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Against Medical Advice
Against Medical Advice
Author: Cory Friedman, Hal Friedman, James Patterson
Cory Friedman woke up one morning when he was five years old with the uncontrollable urge to twitch his neck. From that day forward his life became a hell of irrepressible tics and involuntary utterances, and Cory embarked on an excruciating journey from specialist to specialist to discover the cause of his disease. Soon it became unclear what t...  more »
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9780316024754
ISBN-10: 0316024759
Publication Date: 9/8/2008
Pages: 283
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 155

3.9 stars, based on 155 ratings
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Against Medical Advice on + 44 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 11
A nonfiction work about what it was like growing up with Tourette's Syndrome. The book was co-written by James Patterson and Hal Friedman. Hal is the father of Cory who the book is about. This book chronicles Cory's journey of 13 years from being diagnosed at 5 years old to high school. It goes through his treatments and he he felt and how he and his family dealt with all the changes he was going through.

While very sad at times, this book was very uplifting too. Cory has gone through just about everything, but you feel his strength and it reminds you that there are very strong people out there. It also reminds you to be kind to all, that you just don't know what they are going through.

I'm not a big reader of non-fiction, but I checked this out on audio from my local library. I'm not sorry at all that I did. It's a wonderful book, it held my interest and I kept wanting to learn more about Cory. Some moments I was in tears (I am a mother to two boys), and other moments I was laughing. Cory's story will stay in my mind for quite awhile to come.
kevinsbebe avatar reviewed Against Medical Advice on + 165 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
There are not words for how this book made me feel. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Whether you like non-fiction or not this is an amazing read that will leave you crying, and really thinking more about your life and all your many blessings.
janabug avatar reviewed Against Medical Advice on + 41 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Book was not typical James Patterson but was
a good and informative story.
Very sad and could become depressing.
Cycle304 avatar reviewed Against Medical Advice on + 135 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
What a good book! Your heart just goes out to Cory and to his family for everything that they have to go through. He is treated like a freak by his peers and as a guinea pig by the medical experts. Very good reading.
reviewed Against Medical Advice on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
This book was good. I was worried about reading it because I don't like James PAtterson at all. I heard great things about this book as well as the fact that it was actually written by Hal Friedman and Patterson put his name on just so it would get out there.

Cory's story is truly touching! It is a very fast and light read. Each chapter is about 1 1/2 pages long so the 300 pages should have actually been like 100 if there wasn't an chapter every 2 pages. Size of book is deceiving. I was hoping to read this over a four-day camping trip. Instead I finished it in a few hrs. Kinda of a let down there.
Read All 29 Book Reviews of "Against Medical Advice"

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reviewed Against Medical Advice on
I enjoyed this book and read it in a single day. However, if you do not have experience with a child in your life having special needs or if you are looking for more of a "standard Patterson novel" then this book is not for you.
mysteryfluke avatar reviewed Against Medical Advice on
This is a great and a wonderful informational book I loved this book!! I loved every part of this book. I really felt for this family I struggle for with my situation but I felt like I was in this books as well really good/well writing!! Warning a tear jerker!! You will need tissues!!
reviewed Against Medical Advice on + 2 more book reviews
I bought this book at an airport on a whim, and read it while waiting around...it was a fascinating story! I had no idea how much Tourette's syndrome was similar to my son's "autism" characteristics, really goes to show how little doctors know and how they are all just labels that do not mean much. The best was learning what really helped him (wasn't the drugs). Being on a natural healing journey that my son's condition has opened my eyes to, I could really relate to this story and the frustration of trying to find help which is a (sometimes dangerous)process of trial and error.
reviewed Against Medical Advice on + 6 more book reviews
This book was a fast, thought-provoking read. Very interesting and hard to put down about a boy that suffered with Turrette's syndrome and found an unusual way to overcome....a must read!
reviewed Against Medical Advice on
This was a great book! The writting was excellent, the story heart breaking, but with a hopeful ending.
reviewed Against Medical Advice on
Great read.


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