Against Medical Advice by Cory Friedman, Hal Friedman, James Patterson (2008, Hardcover)

I have several books by James Patterson, and I saw that he wrote this book. I am very interested in children with different disorders and disabilites as I work in at a blind school with students who often have several disorders and/or disabilites. I liked the book because it really portrayed the true life of a person with turrets. I highly recommend it.

Great price. Patterson quality. Awe-striking true story. Cory is an amazingly brave young man with relentless courage and parents to match. A book EVERYONE needs to read - puts many things in perspective for those of us who are totally clueless and ignorant of what a turretts patients life is like "on the inside". I'm glad he has let us in.

I bought the book because I am a James Patterson fan. He hit another home run with this one. It was very different from the usual crime novel, but held your interst and keep you turning the pages.

Some parts are intense. A few pages are among the realest, most moving pages you will ever read.

Some parts were tough to experience through Cory's eyes, but the comfort and redemption of this book and the message it leaves you with is that we as Human beings are strong and can endure more than we can imagine if we refuse to be defined by our misfortune and embrace the love of those that love us.

This book, better than any I have read, tells a true story in a real way. A+

-Doylerules16

I am in the medical field, so I liked the information given in the book. Overall the book was uplifting, inspirational, and easy to read. For someone looking for a great story about overcoming illness, I would recommend this book.

This is a wonderful book! James Patterson and Hal Friedman tell a heartwrenching tale of Cory Friedman. Cory is diagnosed with Tourette's at a young age when very little is known of the disorder. He is often misunderstood by his peers as well as other adults. This book tells his long battle with the world as he struggles with Tourette's in his early years. A phenominal read for all!

If I could rate this book higher than excellent, I would. I read it in less than 2 days. It's an amazing story not just about a boys struggles, but also about a family that was able to stay together through very difficult times. I am a special education teacher. I work with young children, some of which are just being evaluated for OCD, Tourette's and other challenges. I will recommend this book to many parents I know. It is written from Cory's point of view which helps those of us who are not living through his life understand a tiny bit of how he must feel.
In addition to recommending it to families, I would also recommend it to educators and therapists working with children with special needs. It's easy for us to assume why they are doing things, but we don't feel the physical drive or need they have to act in certain ways. This book explains some of those needs.

I work in an elementary school and this book is a must read for ALL Special Ed Teachers. It makes you really see the big picture. The boy in this book is tormented by this physical impairment and no one seems to understand.

This book gives great insight into the "secret" world that people with TS live with. The are in their own secret world that NOBODY could understand. They are in their own frightening world that even people who study it can not understand. Would we have the strength to get through each day?

My husband and I like James Patterson as an author. This is one of his best books. I will definitely share it with friends.

I love any book that has James Patterson as the author or one of the authors. First reason being the style he writes in; chapters are small, but contain a lot of information making the reader just want to keep reading on and on. I love suspense/thriller type books. It is the main genre that I read and it is good when it is written really well. However, I do go outside of that genre to read a book that is written by James Patterson (and does not necessarily deal with suspense/thriller like this book). I don't like books that just keep stringing you along with no excitement, but James Patterson's books always keep me on my toes and trying to guess "Who dunnit". I look forward to reading more of his books in the future years to come; thank you.

This book was beyond excellent. It is a MUST read for all parents of children with disabilities,the children themselves, for ALL educators, and anyone who wants to be more informed about how to fairly treat people with disabilities. It is not just for those with Tourettes.
Normally it takes me weeks to read a book. I couldn't put this one down. Living with a child who has a disability is a constant struggle daily. Reading this book confirmed much of what we have been living for the past 11 years. My child's disability is no where as severe as Cory's, however, you often feel like you are all alone in your quest to find answers. You feel no one understands what is going on, doctors keep pushing pill after pill, and yest some of them do make the disability worse. One doctor will tell you one thing when the other tells you the exact opposite. Your friends and family have all the answers but are scarce when you need assistance.
I applaud Cory and his parents for writing this book and sharing a very personal, painful part of their lives with us. Thank you for helping me to see that when I fight at a special education meeting to get what my child should have, it is all worth it.
I would love to meet Cory and his parents and have my chld meet Cory. I think Mrs. Freidman and I have much in common. Then end of the book when Mr. Friedman said his wife always told Cory, "you can do whatever you want in life" brought tears to my eyes. That is the exact thing I have been telling my son for years.
Never give up and always, always follow your heart. This book definately confirmed that what I am doing and have done in the past are on target. Thank you for valadating me and what I have and will continue to do for my child.
Advocate, advocate, advocate. Our children deserve the best and if we need to fight to get it then it is all worth it. Thank you for giving me the strength to continue in the fight for my child.

Thanks so much !!!!!I was a christmas gift for my mom,which she loved so much .Just the book she wanted.she's already reading it again thanks so much !!!!

This Book has really helped me to understand about these kind of patient. I wish it had came out years ago. I once worked with a kid that was just liked this and I thought that he could controll this behavior. Now I feel so bad,, and happy so that I wont make this mistake again. This was a great book and I learned at lot from it.

I read this book in less than 8 days. I loved it. It was inspirational, motivational, heart-maddening, heart-saddening, funny and all GREAT! I loved this book! The determination of this child and his family shows how families should be. It shows how family come together even in the hardest times. This was not a book that I was interested in reading, even though it was written by "Patterson" my favorite author. I couldn't get enough of this book. Many more chapters could have been added and it would have been great! Cory was/is a true trooper. A go-getting, a non-quitter. I see alot of me in him. I'm totally inspired on working on my book about GBS that I have left 1/4 done. I love the simplicity of the book and its writing and story line. I love that it is not all technical and doctor doctor talk. This is a book that anyone can read and enjoy. Heck, I thought I wouldn't want to read this in the least. I fell in love on the first chapter. Patterson and Friedman really did a great piece of work with this one. I hope this inspires more people such as myself to motivate to read and to write! A must read...I wouldn't mind having this on my bookshelf of keepers!



Happy Reading! Heather P

James Patterson has done it again. This was a very good book and the first that I know of that James Patterson wrote that was true story. A must read for all parents; those with children with special needs and those with healthy children. The parents of Cory Friedman had a very rough road to walk. There are "normal" kids today who chose, for whatever reason, to put themselves through hell with drugs, but Cory had no choice he went through hell just to try and live a "normal" life. This is truly an amazing family; and James Patterson did an excellent job getting the story out there for all to read.
I was blessed with 2 healthy children and now I have two grandchildren. One 2 1/2 and one almost 3. I only pray that they continue to grow and be healthy.

The book gave me more insight into this disease. It was well written & easy to follow. I read it in 2 days.

Start--- and then be prepared to free up some time to finish. This book is spellbinding as it weaves through the discovery of Tourette's to the ultimate near-conquering almost 13 years later. The wilderness scene is especially compelling as this youg man is forced to deal with his illness, and a cure that will never be total.

I learned of James Patterson from one of the conservative talk show hosts, and immediately began the bidding process. I read it---i sold it--- and I hope that buyer also sold it. It is not intended to be on a shelf, but in front of someone's eyes so another person can find about life's troubles and a story of unconditional love by the parents of this troubled child.

Book arrived in great shape and promptly too. This was an excellent book for general reading. Especially appropriate as they just had a show on CBS about a teacher with Tourett syndrome. The boy in the story eventually overcame his disability.....would recommend highly.

Very different for James Patterson but still his style. Short chapters and kept my interest and most important it is a true story. After several pages I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend this book.

Good inspirational book. well written and good storyline.
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I had a very long flight and purchased this book to kill time. I do not read very often. This book makes you realize that people with these types of problems are normal people that think like all of us. The shell that they are trapped in makes them do things they cannot control, but mentally these people are very brilliant.
I highly recommend to everyone. Makes me want to go out and buy books.

If you have Tourette Syndrome, know someone with Tourettes or just want to feel better about your own life, read this book! I purchased this book because I have Tourettes and my youngest son (age 8) also has Tourettes (his much worse so far than mine ever was). It is an amazing life story, with tremendous difficulties and an amazing family bond and support system through it all! I was blessed to have read it, encouraged by the outcome and I highly recommend it for mature teens and adults alike! It is a true story that shocks, inspires and engrosses the reader with every turn of the page!

This is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read. The story is written as if the person suffering is writing it in his own words and although it is sad what he went through to fight this disease, it is also humorous, and heart warming. After reading this I am even more convinced that although doctors are necessary, they don't always know best.