Publications
APS Bulletin • Volume 16, Number 1, Winter 2006
Resource Reviews
John D. Loeser, MD, Department Editor
Battling the Beast Within. Success in Living with Adversity
Reviewed by John D. Loeser, MD
David T. Williams, Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic Press, 2004. Hard cover, 128 pages, ISBN 1-59624-001-6, $14.95.
This little book was written by an articulate, good man who suffers from multiple sclerosis. It is published by the Cleveland Clinic Press and dedicated to the healthcare providers he has interacted with at that institution. It is an interesting tale of a terrible disease and how a courageous man has dealt with the hardships it has created for him. The book is full of advice to others who suffer from chronic diseases. The author liberally uses quotes and aphorisms from philosophers and poets. Pain has been a major component of his disease, but not suffering. Common sense, faith, and good doctors have lightened that burden. I found the book an inspiring, brief read that could be valuable to many patients.
Dr. Loeser is Professor of Neurological Surgery and Anesthesiology at the University of Washington in Seattle.