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 serious reservations Nov 21, 2009
The Chancellor of UMass Medical School recommended that all employees and students read this book for a group conversation. I missed the group conversation so I am not sure what he was hoping that we would get out of it, but presumably many of the things mentioned in the more positives reviews. Personally, I just don't get it.
First, the father wrote the book in the child's voice. This sets up a number of bizarre scenes where the father-as-child is praising the father and mother for their angelic perfection. Give me a break!
Second, Against Medical Advice seems to be another name for doctor-shopping to find a different doctor who would prescribe ever stronger drugs at terrifyingly high dosages for an adult, let alone a child. There is almost no mention of behavioral interventions until the end, after Cory takes extreme measures un-addict himself from the medications.
This treatment of a child struck me as bordering on child abuse - not something to be proud of. The father putting his words in the child's mouth makes the book read like a child thanking his parents for abusing him.
The book is interesting and a very quick read, but I would advise readers to think carefully about its message.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Important and powerful book; mixed feelings about what the story means Oct 14, 2009
First, of course, this is an important book and one that will make an emotional impact on any reader, whether or not you are personally familiar with Tourette's syndrome or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It is the story of one family's 12-year struggle against these ailments, which have overtaken their son, aged 5 at the beginning of the saga, and 17 at the end.
Regardless of anything else, the authors are achieving an important goal by bringing these disorders to public attention, and James Patterson certainly aids this effort by lending his famous name and suspenseful style to the book.
That said, I had several issues with the book:
- The book is written in first person from Cory's point of view, but was in fact written by his father and/or James Patterson. This is stated at the outset with the clarification that Cory has read and given his seal of approval to the final text. However, since the book's biggest impact comes from it being someone's real first-hand experience, the fact that most of Cory's thoughts and feelings are imagined by someone else (even someone as close as his father) makes it much less effective. One cannot help but wonder at various points whether Cory truly felt things as described, or whether this is a typical person's attempt to internalize what it would be like to be Cory. As another reviewer mentioned, it also affects the portrayal of Cory's parents. In the book, Cory often comments on the unfailing support of his parents, his pain at making their life difficult, etc. Knowing that this was written by his father and given to Cory to read and OK dampens the effect, since it is not clear whether he would have written things quite the same way himself.
- In fact, since the few sections of the book truly written by Cory (e.g. his letter to his parents) were articulate and compelling, and since his writing is complimented at various points by his English teacher, etc., I wonder why he did not write the book himself. Perhaps it was simply not among his priorities at the time. In a sense, Hal Friedman and James Patterson did Cory a disservice by giving him a more simple, choppy voice than he might have chosen himself. His intelligence, often commented on by others throughout the book, does not shine through because the narrator is given a very brisk, basic style, telling brief anecdotes in short sentences, without much reflection. Apparently, this is James Patterson's signature style, but it may not be well-suited for a deeper character study.
* SPOILERS BELOW *
- The story begins with Cory experiencing some disturbing symptoms at age 5, after which he is prescribed Ritalin. It is stated quite clearly that this was an enormous medical mistake, the worst thing that could have been done, which quickly led to full-blown Tourette's symptoms. Perhaps this is a case of hindsight being 20-20, but I think many readers will wonder why what followed was a 10-year roller coaster of 60-odd medications, 4 or 5 at a time. The authors clearly suggest that before the Ritalin, things weren't so bad at all, yet it seems that Cory's parents never considered trying to take him off all medication for a while to see how his condition really was. Eventually, when he is a teenager, this does occur, but by then his brain and body have been receiving a crazy mixture of chemical supplements for a decade. The final solution to the ailments does in fact come when Cory has been off all pharmaceutical treatments for a while. There is no particular explanation why Cory is suddenly "cured", other than that he has been medication-free and allowed to lead a semi-normal life with, finally, some optimism about his future. It makes one wonder how much of Cory's condition was truly an unavoidable disorder, and how much was induced and/or exacerbated by the medication. To me, this was the most troubling part of the book. Reading about Cory's often painful experiences and his sense of being cursed with this hellish condition, I couldn't help but question whether it was, in fact, largely avoidable.
That said, as others reviewers have noted, the book may be an excellent illustration of why patients and their families need to become knowledgeable about medical conditions and participate actively in the treatment. I have no doubt that Cory's parents did their best, but perhaps armed with their experience, others can do even better to help their loved ones cope with Tourette's and OCD.
 A True Story with the Suspense of a Thriller Sep 26, 2009
The purpose of this review is to evaluate Against Medical Advice in a neuroscience standpoint. This book is excellent in its execution, and strongly conveys the sense that drugs are not necessarily the answer. The beginning of the book takes us to the turning point of the story. The authors then retell the story of Cory Friedman's fight against himself at its origins. It then leads us to the attempts the family makes to help Cory without the medical guidance and, ultimately, to Cory's triumph over Tourette's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorder. This book has one of the most unique styles that I have ever seen in a true story. James Patterson, a thriller writer, takes that style and implements it in its entirety in this book. The chapters are fairly short, often jumping from instance to instance, but are delivered exceptionally well. This book will have you going from page to page, yearning for more. The book is also structured in Cory's point of view. The fact that you get to relive Cory's tale while reading his thought process is most intriguing.
Medication
Throughout the book, Cory is subjected to many different types of medication. This leads us to a couple points. The first is that Cory's unique condition was hard to diagnose. For that reason, he was most likely given drugs based on what was observed or mentioned to the doctor. Ultimately, the drugs administered made a negative net change in the behavior. Drugs are not so specific they will do one, and only one, thing. During Cory's battle, he saw thirteen doctors and was administered about sixty potent medications. The list of side effects for these drugs would no doubt cause your jaw to drop. It is seen that drugs do have a big impact on behavior, and that it is near impossible to diagnose a behavioral problem if part of the behavior is caused by medications being taken.
The second point this brings up is that drugs are not always the answer. After many years of unsuccessful medications and adjusting of doses, the path against medical advice leads to Cory's victory. The brain is very complex, and pumping it with chemicals, or altering with the chemicals in the brain, can lead to further trouble. Drugs are not always the answer, and, in this case, that was proven.
Tics
Tics are "sudden, repetitive, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movement or vocalization involving discrete muscle groups." This book displays the many thought processes within Cory. However, his condition was worsened by the fact that his Tourette's was accompanied by obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorder. Cory often found himself coaxed into doing things, which usually were disruptive actions. The tics were regardless of whether it would hurt him or not. Cory's brain was tricking him. His pleasure center made it seem like he needed to perform the tics. He would hop, make random noises, pull his own muscles, and commonly do whatever peers tried to get him to do. However, Cory prevailed against these "tics" and took control of them. Late in the book you read that he anticipated the tics to come, and when they didn't, it took a few days for it to sink it. He didn't want to get himself in another false sense of reality. Reading about tics in textbooks is nothing compared to this true account of what it feels like, random acts nagging at you to death until you cannot take it any longer.
Plasticity
The brain is always capable of changing itself. It has been shown that stroke patients who could not walk afterward are capable of walking again, eventually - the key to this being continual, intensive therapy. The bottom line is that the brain will reorganize itself. However, it is harder to do so as you get older, but it is possible. To be able to utilize this phenomenon, there needs to be cardiovascular fitness, motivation, learning that makes the mind work, and work that gradually increases. Cardiovascular fitness is important since the brain needs a lot of blood to pump to it.
Going back to the book, this is evident in Cory's time at the wilderness camp. He lost sixty pounds at the camp, and there was always the motivation to leave the place, which you couldn't do until you completed the program. The entire time there was difficult for Cory, but his brain was able to correct itself in order to survive there. The mandatory hikes, the frigid cold, having to remember to bring everything with him without misplacing it, and the will to go back home pushed Cory out of his dependence on medications, cigarettes, and alcohol.
Quotes
"It starts as I'm playing a video game. I feel an unusual, intense tension building up in my neck, and I think the only way to relieve it is to jerk my head to one side."
"I shift into third gear, give it the gas, and take off, laughing. I am alive. I am free. I am flying in the wind. I am me."
Conclusion
This book conveys strong messages about behavioral problems. In addition, the authors convey those messages in such a way that the book cannot be put down until you see the boy who had his world thrown upside down comes out of it victorious. Complex conditions such as Cory's should not be hastily diagnosed. Various drugs can only make the problem worse. The fact that the brain can correct problems given the time and work, I agree that going "against medical advice" can be very advantageous. In addition, the book displays what goes on inside the mind of Cory Friedman and his condition of Tourette's, OCD, and anxiety disorder. I fully recommend potential readers to get this book. I would go into reading this book with the expectation to get emotional and happy for Cory and his family as he digs his way out of this mess. As the title of this review suggests, this book is very suspenseful. I hope you get your hands on a copy of this book and enjoy it as much as I most certainly did.
Book Purchase Review Sep 25, 2009
I bought this book for a college class my daughter is taking. It was a very good value. The book arrived quickly and in excellent condition. I would definitely do business with this vendor again!
Cory, you are an inspiration to us all! Sep 20, 2009
I highly recommend this book to everyone! I feel like the book is very well written to not only educate people who do not understand this condition, but to help those who have to live with this condition every day. It should be required reading for educational professionals and medical professionals who may not be familiar with students/patients struggling with Tourette's Syndrome.
Cory, you are an inspiration to us all! An example of never giving up. You have had to overcome so much more than the rest of us would ever dream of. You sometimes struggled with what seemed to be insurmountable odds to accomplish what we all take for granted in day to day living. But, you also have the spirit and determination needed to overcome. Thank you Cory, you are a shining star!
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