This is a series of vignettes composed and painstakingly dictated by a man with "locked-in" syndrome. He could only communicate with eye blinks, but had a very fertile and sharp mind. He shares what it's like to live with his condition, as well as stories from his life before the stroke that stole his freedom. There is sadness, of course, and a certain amount of "why me?", but it's never maudlin, and he managed to keep his sense of humor. Very short and worth reading. Be grateful for the small things you take for granted---sipping a fresh coffee, touching another person, dressing yourself...This book had more personal significance for me than it would for your average reader. My life was changed permanently due to injuries from a car accident. Although I'm not anything near as bad off as Bauby, I could relate to some of his feelings because of my own experience. I know exactly what he meant about how your friends are divided into "those who knew you before" and "those who know you now (after)." Those who only know you "after" see you as very limited, and are always saying, "I didn't know you were like that!...I didn't know you did that!..."I completely agree with him about what total arrogant unfeeling a$$holes doctors are.
