ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

In this debut memoir, Irish surveyor Devine recounts his struggle to come to terms with multiple sclerosis.

During the author’s honeymoon in 2006, a doctor diagnosed a tingling sensation in Devine’s arm as stress-related. The misdiagnoses continued for a year after he experienced his initial symptoms, during which the author even became desperate enough to consult a faith healer. When a doctor finally told him that that he had multiple sclerosis and put him on a drug regime, Devine was so distraught that he "felt at times that [he] had joined the living dead". Two years later, he attended a talk by a Scottish “motivational business guru,” and his attitude changed: “Maybe if I approached my own situation in a positive manner, things might improve just a little.” Devine’s aim to “develop talents and potential” inspired him to make drastic changes in his life: He went to a gym, started his own business, looked for inspiration in other people—such as Helen Keller and a partially paralyzed friend—and even ran a marathon. The author also describes the four distinct types of the disease and about 50 of its symptoms, which, along with MS’ generally unpredictable remissions and exacerbations, often present doctors with a diagnostic puzzle. Toward the end of this memoir, Devine expounds on the things that have particularly helped him: medication, diet and exercise, and “positive mental attitude.” Devine’s messages may seem mixed at times; for example, he asserts that with “the right attitude...it is possible to reverse your symptoms and win the battle,” yet mentions a few pages later that while he generally feels better, he’s “still experiencing daily symptoms.” However, many readers will likely admire the author’s courage and determination. His style is unpretentious and easy to read, sprinkled with Irish-isms (such as “flipping heck”) that will charm American readers.

A deeply personal memoir that will likely cheer those suffering from chronic illnesses.