Seized: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy as a Medical, Historical, and Artistic Phenomenon

Learning a lot about what is

I would give this more stars if possible. If you have a loved one or friend or even don't know anyone with TLE (yet - chances are you do and don't even know it), you need to read this book. Not only will you gain an understanding for what people who suffer from TLE go through, it will give you a whole new way of looking at the disorder and those that have it. And, you'll also gain a new appreciation for people throughout history who have created some of our most beloved paintings, books, music and more.I have TLE and apparently suffered for years before I was diagnosed. Ever since being diagnosed and learning more about TLE, I've been fascinated (and calmed) by other stories and research into this type of epilepsy. So, when I came across this book, I thought that it would be a great read. I have not been disappointed so far! The book starts out with a brilliantly written chapter on van Gogh and goes into other stories and histories of the disorder. Not only is the research excellent, the writing is clear and concise, with wonderful descriptors of the seizures and how they feel, affect those who have them, and how others perceive them. While I am not through with the book yet, I've already been recommending it to anyone who will listen or read a review.Seized is well worth the $5 that I paid for it on Kindle and I will probably order a physical copy as well. I'm hoping that a lot of my own family and friends will read it so they have an understanding of what I personally go through.

I have just been diagnosed with TLE at Beth Israel/Deaconess in Boston (where much of the book is set), and this book has really catalyzed me to recast a great deal of the oddness (some welcome, some not) of my life. Like many, no doubt, my first reaction was "I can't have epilepsy -- I've never had a seizure!" The book put TLE in context in a way that is making me speculate that I may have had it my whole life. Classic personality (gladly, more like Charlie than some of the other options...).Much of my life I've been regarded as an eccentric, charismatic genius, and I'm sure most people thought this was an easy path for me. Reading this book has given me vocabulary for (stickily?) explaining myself. Appropriately enough, I recently -- before the diagnosis -- started to write a memoir framed in my to-be-30-years as a woman engineer online, and now I am reconsidering how I might rework certain parts of that project... Much to ponder.It also sets me in a range of symptoms that TLE can present, and makes me rather grateful for how it is presenting in my case. It's easy to feel sorry for yourself -- but I end up feeling fortunate (for how mild my symptoms are compared to some) and even somewhat proud (for being part of a wounded but creative lineage, as it were).That much of the original book is here in Boston (and even at BIDMC!) just made it that much more immediate to me. LaPlante is a great storyteller, and has given me substantial leads for looking up more online both on the historical/artistic and technical aspects of TLE. A win on both the art of the writing, and the content.

This has so many of the answers to the questions I have about epilepsy. Its been one year since my brain surgery for my seizures and two years since I started having seizures in my late 30s.I don't feel lost and out of control anymore. This book is so helpful and encouraging. Please read this if you or someone you know have epilepsy.

Important book. Very little written on this topic in an in depth and personal way. People with TLE will read this and hopefully feel less alone. I hope that families of people with TLE and physicians treating patients read it too. The author does a great job of conveying what it is really like to live with TLE. The book is well written and very interesting. It is tough to read because it's sad. The author does not sugar coat the truth of this dis-ease.

My son was diagnosed with TLE recently and he was acting completely different then the boy I knew a year ago. I have been telling doctors and nurses and anyone who will listen, been told its the weather or just to wait a few more months.. Very frustrating. After doing months of research I came across the Geschwind Syndrome and this book. I have been reading for a few days and already feel relief knowing more about my sons condition. I am not doctor but I am his mom and I know my son and I can tell you this is exactly what he has. I really recommend this book to anyone experiencing personality changes with epilepsy. I bough a few copies for addition family members so they can better understand what my son is going through and I bought for my Uncle who has epilepsy.One more thing, I am not a big reader. I find this book easy to read and easy to understand. And I hate putting it down, I just want to keep reading it.

As an individual who experiences temporal lobe epilepsy, I found this to be a well written text, offering greater clarity regarding how the elements of brain/mind cannot be seen as separate from the varied and shared problems/strengths of the same. As my seizures became a true element of my self in college, I felt the growth of art, spirituality, and emotions within my own life. This work provides an excellent explanation of the same and allows me to see how my brain, as my own, does define the new path of life which I now take. Thanks!

As someone who suffers this affliction I found the book interesting and at the same time full of passages that made me sad because it fit some of my issues so well. TLE is so strange and vague in its symptoms that it can be difficult to get help when you need it. Even health care workers can be breathtakingly ignorant of what a range of symptoms seizures can have.I don't subscribe totally to the theory of there being a personality that goes with TLE but I am a slightly different person since I have been medicated so itis hard to tell. I think the book could be a good primer for someone trying to understand this condition better. I also think it would be interesting to see an updated version because their is lot more information out there than there was when this book first cameout..

As someone who has suffered temporal lobe epilepsy for many years and also being familiar with quite a lot of the literature, I have nevertheless obtained from this book fresh insights into the condition, the study of its nature by many experts in historical terms and the experiences of others similarly afflicted. While the latter are often given in detailed and sometimes, I feel, over-conversational and over-long detail, they are enlightening, nevertheless. I do recommend it as a highly readable and useful volume.

For anyone with TLE or damage this is a must read! Beautifully written

An excellent book for those who wish to learn more about Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. The book is not heavy on doctors terms or anything like that, so there's no need to be put off by that. It uses real life cases to explain everything, and keep the reader interested and informed at the same time.Well written for this kind of book.