Looking for helpful and motivational books on stroke recovery? this list contains inspiration for survivors and caregivers alike. we update this list annually to add the latest and keep the best previous books on stroke recovery in the roundup.
Whether you’re looking for technical advice on stroke recovery or motivational guidance for managing life after stroke, there’s a book on this list for everyone.
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best stroke recovery books
every stroke is different and every recovery is different. this means that recovery goals also fluctuate among survivors. some may want help with physical effects like walking, while others want help staying motivated. This is where books on stroke recovery can help; they leave no stone unturned.
The following books can help educate you and your loved ones through evidence and advice from brain scientists, therapists, and other stroke survivors. we include technical guides and memos to give you a solid reading experience.
These are some of the best books on stroke recovery:
1. “my stroke of insight” by jill bolte taylor
Year after year, my stroke of insight ranks #1 on our list of the best stroke recovery books. The author, Jill Bolte Taylor, delivered one of the most-watched tedtalks of all time about her life-changing experience surviving a massive stroke—as a brain scientist, no less!
It was my insight that inspired our publication called 13 Things Every Stroke Survivor Wishes They Knew. This stroke recovery book is filled with compassion and we hope it will help survivors and caregivers find grace on the road to recovery.
see my intuition blow on amazon »
2. “stronger after stroke” by peter levine
Stronger After Stroke is hands down one of the best technical guides on stroke recovery. it’s dense, heavy reading, but every survivor and caregiver should have a copy. will answer questions you didn’t even know you had about stroke rehab.
see stronger after stroke on amazon »
3. “healing & happiness after a stroke” by kari dahlgren
While the previous book focuses on the technical side of stroke recovery, healing & happiness after stroke focuses on the emotional side of recovery, which is just as important.
If you’re feeling stuck or struggling to find motivation, this stroke recovery book will help you rewire your brain for happiness. focuses on topics that are rarely talked about, like shame and loss of self-esteem, to help you find healing and happiness, just as the title suggests.
see healing and happiness after a stroke on amazon »
4. “the brain that changes itself” by norman doidge
Neuroplasticity after stroke is possibly the most important mechanism for recovery. it is the process the brain uses to rewire itself and recover from injury through repetition.
Recovery from physical effects, such as weakness on one side of the body, requires rehabilitation therapy, which is designed to optimize neuroplasticity. in fact, almost all available therapies for stroke recovery are designed to activate neuroplasticity, so it helps for survivors to have a thorough understanding of how it works.
That’s why we chose The Brain That Changes Itself as one of the best books for stroke recovery. Not only will you learn about neuroplasticity in depth, but you’ll also be inspired by real-life examples, like the woman who was born with half a brain and how she rewired herself to function as a whole.
see the brain that changes only on amazon »
5. “whole brain life” by jill bolte taylor
Last year, Jill published another book called Living With Your Whole Brain. challenges the traditional school of thought that labels the left brain as logical and the right brain as emotional.
See Also: The Best Way to Read More Books (and Remember What You&x27ve Read)
Although this book is less stroke-specific than your first book, it does contain tools that can help you improve your thoughts and feelings. This can be a powerful journey during stroke recovery, where daily motivation is a critical resource for recovery.
see the whole brain living on amazon »
6. “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” by Jean-Dominique Bauby
What would your life be like if you had locked-in syndrome, a rare condition (most often caused by a stroke) in which the entire body is paralyzed except for the eyes? this captivating memoir answers that question.
Stroke survivor jean-dominique bauby wrote these memoirs thanks to her ability to blink only her left eye to select each letter while the alphabet was slowly recited to her, over and over again. That in itself is inspiring, and the content of his memoir is even more so.
In these pages, Bauby will surprise you with his appreciation for life, even as he lives with locked-in syndrome, completely paralyzed and fed only intravenously. This book easily remains on our roundup year after year because Bauby is an inspiration to all of us.
see the diving suit and the butterfly on amazon »
7. “healing the broken brain” by dr. mike dow and david dow
This stroke recovery book was written by a psychotherapist and stroke survivor, and also contains contributions from a speech-language pathologist. Needless to say, it’s a solid, holistic approach to recovery.
healing the broken brain contains a powerful intersection between hope and science. This stroke recovery book is an excellent read for survivors and caregivers alike; but if you have language difficulties after a stroke, this book is even better.
see healing the broken brain on amazon »
8. “identity theft: rediscovering ourselves after a stroke” by debra meyerson
As mentioned above, a stroke can challenge a survivor’s sense of identity, especially if it causes a sudden change in career, relationships, and hobbies. For example, if a talented musician loses his fine motor skills after a stroke, causing him to stop making music altogether, it may challenge his sense of identity.
Identity Theft is a stroke recovery book that delves into the process of rediscovering yourself after a stroke. The author, Debra, provides personal wisdom from her own journey after going from a Stanford professor deeply identified with her career to being completely unable to speak after her stroke.
see identity theft on amazon »
9. “tell me everything you don’t remember” by christine lee
At the age of 33, Christine suffered a left thalamic stroke that severely damaged her memory. The doctors told her to write down everything she did with timestamps in her diary, which would soon become Christine’s working memory.
christine battled a real invisible disease. because she showed no physical effects of her stroke, many of her friends made nasty comments (not realizing they were nasty) like “but you look normal!” or “I wish I had a stroke as an excuse for my short-term memory problems!”
Only other stroke survivors can truly relate to the pain of these comments, which is just one of the many reasons Tell Me Everything You Can’t Remember easily makes it onto our list of the best stroke recovery books. .
see tell me everything you don’t remember on amazon »
10. “hope after stroke” by tsgoyna tanzman
Written by a speech-language pathologist and life coach with more than 25 years of experience working with stroke survivors, Hope After Stroke provides a comprehensive overview of the entire stroke recovery process. It covers everything from speech recovery to nutrition to candid answers on uncomfortable topics like post-stroke sexual issues. if you’re interested in a holistic approach to recovery, read this one.
view hope after stroke on amazon »
11. “yoga therapy for stroke” by arlene schmid and marieke puymbroeck
Yoga can be a useful treatment for stroke recovery that improves balance and posture and helps manage stress. As a stroke survivor, it’s important to practice with a yoga teacher who has experience working with other stroke survivors, because modifications are essential based on your skill level.
This book is intended to help other yoga teachers and therapists, but it can also be a great read for survivors who want to learn how to adapt their own yoga practice to meet their needs. covers everything from adaptations to breathwork to meditation. always check with your therapist before starting any new regimen at home to reduce the risk of injury.
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view yoga therapy for strokes on amazon »
12. “the ptsd workbook” by mary williams
Did you know that survivors can experience ptsd after a stroke? Some of the hallmark symptoms of a stroke include facial drooping and loss of control over one side of the body. Losing control of your body can be a traumatic experience, especially knowing that a stroke is a life-threatening condition without prompt treatment.
post-traumatic stress disorder can interfere with the motivation to consistently participate in rehabilitation. If you have any of the symptoms of PTSD, such as extreme anxiety about having another stroke, it is highly recommended to attend psychotherapy to work through the trauma. This workbook, which was written by two psychologists and trauma experts, can be a great first step if you have concerns about going to therapy.
view the ptsd workbook on amazon »
13. Guara Press “stroke recovery activities notebook”
Sometimes a stroke can cause cognitive difficulties, such as poor memory and trouble solving problems. Just as the brain can regain movement through physical therapy exercises, it can also improve cognitive abilities through cognitive rehabilitation exercises.
The Stroke Recovery Activity Book is packed with anagrams, word searches, visual discrimination activities, mazes and much more to help stimulate the brain and encourage improved cognitive function. it’s also easy to use with extra large font.
view the stroke recovery activity book on amazon »
14. “brain maker” by david perlmutter
Nutrition is a hot topic and the search for the best diet for stroke recovery is no different. what foods are best for stroke recovery? what vitamins should i take? These are just two of dozens of questions survivors and caregivers alike are asking.
brain maker contains some of the answers. In this book, Dr. perlmutter explores the intimate connection between gut health and brain health, and how improving the microbiome (the beneficial bacteria in our gut) can have a positive effect on overall health.
perlmutter also offers simple dietary recommendations you can try, such as eating more fermented foods. Be sure to check with your doctor before making any significant dietary changes to make sure you don’t exacerbate any pre-existing medical conditions.
view brain maker on amazon »
15. “retrain your brain: cognitive behavioral therapy in 7 weeks” by seth gillihan
In addition to post-traumatic stress disorder, other potential emotional complications of stroke can include anxiety and depression, which can be addressed through cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of psychotherapy.
In this book, Seth outlines a 7-week program to help you apply the proven principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. he relies on the power of neuroplasticity to rewire the brain and improve thought patterns.
see retrain your brain on amazon »
bonus: “to roots & get up” by carole j. star
This book is specific to brain injuries, but much of it can also be applied to stroke recovery. Many of the effects of a brain injury overlap with the effects of a stroke, and we think it will resonate with Carole’s story. is a book/workbook hybrid where Carole aims to help you navigate the pain and loss that can occur after a brain injury.
take care of roots & upload on amazon »
build your library with stroke recovery books
On the road to recovery, it helps to have as much information as possible, because recovery is in your hands. memoirs offer powerful ways to feel understood by other survivors, and there are many stroke recovery books that also touch on the emotional side of recovery.
We hope you will have the opportunity to explore these stroke recovery books and gain a better understanding of what you can do to empower your own recovery.
If you don’t know where to start, check out the free eBook below. contains our top tips for recovering from a stroke in a beautifully illustrated pdf. enjoy!
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