Epilepsy: A Patient and Family Guide Paperback – December 21, 2007

Amazon has a number of books about epilepsy, but I chose this one because it was pertinent to an adult just beginning to learn about the disease. I sent this book to my 30-year old grandson who has been diagnosed with epilepsy recently. He reports that with the clear and well-organized information in this book, he now can engage his neurologist in intelligent questions and conversations. The learning provided by this book has removed a lot of his initial panic and stress. Because the doctor now knows that his patient is knowledgeable, he spends more time discussing the details of the disease with him.

Beware. The book is an excellent reference for someone with a family member that was just diagnosed with Epilepsy but I basically ordered a book that was almost the same as another book I ordered that day by the same author. It had a different cover. It is hard to see all of that with just a little picture of the book cover on the website.

A really informative book. This was a great resource for me when epilepsy first became a part of our lives. Written in simple terms that are easy to understand and works as a good reference tool when trying to access new-to-you information. The author is one of the doctors at the practice we go to as well and is a really well known expert in the epilepsy field.

My child developed epilepsy at age 26 and we needed an education this book is easy to read and the glossary is well written. Great education

Highly recommend this book. Because of Dr. Devinsky, I’ve been seizure free for twenty-four years. He’s an EXCELLENT Neurologist who cares for his patients. Dr. Doyle is an EXCELLENT Neurosurgeon.

For anyone with epilepsy this is a treasure trove of information they are unlikely to have gleaned in such detail even from the most helpful of medical practitioners. The book addresses all aspects of epilepsy - types, possible causes, social impacts, medications, possible surgeries - in language that can be understood by all but without dumbing-down. It is written for the USA, but was easily adaptable for us in Australia. Indispensable.

This book is what it claims to be, a good intelligible guide to epilepsy for non-medics. BUT there is far too little (less than one page) on Sudden Unexplained Death, Epilepsy (SUDEP), which can devastate families and friends. While the mortality rate associated with epilepsy may be small, the effect of sudden death is enormous. Like almost everything else I have read on the subject, this book inadequately recognizes the risks of death. The words "death" and "mortality" are not even in Devinsky's index (though SUDEP is). So -- a good book, with a crucial omission.

This book had been so very informative! I enjoy reading it as one who has seizures, and as one who is a case manager for TBI’s.It’s a great investment. And reads in the most practical way.