Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that affects over 10 million people worldwide and more than 1 million people in the U.S.
If we consider the families and friends of Parkinson’s Patients, this number gets much higher. If you or your loved one have Parkinson’s Disease, having an understanding of it is very important.
We have a related article for you, you can read Can Parkinson’s Cause Pain? – Everything you need to Know!
While free resources such as DisabilitEase.com are good but books have their own importance. So, if you are someone who prefers reading books and looking for some good books on Parkinson’s Disease, this guide is for you.
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How To Find The Right Books On Parkinson’s Disease?
I’ve read many books on Parkinson’s Disease, and when I look for any book, I always consider two things that always lead me to find the right books.
The first thing you should always consider is the author of the book. If the author is someone who has authority on the topic, there are great chances that it will be a good book.
Secondly, you should check the reviews of the readers as they will tell you a lot about the book, including if it is worth your time or not.
Top 15 Best Books On Parkinson’s Disease
The books on Parkinson’s Disease which I have shared in this guide are the best and have hundreds of positive reviews from their readers. So, if you want to learn about Parkinson’s disease, you should consider the following books.
1. A Parkinson’s Primer
A Parkinson’s Primer is arguably one of the best books on Parkinson’s disease. It’s written by John M. Vine, who is a lawyer by profession and was diagnosed with P.D. in 2004. Over the next 10 years, he learned a lot about Parkinson’s disease, and he summed up his experience in this book which was published in 2017.
In terms of content, A Parkinson’s Primer is very rich, and it’s considered one of the best resources for Parkinson’s Patients. The best thing about this book is that it provides a lot of useful information and covers the basics, which can be useful for Parkinson’s Patients and their families. I also like the fact that it was written by a person who experienced Parkinson’s Disease, and he explained everything in plain terms without going into technical terms.
If you are someone who has just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and want to get an idea of life with Parkinson’s Disease, A Parkinson’s Primer is the must-read book for you. In fact, it’s an excellent resource for any who wants to understand life with Parkinson’s disease.
2. Goodbye Parkinson’s, Hello Life!
Many people believe that if they are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, their life is over, and they will be restricted to their room which is actually not true. Goodbye Parkinson’s, Hello Life is a book that can help them change their perspective. The book teaches its readers the Gyro-Kinetic Method, which they can use to eliminate most of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and get back control of their lives.
Goodbye Parkinson’s, Hello Life is written by Alex Kerten, who has been studying the anatomy and physiology of behavior for over 30 years. He also specializes in Parkinson’s Disease and has helped his clients with movement disorders. In this book, the author has shared the revolutionary Gyro-kinetic method, which combines behavior modification, martial arts, and dance therapy to eliminate most P.D. Symptoms.
The thing I liked about this book is that it helps change the perspective of Parkinson’s Patients and empowers them to change their lives. The majority of the reviews of this book are positive, and it’s also recommended by organizations such as Michel J. Fox Foundation.
3. Parkinson’s Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life
Parkinson’s Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life is one of the best books on Parkinson’s Disease and an excellent resource for early Parkinson’s Patients and their families.
Before I get to the details, let me tell you about the author first. This book is written by Dr. Michael S. Okun, who is a renowned Neuroscientist and a P.D. specialist. Dr. Okun has served in various positions, and currently, he’s the National Medical Director for the National Parkinson’s Foundation.
In this book, Dr. Okun explains the details of all available treatments for Parkinson’s Disease in simple terms, which makes it easier for early P.D. Patients and their families to understand.
He also extensively discusses how Parkinson’s affects mental health and elaborates on the importance of physical exercise. In short, the author has discussed and touched on almost every aspect of Parkinson’s Disease treatment, and it’s an excellent resource for early P.D. Patients and their families.
4. Both Sides Now: A Journey from Researcher to Patient
Both Sides Now: A Journey from Researcher to Patient is a very interesting book that shares the journey of a person who researched Parkinson’s Disease and then later diagnosed with PD.
It’s written by Dr. Alice Lazzarini, Ph.D., who is a renowned neurologist currently serving as Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey. In her career, he shared over 75 research papers, and she’s known for her studies of neurodegenerative conditions. One of her major contributions was in 1994 when she published a paper on how the genetic component was involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease.
In terms of content, Both Sides Now basically shares the journey of Dr. Alice from a researcher to a patient, and she shares personal details and experiences which help readers understand her life and how it’s affected by Parkinson’s disease.
5. Brain Storms: The Race to Unlock the Mysteries of Parkinson’s Disease
Brain Storms is an excellent book for anyone who wants to understand and know the different treatments for Parkinson’s disease.
The book is authored by Jon Palfreman, a renowned and award-winning journalist who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In this book, the authors discuss the various treatments for Parkinson’s in layman’s terms which makes it easier for readers to understand. He also provides valuable insights about current treatments and also cutting-edge treatments which will be available in the future. In the end, he also shared some inspiring stories of people who are acing their lives even with Parkinson’s. Overall, if you are looking for a book that explains treatments for Parkinson’s disease in layman’s terms, Brain Storms is a good option for you.
6. Parkinson’s Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier
As the name suggests, Parkinson’s Diseases: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier takes a proactive approach to Parkinson’s and shares 300 effective tips which will make your life easier.
The book is written by Shelley Peterman, who is a renowned and award-winning author and columnist. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) in 1979, and it changed her life forever. She learned new ways to make her everyday tasks simple, and she shared thousands of tips and strategies through her column “Making Things Easier.”
In terms of content, I found the book very basic, but it’s a great resource for anyone who has just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. However, if you are someone who is active on online Parkinson’s forums, there’s a chance that you won’t find something new here.
7. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future is written by Michael J. Fox, who is arguably one of the most well-known persons with Parkinson’s disease. He’s a famous actor who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1998.
In this book, the author basically tells his story and draws conclusions from his life on how a person really learns when things go sideways. Overall, it’s a nice book, and you should consider it if you are a fan of Michal J. Fox.
8. Navigating Life with Parkinson’s Disease
Navigating Life with Parkinson’s Disease gives the readers whole information on how to navigate their lives with Parkinson’s Disease. It’s basically a guide for caregivers and People with Parkinson’s on how they can use the available treatment and adaptive equipment to make their life easier. The book also provides an answer to many questions which usually come to the minds of early Parkinson’s Patients and their caregivers.
The book is written by Dr. Sotirios A. Parashos, MD, Ph.D., who is a renowned neurologist and Clinical Researcher lead at Struthers Parkinson’s Center. The co-author is Rose Wichman, who is the Director of Parkinson’s Programs for Park Nicollet and HealthPartners.
9. Parkinson’s Disease for Dummies
If you are someone who has no idea of Parkinson’s disease and you want to learn about it in the simplest way possible, you can consider Parkinson’s Disease for Dummies. This book explains everything you need to know about Parkinson’s with a bit of a sense of humor which makes it fun to read.
The thing which I liked the most about this book is that it starts from a very basic level, and it tells you about the history of diseases, treatment, and other important details which can be very useful for early Parkinson’s Patients.
10. Everything You Need to Know About Caregiving for Parkinson’s Disease
If your loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and as a caregiver, you want a resource to cover every aspect of caregiving, you can consider this book. As the name suggests, this book covers everything and provides details without jargon which will help you understand the important concepts.
This book is written by Lianna Marie, who has served as a caregiver for her family and worked as an advocate for Parkinson’s disease for over 20 years. In the book, the author shares her experience as a caregiver and provides useful things which she learned in her role as a caregiver. This book is an excellent resource for caregivers, and you should consider reading it if you are a caregiver for P.D. patients.
11. Advice from a Parkinson’s Wife: 20 Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Advice from a Parkinson’s Wife is arguably one of the best books on Parkinson’s disease. It’s written by Barbara Davis, whose husband had Parkinson’s disease for over 20 years. In this book, she shares her personal experience of being a caregiver to her husband and shares things that partners are often embarrassed to share.
In this book, the author discusses the challenges of being a Parkinson’s Wife and provides insights on how Parkinson’s changes your marriage. She also shares useful lessons which can make things clear for you as a caregiver to your partner. Overall, it’s an excellent resource for anyone who wants to understand how Parkinson’s affects a person’s life from a partner’s point of view. I know that it’s written from a female caregiver’s point of view, but trust me, it is also very useful for male caregivers, and regardless of your gender, you will love this book.
12. Delay the Disease – Exercise and Parkinson’s Disease
It’s an established fact that vigorous Physical exercise is a great way to slow the early Parkinson’s. In this book, the author David Zid, APG Certified Trainer, collaborated with Thomas H. Mallory, M.D., and Jackie Russel, RN BSN CNOR, to develop a fitness program that is designed to minimize the many symptoms of Parkinson’s, including tremors.
In this book, you will learn various exercises which will help you take back control of your life and promote balance and independence. Overall, if you are looking for an extensive guide on useful exercises for Parkinson’s Disease, Delay the Disease is a good option for you.
13. Fighting Parkinson’s…and Winning: A Memoir of my recovery from Parkinson’s Disease
Where advanced techniques and cutting-edge methods have failed to find an effective cure for Parkinson’s Disease, this book comes with an unconventional cure using Chinese medicine. This book is written by Howard Shfike, who started practicing alternative healing and traditional Chinese medicine in 1999. The author, later on, used the same method to heal himself when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
In this book, the author provides details of his alternative treatment methodology known as “Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery.” In terms of reviews, the book is pretty well-rated. I’d recommend this book to Parkinson’s Patients to get an idea of alternative treatment and see if it works for them but doesn’t get your hopes too high because this method might not work for you.
14. Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig
Muhammad Ali was one of the most famous and well-recognized athletes of his time. He started boxing at the age of 12 and went down as “the greatest” heavyweight boxer of all time. Ali: A Life is a New York Times bestseller book that basically covers the life of Muhammad Ali.
In this book, you will get detailed information about his life and also his struggle when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. In the book, the author has also explained how Ali’s willingness to take punches in the ring resulted in brain damage which led to the development of Parkinson’s Disease.
The author also studied the speech patterns of Ali to determine the early symptoms of Parkinson’s. Overall, if you are a fan of Muhammad Ali and you want to learn more about his life and the developments which lead to the development of Parkinson’s Disease, Ali: A Life is an excellent option for you,
15. The New Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Book: Partnering with Your Doctor to Get the Most from Your Medication
The New Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Book is a great resource for people who want to know about the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and its related aspects.
This book is written by Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog, who is from Mayo Clinic and is considered an authority on Parkinson’s Disease. In this book, Dr. Ahlskog shares his 30 years of experience and provides a detailed understanding of the different aspects of P.D. The authors cover Parkinson’s treatment options and the effect and impacts of P.D. on the family and caregiver.
The only downside of this book is that the author uses some medical terminologies in it, which can be difficult for beginners and non-scientific persons to understand. However, if you have access to Google, you can easily understand these medical terminologies and get useful information from the book.
Also, you have to check out my post on the Best Exercises For Early Parkinson’s Patients.
FAQ
Q: What are some of the best books on Parkinson’s disease for newly diagnosed patients?
A: “Parkinson’s Disease: A Complete Guide for Patients and Families” by Dr. Abraham Lieberman and “Living with Parkinson’s Disease: A Complete Guide for Patients and Caregivers” by Dr. Michael S. Okun are both excellent resources for newly diagnosed patients.
Q: Are there any books specifically written for caregivers of Parkinson’s disease patients?
A: Yes, “The Parkinson’s Caregiver’s Handbook: A Guide to Caregiving in Parkinson’s Disease” by Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog and “A Caregiver’s Guide to Parkinson’s Disease” by Dr. Monique L. Giroux are both great options for caregivers.
Q: What are some books on Parkinson’s disease research and treatment?
A: “The New Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Book” by J. Eric Ahlskog and “Parkinson’s Disease: Non-Motor and Non-Dopaminergic Features” edited by C. Warren Olanow and Fabrizio Stocchi are both excellent resources for learning about the latest research and treatment options for Parkinson’s disease.
Q: Are there any memoirs or personal accounts of living with Parkinson’s disease?
A: Yes, “Lucky Man: A Memoir” by Michael J. Fox and “Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist” by Michael J. Fox are both personal accounts of living with Parkinson’s disease and offer insight into the challenges and triumphs of living with the condition.
Bottom Line
Parkinson’s disease can totally change the lives of patients and their families, but with the right information, most people can adapt to the new reality.
You can read these books to get detailed information on almost every aspect of Parkinson’s Disease and get control of your life.
I’d also recommend that you should explore my blog because you will find plenty of useful and educational guides here.
Hi, my name is Eddie, I am a professional trainer specializing in the elderly population and I’m also a website designer. I love training in the gym, going to the beach, traveling, and having good food.
I combined my love for sport and website designing to make “DisabilitEase” whose purpose is to help elderly and disabled people live a more full and active life, have more fun, and enjoy their unique journey despite any disability.
