I Am Not What I Am: A Psychologist's Memoir: Notes On Controlling and Managing Personal Misfortune

By Tom Linde and Thomas Linde

This revision of my memoir addresses the concerns and mindsets involved in dealing with personal misfortune. In my case, the overriding misfortune is a severe form of Cerebral Palsy. It affects my speech, coordination, and locomotion. The very essence of the book is that these impairments, misfortunes though they may be, do not define me. They do not define who I am, what I believe or what I strive to offer. This book is about more than me. It is about my mom and dad and my immediate family. By their genetic and spiritual energy they gifted me with all that made them special and loving. They gifted me with the knowledge that just to exist on a day to day basis is a misrepresentation of what we must do as members of our family, citizens of our community, and our world. Thus, I learned early on that my disability was always to be controlled and never to be used as an excuse for not being an active player on the world's stage. Does the world have many stages? Certainly. With severe Cerebral Palsy I had to learn how to play my part no matter what the setting on the stage. I worked long and hard to make this book a well-focused account of what I have done and how I have done it. I want it to be an inspiration, a guide, on how to deal with some really awful stuff. I want the reader to discover happily that with a lot of hard work and a little wiggle room most misfortune can be put in its proper place. This is a happy book. I worked to fill it with all the joy of life that my family poured into my soul. In the end I want the reader to discover that, indeed, I am not what I am.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1420867636
• ISBN13: 9781420867633
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Authorhouse
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great book!

I'm lucky enough to know Dr. Linde personally, and he is an amazing person. It was interesting to get to read his book and see life through Tom's eyes; to try and understand what it feels like to suffer from such a horrible disease. Tom has overcome his setbacks and propelled farther than many thought he would ever be able to go. Now, through this book, he can teach all of us.Read this book. Not only is it a well-written book, but it's important for all "normal" people to try to understand what it may be like to be handicapped. Tom's book does that. It can open your heart and mind.

Exceptional!

I completed this book in basically one setting. It's compelling and written in a manner that is easy to read and yet describes well the author's disabilities, frustrations, and ultimate joys. It demonstrates what love, support, acceptance, and encouragement within a family and community can mean to a person with a disability. It also demonstrates what strength of will can accomplish in attaining seemingly impossible goals.Although Dr. Linde faced problems that most people would not think of being able to overcome, especially in the period of time in which he was raised, he faced each problem, found a way to overcome or work around it, and continued onward. His rewards were many - marriage, children, meaningful work, and independence.I have the pleasure of knowing Dr. Linde and his family, and they are an inspiration.I highly recommend this book to all as thought-provoking and inspirational reading.

I am deeply inspired

This is an inspiring and powerful story. As a Pastor, floods of 'Inspirational books' wash across my desk yearly. Dr. Linde's autobiography readily surfaces as a convincing, elegant, often witty and always courageous, testament to the frequently underrated human potential to put daunting personal misfortune into a productive perspective. This is a rare 'Must Read.' Also recommended: Helen Keller's autobiography

I Am Not What I Am

This is a compelling book. To understand that a life can be lived fully and with great gusto- even with a serious physical handicap.The underpinning of life is explored as Dr Linde surveys his life including early childhood experiences and the people that surrounded him with love, care and great strength of will and character.As a child, Dr Linde, recalls, " On a conscious, gut level, I lived with chronic discontent at my continuing misfortune. I stuffed torrents of anger and pain into my subconscious, where they were hidden from me, but unpleasantly obvious to many who offered me acceptance and friendship." Yet as one reads on, we discover that his life is full of great adventure and relationships, that he overcame many many added stresses and he continues into his 7th decade, to live a full and productive life. Linde encounters university life, love, marriage and children, career upheavals, hobbies and grandchildren with great enthusiasm and self-motivation. We get to `see' the view from his wheel chair. I was moved by Dr. Linde's expression of angst and frustration with societal systems that neither supported him (or others with disabilities) nor were eager to change their way of doing things to accommodate. Imagine in year 2000 still not having wheelchair accessible bathrooms in national chain restaurants.!I liked this book because of its sheer bravery. This book is for everyone that would like to open their hearts and minds to understanding the needs both physical and psychological of persons with physical disabilities.

I understand Kate better now

Kate is my cousin, and can't walk or talk very well. She has the same disability -- Cerebral Palsy -- as the doctor who wrote this book. Now I have a better feeling about how hard must be to have Cerebral Palsy. Dr. Linde was lucky to have a family who taught him that his disability did not have to stop him from having fun or going to school and getting to be a doctor who worked with people with mental problems. Dr. Linde made a success of his life even though he pushes his wheelchair backwards and some people can not figure what he is trying to say. That is a problem my cousin has. This doctor tells people it is alright if they do not understand him because he will say things over for them.I liked the book. I feel I know "Dr. Tom". He has helped me see some of what psychologists do. He has helped me see that having an awful handicap does need to mess up your life. I think it is inspiring to know people can find ways to become productive no matter what so called experts say. I told Kate to read the book because I can tell Dr. Linde is not what he at first looks like. I think he's a "neat dude".