Reviews: Speaking Our Minds: What It’s Like to Have Alzheimer’s Revised Edition (Snyder)

"I am deeply grateful for the publication of this revised edition of . . . [an]
exceptionally important book that contains powerful lessons not only about the disease that these people have, but also about the people that this disease has…. It is clear that this knowledge, when assimilated and applied by caregivers, can have
tremendously positive effects in the lives of everyone concerned."
—Steven R. Sabat, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology, Georgetown University [from the foreword]

"Inspiring reflections abound in these perspectives and narratives. This book is for
everyone living in a world with Alzheimer’s."
—Lisa P. Gwyther, MSW, co-author of The Alzheimer’s Action Plan and Education
Director, Bryan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Duke University Medical Center

"Lisa Snyder allows persons with Alzheimer’s disease to speak for themselves as they describe their challenges and hopes. Her interpretations of their voices are consistently thoughtful and illuminating and the reader is effectively brought into the real world of the lives of the deeply forgetful."
—Stephen G. Post, Ph.D., author of The Moral Challenge of Alzheimer’s Disease
and Head of the Division of Medicine in Society, Stony Brook University

"Over a decade ago, Speaking Our Minds revolutionized the way we think
about people with Alzheimer's disease. This newly revised edition continues to remind us of the nature of the Alzheimer's experience and its relevance to the present and the
future."
—Murna Downs, Chair in Dementia Studies and Head, Bradford Dementia Group, Bradford University, UK

"Lisa Snyder's pioneering work supporting persons with Alzheimer's disease comes to life in this sensitive, heart-felt, and informative book. Story-telling is the best way to
learn and the accounts in this book render insight into the experiences of the disease and teach us new ways to provide empathetic, creative and successful care. Speaking Our Minds is a wonderful resource for professionals and family caregivers.
Highly recommended!"
—David Troxel, MPH, co-author, The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care

"After years of thinking, reading, writing, and speaking about Alzheimer’s, I’m
convinced that the best way to understand what it feels like to have Alzheimer’s disease is to listen to the true experts – people with Alzheimer’s. In Speaking Our
Minds . . . their stories are moving, insightful, inspiring, and above all, memorable."
—Lisa Genova, Ph.D., author of Still Alice

"This timely and important revised edition of Speaking Our Minds reveals the voices and narratives of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and the thoughtful reflections of the author. Lisa Snyder demonstrates not only how the act of truly listening is a most powerful form of acknowledgment, but also that the listener (and the reader) are transformed by the process."
—Darby Morhardt, MSW, Director of Education, Northwestern University Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center

"Speaking Our Minds shows us the pain, humanity, and courage of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. It is a much-needed and muchappreciated book."
—Peter V. Rabins, M.D., author of The 36-Hour Day and Professor of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

"In addition to offering intimate portraits about the subjective experience of the disease and discussing the medical and psychosocial aspects of the disease, Snyder models how to listen to and talk with people who have the disease. She connects with them in spite of their impaired communication skills and invites readers to
do the same. True empathy is the core message here. She knows how to empower people with AD by helping them to define themselves in new ways...She succeeds in fulfilling her stated goal of honoring the varied voices of people with the disease."
—Daniel Kuhn, LCSW, author of Alzheimer’s Early Stages and Director of Professional Training Institute, Greater Illinois Alzheimer’s Association