. It is a very confusing, hard-to-navigate system, that turns into a full-time job for patients. The author mentioned that she didn’t like the way a nurse talked to her, and so her husband had to advocate for her – a minor inconvenience, tho it happens all too often, when you consider what she mentioned on page 186 – a letter from her insurance company denying coverage of a procedure she’d already had.
Most people are completely unaware of such challenges. They don’t realize how much time it takes and how complicated it is to deal with all the parts of the “medical system”.
Chapter Eight, “Lean On”, and Chapter 11, “People Are Social Animals”, were especially hard for me to read. Essentially, the author states that a patient’s support network is critical for recovery. Unfortunately, in my case and the case of many other people I know, their friends and families disappeared when they got sick and could no longer do and be the things they were before. Most people I know lost their much-needed support.
On page 196, she states “This is one of the distinguishing features of stroke: the symptoms can be treated, but there is no cure available or recovery guaranteed.” Although this statement is true, it is also a bit duplicitous – stroke isn’t the only disease with no cure. The vast majority of diseases, from those that aren’t often talked about to those that are (Parkinson’s and arthritis being two) don’t have cures. Many other diseases have no treatment, such as adrenal failure.
I also want to point out that Waleed Al-Oboudi states in his three-star review that he was misquoted on page 62 and page 196 – that the rehabilitation process is not vague or a question mark.
Overall, I think this book has a lot of important things to say, and I applaud the author for trying to say it, but I don’t think it’s presented in a way that will do any good for the people who need it most.
Note:
I received this book free from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an unbiased review. I never guarantee a positive rating, and all opinions are my own.
January 10, 2024
I recommend this for anyone who suffered a TBI or stroke AND the people close to them. It helped me empathize better with my husband’s injury and the impact on his identity.
March 27, 2025
Very good book! Taught me a lot about the experience of a stroke and the aphasia that often follows it and how it impacts the person and their family. A tad repetitive at times.
February 2, 2025
Read this book for an Aphasia course I’m in and I think it highlights the multiple struggles of rehabilitation and recovery of stroke and how they present different based on situational circumstances. The book shed a light at “small wins” and looking forward to help prompt the road to recovery and also talked about topics like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. One of the main points of the book discussed the formation of one’s identity and how people have multiple identities rather than one whole identity. These identities are constructed based on interpersonal relationships, values, communities, etc. and are constantly evolving. After stroke, stroke survivors have the opportunity for their identity to shift and for them to focus on honing in on what parts of their identities are most important, but also new identities they can look forward to forming. The only thing that I’m not a fan of is how repetitive the book was discussing identity… I know it was a main point of the book but just got a little boring at one point or another.
August 8, 2024
I had to read this book for one of my classes relating to traumatic brain injury and aphasia but didn't pick it back up to finish until recently. Although this book is about someone who lost their identity to a stroke and rebuilding a meaningful life, I think it can resonate with so many people who have attached their identities to things like jobs, relationships, and hobbies. As someone who's been through an injury and had to leave the hobby I loved the most, it took a lot of rediscovery to find who I was before that, as I'm sure is the case for people who lose their jobs and relationships as well. It is a long read though so if your attention span is anything like mine it's best broken up into months (years?).
May 22, 2022
We just passed the third anniversary of my husbands stroke. It was a profound event from which he continues his journey of recovery. This book was a gift to both of us. The author speaks in warm and personal way of her recover and weaves into the narrative the voices of 25 other stroke survivors. The theme of the book is found in the title.... how to build a new identity that aligns with the new reality of having had a stroke and the need to find fulfillment and meaning in order to live a full and satisfying post stroke life. To say this book is inspirational is insufficient. It is an essential roadmap to surviving, rebuilding and thriving when one faces a profoundly altered reality. For anyone who is facing that situation for any reason (and for the people who love them), this book is highly recommended.
December 12, 2024
This is a must-read for anyone who knows a stroke-survivor, or just anyone interested in hearing what it's like living with acquired disability after a stroke. It gives such an honest and raw description of life with aphasia I found myself emotional many times while reading it. I also loved the diversity of people and stories represented in this book.
July 31, 2019
Debra and the survivors in this book are truly inspirational. This book includes multiple factors related to stroke recovery. It also points out how the values and identity make an impact on the people going through a life journey.
June 3, 2019
Identity Theft is a great read—certainly for any stroke survivor or person close to one, but also for anyone trying to find balance and purpose in the face of life-altering change. The book is Debra Meyerson’s deeply compassionate, extraordinarily inspiring narrative about coming to terms with who she is, how she will live her life, and what kind of contribution she now has to offer the world after stroke changed her life as she had known it: a scholar deeply engaged in research and teaching aimed at advancing workplace equality; an athlete with a passion for skiing, sailing, running, biking, hiking; a mother of a teenage daughter at home and two sons in college, committed to being their rock as they forged their way to adulthood; a spouse who imagined a life with her husband predicated on all these abilities and aspirations remaining intact and obtainable for many more years to come. Eight years post-stroke and thousands of hours of rehab later, Debra has made serious strides in her physical recovery and, just as capably as before, she can voice ideas in her head, but she still struggles to express them verbally and in writing, has little use of her right arm and hand, and walks with a limp.
This book asks the question: who are we when what we have come to believe are our most valued capacities—whether to give a lecture or race down a ski slope, as in Debra’s case, or to play ball with one’s young son or to coach marathon runners or to be the handy-man around the house, the family bread-winner, a proficient public speaker, or an ace project manager, as in the case of other stroke survivors profiled in this book—have been dramatically diminished, or taken away completely, by a debilitating event or illness? The answer, we learn, through Debra’s inspiring story, is the following: we can be the person we choose to become in light of what is now possible. We can come to understand and accept the loss of what was; we can connect to what’s truly important—our values, our motivations, the people we love; and we can work like hell to craft a new life, and to construct a concomitant new sense of self, that aligns with those commitments.
What is truly remarkable about this book is that it is not a Pollyanna-like treatise on the power of positive thinking, though positive thinking is surely an important component of stroke recovery. Rather, it describes in achingly vivid detail the long road Debra has traveled to reach these realizations and the mix of feelings she’s experienced along the way: sometimes beleaguered and hopeless, sometimes exhilarating, often surprising, but almost always ultimately uplifting. Setbacks were many: for Debra, a second stroke suffered just weeks after the first; a less than hoped-for recovery of speech, despite years of (ongoing) dogged determination; the necessity, finally, to give up her tenured faculty position at Stanford. She explains honestly how, to this day, she still experiences spurts of anger, depression, frustration. But she also explains and appreciates what she sees as her many gifts: a deeply touching, greater closeness to her children; her husband’s unwavering support, offered with seemingly inexhaustible humor and good cheer; new friends, people she’d never have encountered but for stroke; opportunities to channel all of her significant passion, energy, and smarts into a new-found purpose—helping stroke survivors, as well as those who love and support them, through the emotional challenges of rebuilding a meaningful sense of self post-stroke.
Is Debra happier post-stroke? In many ways, she says, yes. If she could reel back time and were given the choice, would she choose stroke? No, she tells us in no uncertain terms: “having a stroke sucks.” But what we see in this book is how the inevitable changes we will all experience, in one way or another—whether changes wrought by illness or brain trauma or accident or simply the changes we all encounter as we grow older and lose aspects of ourselves that at one time felt critical to defining who we are—beauty, physical stamina, mental acuity, a daily work routine, a spouse, a role as parent of young children—can be opportunities to embrace a new reality, to redefine ourselves, to learn and grow in previously unimagined ways, and to continue to make a positive difference to the people and purposes that matter most to us.
This book asks the question: who are we when what we have come to believe are our most valued capacities—whether to give a lecture or race down a ski slope, as in Debra’s case, or to play ball with one’s young son or to coach marathon runners or to be the handy-man around the house, the family bread-winner, a proficient public speaker, or an ace project manager, as in the case of other stroke survivors profiled in this book—have been dramatically diminished, or taken away completely, by a debilitating event or illness? The answer, we learn, through Debra’s inspiring story, is the following: we can be the person we choose to become in light of what is now possible. We can come to understand and accept the loss of what was; we can connect to what’s truly important—our values, our motivations, the people we love; and we can work like hell to craft a new life, and to construct a concomitant new sense of self, that aligns with those commitments.
What is truly remarkable about this book is that it is not a Pollyanna-like treatise on the power of positive thinking, though positive thinking is surely an important component of stroke recovery. Rather, it describes in achingly vivid detail the long road Debra has traveled to reach these realizations and the mix of feelings she’s experienced along the way: sometimes beleaguered and hopeless, sometimes exhilarating, often surprising, but almost always ultimately uplifting. Setbacks were many: for Debra, a second stroke suffered just weeks after the first; a less than hoped-for recovery of speech, despite years of (ongoing) dogged determination; the necessity, finally, to give up her tenured faculty position at Stanford. She explains honestly how, to this day, she still experiences spurts of anger, depression, frustration. But she also explains and appreciates what she sees as her many gifts: a deeply touching, greater closeness to her children; her husband’s unwavering support, offered with seemingly inexhaustible humor and good cheer; new friends, people she’d never have encountered but for stroke; opportunities to channel all of her significant passion, energy, and smarts into a new-found purpose—helping stroke survivors, as well as those who love and support them, through the emotional challenges of rebuilding a meaningful sense of self post-stroke.
Is Debra happier post-stroke? In many ways, she says, yes. If she could reel back time and were given the choice, would she choose stroke? No, she tells us in no uncertain terms: “having a stroke sucks.” But what we see in this book is how the inevitable changes we will all experience, in one way or another—whether changes wrought by illness or brain trauma or accident or simply the changes we all encounter as we grow older and lose aspects of ourselves that at one time felt critical to defining who we are—beauty, physical stamina, mental acuity, a daily work routine, a spouse, a role as parent of young children—can be opportunities to embrace a new reality, to redefine ourselves, to learn and grow in previously unimagined ways, and to continue to make a positive difference to the people and purposes that matter most to us.
July 12, 2019
I think this book was incredible. Someone very important to me also has aphasia, and also had a stroke very similar to Dr. Meyerson’s. I found this book to be very enlightening in helping me to understand what she is going through.
August 13, 2021
A vitally important read for survivors and their families, full of insight, wisdom and hope.
November 27, 2024
The interviews and information about the author’s experience were illuminating, but I felt the book could have been shorter. Some sections felt repetitive and the author often quoted other books.
November 10, 2019
This is a truly inspiring book about re-inventing ourselves after a devastating event, such as a stroke. But it’s so much more than that. Identity Theft is an honest and vulnerable story about confronting fears and other inner demons head-on in order to live more fully and more freely than ever before. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration to live life to its fullest.
July 7, 2024
A living proof of my condition as it’s a testament of what stroke survivors go through.
April 3, 2019
“There’s a victim, and there’s a survivor, and it’s a true choice,” she explained. “A victim doesn’t thrive, survivors do”
I thank netgalley for providing me with this ARC. 4 stars.
Whoa… Just whoa. “Identity Theft” is a book that hit close to home. I am extremely close with a 77-year-old stroke survivor and I have witnessed firsthand his physical and emotional struggles and the change in character he has undergone. This book primarily focuses on the transformation of identity that accompanies surviving a stroke. It shows us how various social dynamics change and the struggle some stroke survivors go through to come to terms with the loss of their former identity.
After reading this book I get the feeling that a person’s “Identity” is sort of like a mirror. Our personal identity is endlessly changing depending on how we perceive our image in the mirror. This perception is based on who or what we see alongside our reflection. After surviving a traumatic event the mirror shatters and people lose sight of themselves for a period of time. A person’s first instinct would be to try and go back to being who they were, so they piece the mirror back together only to realize that the reflected image isn’t the same. Some people lament this loss and try to live life with this fractured image, while some people pick up the pieces and try to create something powerful, new and even more beautiful. They “bounce forward” and grow as people and find joy in living. As the author says, having a stroke sucks, but she always looks for the silver lining in any situation.
Once during my tenth grade, my friends and I had a bicycle race on the way back home. I was never any good at racing so I fell behind and at one of the sharp turns, I didn’t lean into the turn properly. So I scraped against one of the cars parked on the side of the road and I was unceremoniously dumped on the bonnet of the car. I was dazed with my body was aching in a number of places so I just lay on the bonnet staring at the clouds and then I thought to myself, “When was the last time I actually looked at the sky?” I had never really “looked” at the sky in a long time as I spent most of my time spent indoors, reading, gaming or studying. At that time my friends came back searching for me and after that, I never really thought about my reverie again. This incident came back to me when I read about Mark Davis, a self-proclaimed workaholic whose fast-paced life came to a halt after he survived his stroke “I feel like when life, the universe, or whatever sits you down it does it for a reason,” Mark told me. “You have a different way of looking at life after everything’s said and done.” Mark’s stroke gave him time, which he used to explore his history, his beliefs and the way his identity was constructed. Most of us are so busy with our lives that we sometimes forget to appreciate the splendor of nature and the little things in life that often go unnoticed. The author acknowledges that although this notion is a cliché, there is truth in the cliché.
This book would be of immense help to families affected by stroke or any debilitating illness for that matter. I hope a lot of people read this book as it also provides a vast understanding of what survivors are going through not just physically but financially, socially and psychologically as well. It is awe inspiring to see the way the author and other survivors have come out of their battle with post-stroke life. This book has reaffirmed my belief that all humans have a colossal amount of resilience and adaptability. However, all that resilience is stored in the form of potential. It is up to the person to tap into that reserve and rise from the ashes of their former identities, born anew just like a phoenix of legend.
I thank netgalley for providing me with this ARC. 4 stars.
May 9, 2019
Identity Theft is a gift to the world and I recommend it for anyone who has undergone a major trauma (stroke or otherwise) and for their caregivers. For many stroke survivors, they haven’t lost their cognitive abilities, but suffer from aphasia that hinders their ability to translate their thoughts into words, so many think they have. Dr. Debra Meyerson dispels this and examines other challenges with a thoughtful, comprehensive look at her experience and those of other stroke survivors. People expect the difficulty of the long hours of physical therapy, but much less has been written about how to deal with the emotional challenges of having your identity snatched from you in an instant. Once it became clear to Debra that she could no longer do many of the activities that formed her existing identity as a tenured Stanford professor, accomplished skier and sailor, etc… , she realized she couldn’t “recover” her identity, so sought to “rebuild” it. She looked at the values underlying each part of her identity, and then looked for substitutes within her abilities to establish a new identity. Her story and others are inspirational, but she also looks at the ongoing frustrations of others who cling to their former identity and refuse to rebuild a new one.
The book oozes with love and care as she give practical advice on everything from dealing with family impacts, a different social life, intimacy, financial difficulties, the medical system, and more. Most encouraging are the multiple examples of how many survivors continue to make remarkable progress long after a year, which is the medical establishment’s standard view of when progress stops.
This book is very readable. As a stroke survivor myself (fortunately it was mild and a fraction of Debra’s and other stories in the book), I found so much truth and previously unspoken wisdom in this book. My only criticism is that her findings around identity have much broader applicability than just strokes. She interviewed someone who suffered a brain trauma and another with ALS, but more could have been said about this.
The book oozes with love and care as she give practical advice on everything from dealing with family impacts, a different social life, intimacy, financial difficulties, the medical system, and more. Most encouraging are the multiple examples of how many survivors continue to make remarkable progress long after a year, which is the medical establishment’s standard view of when progress stops.
This book is very readable. As a stroke survivor myself (fortunately it was mild and a fraction of Debra’s and other stories in the book), I found so much truth and previously unspoken wisdom in this book. My only criticism is that her findings around identity have much broader applicability than just strokes. She interviewed someone who suffered a brain trauma and another with ALS, but more could have been said about this.
September 6, 2019
‘Identity Theft’ refers to the way that a stroke takes away from who you are- or who you think you are. Suddenly a fit, quick witted person cannot walk, or remember names, or may even lose the ability to talk at all (and the ability to write frequently goes with that, too). The long distance runner cannot get to the bathroom. The family bread winner cannot go to work. The musician can no longer use their hand. And it doesn’t just affect the person with the stroke; it affects the whole family.
Meyerson lost a lot, both physically and mentally. She was an athlete, an author, and a college level lecturer. Eight years on, after very intensive rehab that continues even now, she still struggles to talk or write at times, walks with a limp and a cane, and has limited use of her right arm. She has had to seriously redefine herself. The battle of recovery is both physical and psychological.
This book tells us about her own firsthand experience with stroke. Meyerson’s voice is blended with that of other stroke victims, too, telling their unique stories. Every stroke is different; everyone is different in how they recover and what treatments they are given. The book is part memoir, part textbook on stroke, and part philosophy of life. The emphasis is not just on the physical experience of having and recovering from stroke, but the psychological experience of stroke. There is info on the resources available and the limits of what medicine can do. They point out that improvements can be gained year after year, whereas physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy usually end after a year.
All in all, it seems like what is important is determination, resilience, positive attitude, and having a supportive network (and good insurance) are most important to recovery. Despite losses in identity, the person must feel they still make a positive difference to others. Meyerson is lucky; her husband’s support is unending, her three adult children are super supportive, and she has the resources to still be taking physical therapy. Excellent book from the victim’s point of view.
Meyerson lost a lot, both physically and mentally. She was an athlete, an author, and a college level lecturer. Eight years on, after very intensive rehab that continues even now, she still struggles to talk or write at times, walks with a limp and a cane, and has limited use of her right arm. She has had to seriously redefine herself. The battle of recovery is both physical and psychological.
This book tells us about her own firsthand experience with stroke. Meyerson’s voice is blended with that of other stroke victims, too, telling their unique stories. Every stroke is different; everyone is different in how they recover and what treatments they are given. The book is part memoir, part textbook on stroke, and part philosophy of life. The emphasis is not just on the physical experience of having and recovering from stroke, but the psychological experience of stroke. There is info on the resources available and the limits of what medicine can do. They point out that improvements can be gained year after year, whereas physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy usually end after a year.
All in all, it seems like what is important is determination, resilience, positive attitude, and having a supportive network (and good insurance) are most important to recovery. Despite losses in identity, the person must feel they still make a positive difference to others. Meyerson is lucky; her husband’s support is unending, her three adult children are super supportive, and she has the resources to still be taking physical therapy. Excellent book from the victim’s point of view.
November 15, 2019
"I Am Debra Meyerson!" The author triumphantly said -- or rather, sang -- this statement during speech therapy after she had suffered a stroke that had robbed her of many physical abilities, including speech. That statement forms the basis for the author's book. It is about more than just physically recovering after a trauma to the body, but just as importantly, about recovering, or reinventing, one's sense of self in the aftermath.
A former professor of identity issues at Stanford, Ms. Meyerson approaches her own recovery, and the broader field of stroke recovery, from the standpoint of a social scientist. She wrestles with the realization that she will never be her former self, and what she is supposed to do with that disappointment. For her, the answer is to form a new self, one that is characterized by new interests and new satisfactions.
Ms. Meyerson also interviews other stroke survivors about their experience with this "identity theft." For me, those were the most interesting parts of the books, along with the author's own story. I learn more from stories than from academic discussion, which forms a great deal of this book. I would have preferred for the interviewees to be introduced one by one, and the full story of their stroke and recovery told in one place before the author extracted individual quotes to back up her points. It was hard to remember who each person was, and I think their experiences would have been more memorable for me if their full stories were told.
The author mentions Jill Bolt Taylor's book, My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey, which is a fantastic read. Ms. Taylor is a neuroanatomist (brain scientist) who also suffered a stroke. Hers is a unique account, in that she knew she was having a stroke and described what was happening in great detail. Not surprisingly, her approach is centered on the structure of the brain -- right side and left side abilities -- and how they were rearranged, and how she found fulfillment, after her stroke.
A former professor of identity issues at Stanford, Ms. Meyerson approaches her own recovery, and the broader field of stroke recovery, from the standpoint of a social scientist. She wrestles with the realization that she will never be her former self, and what she is supposed to do with that disappointment. For her, the answer is to form a new self, one that is characterized by new interests and new satisfactions.
Ms. Meyerson also interviews other stroke survivors about their experience with this "identity theft." For me, those were the most interesting parts of the books, along with the author's own story. I learn more from stories than from academic discussion, which forms a great deal of this book. I would have preferred for the interviewees to be introduced one by one, and the full story of their stroke and recovery told in one place before the author extracted individual quotes to back up her points. It was hard to remember who each person was, and I think their experiences would have been more memorable for me if their full stories were told.
The author mentions Jill Bolt Taylor's book, My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey, which is a fantastic read. Ms. Taylor is a neuroanatomist (brain scientist) who also suffered a stroke. Hers is a unique account, in that she knew she was having a stroke and described what was happening in great detail. Not surprisingly, her approach is centered on the structure of the brain -- right side and left side abilities -- and how they were rearranged, and how she found fulfillment, after her stroke.
May 15, 2019
I was excited to read this book because, while I have not had a stroke, I have personally experienced identity loss due to medical trauma and chronic health problems. It’s an issue that I don’t often see discussed, and I think many people could benefit from reading this book. The author shares her own story of having multiple strokes and her healing journey, as well as sharing other people’s stories. She also cites relevant studies and provides numerous notes and references.
The book was very readable, encouraging, and at times, humorous. I appreciated how the author shared stories that were inspirational as well as stories of people who are struggling to recover. She distills these experiences into practical advice for accepting your new reality and forging a new identity, focusing on “building a better future rather than recovering the past.” I have a better understanding of post-traumatic growth after reading this, and I feel hope that I will be able to create a more fulfilling life.
The author also discusses how relationships can be affected and the need for a support network.
This book will be particularly helpful for stroke survivors, but I think it will be useful for anyone trying to recover from serious illness or injury. It would also be helpful for caregivers, family, and anyone else who wants to understand the psychological challenges faced by survivors.
I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.
The book was very readable, encouraging, and at times, humorous. I appreciated how the author shared stories that were inspirational as well as stories of people who are struggling to recover. She distills these experiences into practical advice for accepting your new reality and forging a new identity, focusing on “building a better future rather than recovering the past.” I have a better understanding of post-traumatic growth after reading this, and I feel hope that I will be able to create a more fulfilling life.
The author also discusses how relationships can be affected and the need for a support network.
This book will be particularly helpful for stroke survivors, but I think it will be useful for anyone trying to recover from serious illness or injury. It would also be helpful for caregivers, family, and anyone else who wants to understand the psychological challenges faced by survivors.
I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.
August 7, 2022
Survivor, victim, wife or husband, professional, colleague, volunteer, or advocate: these are just a few of the many roles I encountered in the reflections in this book. The complex interplay of these roles creates external individual identity. Add awareness of immediate physical challenges, memories of abilities before a stroke, frustrations in following daily tasks, and opportunities (or lack of them) to add to identity. I read "Identity Theft" and appreciated the genuine cases and stories by people similar to me. Whether or not you have had a stroke or other medical trauma, these people might not be so different from you at their core, too.
Note about reading: as with all longer books, I needed to read this slowly over a period of time. I also listened to the Audible account along with the traditional book. Dr. Meyerson's journey is presented here, yes, and so are numerous other stroke survivors' key lessons. As with other longer books, I needed time to read and process the meaning. Perhaps other readers with brain injury can identify with this. Beyond that, relating to the people's fears and hopes slowed me; I wanted to understand the individual and honor their honest struggles and journeys. Do not rush through this book if you find it frustrating. Take your time to understand the fuller experiences of these individuals. I'll certainly return to reread this numerous times.
Note about reading: as with all longer books, I needed to read this slowly over a period of time. I also listened to the Audible account along with the traditional book. Dr. Meyerson's journey is presented here, yes, and so are numerous other stroke survivors' key lessons. As with other longer books, I needed time to read and process the meaning. Perhaps other readers with brain injury can identify with this. Beyond that, relating to the people's fears and hopes slowed me; I wanted to understand the individual and honor their honest struggles and journeys. Do not rush through this book if you find it frustrating. Take your time to understand the fuller experiences of these individuals. I'll certainly return to reread this numerous times.
May 13, 2019
Debra Meyerson’s book, Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke, combines the elements of a memoir, textbook, and philosophy of life into a must read book for stroke survivors and their families. By intertwining her voice with others, she leads us through her own recovery with deliberation, strength, and even humor. Identity Theft allows the reader to share in Meyerson’s journey as she redefines herself and her reason for being.
Identity Theft does exactly what Meyerson hopes to do. It teaches. Through interviews and research, the book delves into the physical and psychological battle necessary to recover from stroke. It also gives much needed information about the resources and limits of the medical community. Clearly stated and outlined, the book becomes a valuable tool for those involved or interested in the stroke community.
Identity Theft’s many elements deftly raise awareness of stroke and its victims. More than that, the book teaches the reader a lesson in defining oneself that goes far beyond stroke survival. Debra Meyerson’s strength and personality resonate.
Identity Theft is an important book and one that should be read. I highly recommend it.
Identity Theft does exactly what Meyerson hopes to do. It teaches. Through interviews and research, the book delves into the physical and psychological battle necessary to recover from stroke. It also gives much needed information about the resources and limits of the medical community. Clearly stated and outlined, the book becomes a valuable tool for those involved or interested in the stroke community.
Identity Theft’s many elements deftly raise awareness of stroke and its victims. More than that, the book teaches the reader a lesson in defining oneself that goes far beyond stroke survival. Debra Meyerson’s strength and personality resonate.
Identity Theft is an important book and one that should be read. I highly recommend it.
September 16, 2025
Identity Theft, Second Edition: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke.
Debra Meyerson and Steve Zuckerman share new insights and resources in the second edition of Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke. It provides helpful resources and serves as a call to action to increase awareness of the importance of access to psychological support services for people whose lives have been impacted by having a stroke. It highlights the need for providing ramps to community access for people living with aphasia and their families. I especially appreciated their highlighting the critical need to create access to resources for people with limited experience or trust in successfully navigating our healthcare system.
This new edition also creates an opportunity for further book club discussions and for learning more about the work of their organization, Stroke Onward, (strokeonward.org).
It is a welcome addition to the library of clinicians, researchers and academicians, as well. Congratulations and thank you for your work and for sharing your journey.
Roberta Brooks, M.A. CCC/SLP, (ret.) CBIS
Debra Meyerson and Steve Zuckerman share new insights and resources in the second edition of Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke. It provides helpful resources and serves as a call to action to increase awareness of the importance of access to psychological support services for people whose lives have been impacted by having a stroke. It highlights the need for providing ramps to community access for people living with aphasia and their families. I especially appreciated their highlighting the critical need to create access to resources for people with limited experience or trust in successfully navigating our healthcare system.
This new edition also creates an opportunity for further book club discussions and for learning more about the work of their organization, Stroke Onward, (strokeonward.org).
It is a welcome addition to the library of clinicians, researchers and academicians, as well. Congratulations and thank you for your work and for sharing your journey.
Roberta Brooks, M.A. CCC/SLP, (ret.) CBIS
September 20, 2025
As a carepartner to a stroke survivor of nine years, Identity Theft deeply resonates with me—it validates my lived experience and offers genuine inspiration. Unlike many resources that focus solely on medical recovery, this book speaks to the emotional and relational journey—how we can redefine who we are and how we can grow together as survivor and carepartner.
Identity Theft doesn’t shy away from the pain, grief, and complexity of stroke recovery, but it offers insightful, compassionate guidance for finding meaning in the experience and moving forward with hope and positivity. Deb and Steve’s book helped me to understand recovery not as a return to who we were before my husband’s stroke, but as an opportunity to imagine and actualize our continued journey toward living rewarding and adventurous lives. The Second Edition adds two chapters describing how Stroke Onward continues its work of advocating for and building community with survivors, carepartners and the network of support services. This section includes an invitation to get involved in the journey. For those of us walking this path, this book is not just helpful—it’s transformative.
May 14, 2019
This is a wonderful book – and not just for stroke victims and their families and caregivers. If you’ve ever wondered how to support a friend going through a difficult time, struggled with an unexpected setback or worked through your own changing identity as life progresses, or if you just want to read the story of an amazing person and family and their determination to survive and thrive after a life-changing event, this is the book for you. I wish my family had had this book to refer to after my mom had an aneurysm in her early 40’s, as things may have turned out much better for her and my family if we’d had Debra Meyerson’s wisdom and insights back then. And as my friends and I struggle to figure out our next phase of life after our kids leave home, this book is an inspiring example of how to emerge and face this new phase of life with a renewed sense of purpose. Debra Meyerson may not be teaching at Stanford anymore, but she is certainly still teaching, and we can all learn from (and enjoy/appreciate) her story and those of the others she highlights throughout the book.
May 26, 2019
Atul Gawande, Sheryl Sandberg and Jill Bolte Taylor rolled into one!
If you've read Being Mortal, Option B and/or Stroke of Insight, then you're ready and in need of Debra Myerson's newest book on her journey after stroke. Debra leverages her academic training and expertise on social identities to study her own identity and those of her family, friends, professional colleagues and acquaintances as she begins to re-define herself in her life. She offers equal measures of observation, wisdom and practical guidance for anyone of us, similarly upset by a traumatic health event that affects ourselves or a loved one. The book is well written and draws you into to her story and the stories of other survivors and their families as they wrestle with the physical and emotional challenges after surviving and living after a stroke or debilitating illness. Each chapter has references for deeper reading and learnings.
If you've read Being Mortal, Option B and/or Stroke of Insight, then you're ready and in need of Debra Myerson's newest book on her journey after stroke. Debra leverages her academic training and expertise on social identities to study her own identity and those of her family, friends, professional colleagues and acquaintances as she begins to re-define herself in her life. She offers equal measures of observation, wisdom and practical guidance for anyone of us, similarly upset by a traumatic health event that affects ourselves or a loved one. The book is well written and draws you into to her story and the stories of other survivors and their families as they wrestle with the physical and emotional challenges after surviving and living after a stroke or debilitating illness. Each chapter has references for deeper reading and learnings.
September 24, 2023
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A BOOK THAT PROVIDES MUCH-NEEDED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO STROKE SURVIVORS
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"A severe stroke in September 2010 robbed me of all speech, and after a year of intensive therapy, my own name still gave me trouble [when saying it]...Following my stroke, I found numerous resources to help me understand my journey to recover physically, but there was a profound lack of guidance when I faced the emotional challenge of rebuilding my sense of self...
In the pages that follow, I'll share small pieces of the incredible journeys of several stroke survivors [(including my own journey)] and many of their family members and caregivers. The survivors are men and women of all races and backgrounds; wealthy, comfortable, and of very modest means; as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-five at the time of their strokes; living in cities and towns throughout the United States."
The above quotation (in italics) comes from this incredibly inspiring and hopeful book by Debra Meyerson, Ph.D. (with Danny Zuckerman). Meyerson was a tenured professor at Stanford University until a severe stroke that almost killed her derailed both her life and career. (Zuckerman is Meyerson's grown son.)
A stroke is a sudden severe attack produced by a cerebrovascular accident such as the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain.
It appears that Meyerson wrote this book to help stroke survivors and their caregivers navigate the emotional journey that she herself has found extremely difficult (as well as...rewarding). In my opinion, she has succeeded magnificently.
In fact, this is the best book (actually a memoir) I've read on the psychological experience of having and recovering from a stroke.
Finally, this book also details the equally difficult emotional journey of rebuilding one's identity and achieving a rewarding life afer a trauma like stroke.
In conclusion, this is a book full of hope for stroke survivors. It is a testament to the stength of the human spirit!!
XXXXX
(2019; introduction; three parts or 19 chapters; main narrative 225 pages; acknowledgments; 2 appendicies; notes; references; index; about the authors)
XXXXX
A BOOK THAT PROVIDES MUCH-NEEDED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO STROKE SURVIVORS
XXXXX
"A severe stroke in September 2010 robbed me of all speech, and after a year of intensive therapy, my own name still gave me trouble [when saying it]...Following my stroke, I found numerous resources to help me understand my journey to recover physically, but there was a profound lack of guidance when I faced the emotional challenge of rebuilding my sense of self...
In the pages that follow, I'll share small pieces of the incredible journeys of several stroke survivors [(including my own journey)] and many of their family members and caregivers. The survivors are men and women of all races and backgrounds; wealthy, comfortable, and of very modest means; as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-five at the time of their strokes; living in cities and towns throughout the United States."
The above quotation (in italics) comes from this incredibly inspiring and hopeful book by Debra Meyerson, Ph.D. (with Danny Zuckerman). Meyerson was a tenured professor at Stanford University until a severe stroke that almost killed her derailed both her life and career. (Zuckerman is Meyerson's grown son.)
A stroke is a sudden severe attack produced by a cerebrovascular accident such as the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain.
It appears that Meyerson wrote this book to help stroke survivors and their caregivers navigate the emotional journey that she herself has found extremely difficult (as well as...rewarding). In my opinion, she has succeeded magnificently.
In fact, this is the best book (actually a memoir) I've read on the psychological experience of having and recovering from a stroke.
Finally, this book also details the equally difficult emotional journey of rebuilding one's identity and achieving a rewarding life afer a trauma like stroke.
In conclusion, this is a book full of hope for stroke survivors. It is a testament to the stength of the human spirit!!
XXXXX
(2019; introduction; three parts or 19 chapters; main narrative 225 pages; acknowledgments; 2 appendicies; notes; references; index; about the authors)
XXXXX
May 25, 2019
For Everyone - Not Just Stroke Survivors and Their Families!
Identity Theft will resonate with stroke survivors and their loved ones and give them a positive feeling of not being alone in their struggles. There also are useful stories to reignite hope and keep patients motivated in working on their recovery and becoming as comfortable as possible with their new life roles. The well-written and well-edited book will help you feel more empathy and understanding for any stroke survivor you know. But beyond the specifics of dealing with stroke, all of us have suffered one or more traumatic events – health-related, work, family or life – and will find encouragement in this story of coming to grips with a dramatic and sudden life change. Deb Meyerson being able to write this book, eight years after her stroke, is proof anything and everything is within reach for all of us!
Identity Theft will resonate with stroke survivors and their loved ones and give them a positive feeling of not being alone in their struggles. There also are useful stories to reignite hope and keep patients motivated in working on their recovery and becoming as comfortable as possible with their new life roles. The well-written and well-edited book will help you feel more empathy and understanding for any stroke survivor you know. But beyond the specifics of dealing with stroke, all of us have suffered one or more traumatic events – health-related, work, family or life – and will find encouragement in this story of coming to grips with a dramatic and sudden life change. Deb Meyerson being able to write this book, eight years after her stroke, is proof anything and everything is within reach for all of us!
May 27, 2019
I was so inspired reading Debra Meyerson's story of her journey through recovery from her stroke. Its a powerful book about learning what is important in life - and how to make sure you live your values, even after your self-identify is suddenly altered. Professor Meyerson shares her personal story - but also those of so many others whose lives have been instantly changed due to stroke or other trauma. She shares practical advice from navigating the complex medical system to career challenges to understanding how resilience and self-reflection can help re-build a meaningful and rewarding life after a stroke. This book is a must-read for stoke survivors and their families - but even more importantly, is a must read for anyone (that's all of us) who will face challenges throughout their lives.
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