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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Somewhat refreshing to read about Parkinson’s from someone who actually lives with the condition. I don’t think another author could be better situated to discuss the subject, having previous experience with neuroscientists in the field and subsequently being diagnosed with the condition.
Jon takes the reader chronologically through the ups and downs of Parkinson’s Disease, from the initial discovery by James Parkinson to current therapeutic trials. I am glad that he maintains a rather objective stance at points, likely due to a journalistic background, as the impact of research can often be exaggerated. Nonetheless, Jon’s optimism shines through at times.
Provides a good overview of successful (i.e. L-dopa) and unsuccessful clinical ventures, providing enough personal detail to feel invested. I would recommend if you want to learn more about the disease. There is some discussion of the science behind the disease and a lot about people he has met along the way. Good foundation if you want to then read more into the science.
Jon takes the reader chronologically through the ups and downs of Parkinson’s Disease, from the initial discovery by James Parkinson to current therapeutic trials. I am glad that he maintains a rather objective stance at points, likely due to a journalistic background, as the impact of research can often be exaggerated. Nonetheless, Jon’s optimism shines through at times.
Provides a good overview of successful (i.e. L-dopa) and unsuccessful clinical ventures, providing enough personal detail to feel invested. I would recommend if you want to learn more about the disease. There is some discussion of the science behind the disease and a lot about people he has met along the way. Good foundation if you want to then read more into the science.
The author, who is in the early stages of Parkinson's himself, does a great job of explaining the advances of the last 20 years in this complicated area of research. I have some background in this area, as I work in a somewhat related field and studied some Parkinson's/Alzheimer's research in the 90s, but I am not by any means up to date. With this background, I found the technical explanations included here extremely easy to follow. I also thought that Palfreman did a nice job of showing why some of the promising treatments of the last few years didn't turn out, but how they still established a foundation for other work that might. The book gives a sense of measured hope that seemed right for the circumstances, and is rare in a field where the tendency is to promise miracles. I don't think the book has enough of a narrative drive that I would recommend it to readers who didn't have a reason to want to know about Parkinson's, but it's the best book that I have found if you do want to know about the topic.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced