Seized: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy as a Medical, Historical, and Artistic Phenomenon,   ISBN:9780595094318

Customer Rating: 

One of the most profound books I've ever purchased on Amazon, and every time I read it; I learn something new that I had not noticed before. While this book I am aware has always been a controversial book, but it is truly unique and interesting. This is one book that you can read, learn something - put it away.

Wait for a time being, return back to it - read it all over again and it becomes a totally different aspect, perspective, and depth than when you first read it.

I originally purchased this with attempts to understand the Geschwind's Syndrome, but instead - it's become an uncanny book that you cannot surrender or give it up. Indeed, I had a few folks whom borrowed it declaring it being "spooky" to "psycho" due to lack of understanding of Epilepsy, which has given me the conclusion that one must understand or at least have some general understanding of Epilepsy upfront prior to reading this book.

Those who had knowledge of or partial knowledge of Epilepsy found it quite mysterious to mestermizing, in fact, one actually purchased one for themselves.

For one to Judge on the book, it is strongly recommended repetitive readings of this controversial book, for whereas, it is then when you gain insight and to a point, like myself, unable to put it all down in words.

Customer Rating: 

I have temporal lobe epilepsy, and this book explained so much for me! I was initially diagnosed following a head injury at 18, but I had a bit of memory loss, so I don't remember how much I was told about it. In college, I stopped taking anti-seizure meds because I never had tonic-clonic seizures and assumed the diagnosis had been incorrect. When the seizures I did have worsened and I finally discovered I had TLE, Ms. LaPlante's book helped me to understand so much. I've experienced things I never previously associated with epilepsy. (I found the book recommended on the website of the Epilepsy Foundation.)

Customer Rating: 

At first I was excited to find a book that has been well received in the seizure disorder community as one that portrays accurate fact-based information about temporal lobe epilepsy, or epilepsy that is focally based in one area of the brain.

However, I was sorely disappointed with this book. In fact, in a lot of areas, it was horrifying for someone who has a seizure disorder of this type. It offers little hope, little direction on solutions, and a lot of confusion as to what this type of epilepsy is all about.

For example, if I knew nothing about this type of epilepsy, I would wonder, does everyone have these type of deeply emotional experiences and could everyone have a seizure? Well, it's possible that everyone COULD have a seizure, but the truth is that there is a very small population of people who WILL have seizures. The sensory auras (or precursors to having a seizure) the author speaks about are relevant only to the people who have a propensity to have seizures, and she doesn't make that clear. The fact that she doesn't make this clear is a VERY DANGEROUS underpinning of this book.

Other unsupported "facts" were to ascribe seizure like states to such prophetic figures as Moses, Muhammed and Christian saints and a great many literary figures. This was to support the Geschwind syndrome theory. While I have seen theories of literary figures having seizures from other sources, religious figures having seizures when receiving prophecies didn't appear to be supported by any theologians or neurologists previously.

The theories on the various forms of complex partial seizures or "TLE" as the author calls it, are unsupported (I've never heard a doctor mention these), the treatments are crazy, and the cases mentioned are horrific examples to use.

For example, to use such a broad example of "TLE" to exemplify her case was appalling and would scare any newly diagnosed person: an outspoken, almost psychotic woman who was experimented on by opportunistic doctors is not a good example of the vast majority of sufferers of complex partial seizures. This example shows that the author is clearly out of touch with the community she is so desperately trying to exemplify.

Most of the sufferers of complex partial seizures are silent sufferers who go through years of ups and downs and they really need a voice. It's sad that this is seen as the only "plain language" book that is out there.

The only highlight to this book was the details of Geschwind's syndrome. It was fascinating, but again unsupported with fact and with solutions. The only thing I took away from this was that someone who suffered from this syndrome needed to either take some psychiatric heavy lifting drugs or live with the social consequences of being a misfit.

I agree with the reviewer that this book offers problems, but no solutions. I would give 0 stars, but alas, there is no option for this.

Customer Rating: 

The few medical terms used in describing Epilepsy are well defined and understandable. The functioning of the brain in epileptics is well described and the disorder can be well understood; the treatment and care an epileptic needs and responds to is clear and shown to be simple. Being an epileptic for 51 years, I now have a good appreciation for the causes of what I have gone through and the improvements in diagnosing and minimizing epilepsy.

Customer Rating: 

This is actually the first non-medical book on epilepsy that I read (several years ago). I was fascinated with the possibilities that the author described, especially in regards to the epilepsy personality (chapter 5). It was particularly useful as a tool to help family and friends of a person afflicted with epilepsy understand that the person may not have as much control over their behavior all of the time as the other family members might think. Once you abandon the expectation that the individual will act normally all of the time, and understand that there are going to be some abnormal behavior patterns, there can progress in dealing with the problems.
The other chapters are informative as well. All in all an interesting and useful book. I recommend it.