Ten Thousand Joys & Ten Thousand Sorrows: A Couple's Journey Through Alzheimer's

If I could give this 10 or more stars I would do it. This book was recommended to me as my husband is dealing with memory loss and is 90 years old. Even though the book deals with Alzheimer's I still connected with Olivia's emotional journey. I have been care giving for my husband for about 6 years. I started to meditate regularly three years ago and that is what I mostly connected with in the book. She and her husband both meditator's come from a beautiful place in dealing with life and death which is the same outlook my husband and I have. I found myself understanding more when I get angry and feel "is this what my life will be about" I had never read a book with someone dying with Alzheimer's so if my husband does move into that diagnosis I feel I will be more educated on the journey.

As a professional in mental health as well as a nurse working with people who are in the process of dying, I found the Buddhist perspective on the journey to care for a beloved family member with Alzheimer's intriguing. But as a caregiver of a man with Lewy Body dementia, I found it a life-saver! I'm well-versed in Buddhist tradition and have read much about the Buddhist approach to dying, but Olivia Hoblitzelle tells us of one couple's heartfelt journey to companion each other to the end of (his) life, using Buddhist practices as their anchor or port in a storm of change and confusion. I loved, loved, loved this book and have read it to my dear friend who is in crossing into late stages of this disease, as well as shared it with friends who are caring for various family members: parents, spouses, and in one case, a son with early onset dementia. Her compassion is inspiring, and yet equally so is her impatience and compassion fatigue. Her struggles to make Hob's passage into and beyond an unknown terrain a traverse of love (no matter what) are as authentic and heartbreaking as her attempts to keep the threads of her own (separate) life gathered together so she would have something of her own once his journey had ended. These are the very real issues managed by everyday caregivers. She has a way of inviting the reader into his/her own story by compellingly recounting hers. A beautiful book, absolutely beautiful.

Olivia Hoblitzelle has given us a moving account of her husband's battle with Alzheimer's. It is filled with warmth and love--as well as accurate information about the disease and useful tips on coping strategies. What's more, she writes with clarity, passion, and open-heartedness. A monumental achievement. Thank you, Olivia!

I actually bought the book for my mother to read. She herself is beginning to take that journey with my father whom has had a diagnosis of alzhiemers this past year. She is his caregiver at this time, I thought it would give her a better understanding of this disease. I read part of this book and found it very special. And informative. Its a good reader.

One of the most profoundly moving books written about the 'journey' Olivia and Hob, her husband, diagnosed with Alzheimers, would ever be asked to make. A must read. The spiritual integrity and practices that underline the couple's approach to dealing with the devastating effect of the syndrome is a courageous example for us all. A caveat: the title here was forced upon the author by the publisher on its second edition - it trivializes the book and does it no favours, nor is it particularly relevant. The statement Ten Thousand etc etc is a Buddhist thing (perfectly fine for a treatise on Buddhism). The original title is powerful and contains within itself the indicator of the profound love between this couple. The original title The Majesty of Your Loving should have been preserved. Majesty - the light of majesty is in everyone, or we would not recognize it; it is the divine light which gives our essence its Being. However, not all of us live to the majesty of that light, nor to the light of Majesty. We do, however, recognize majesty: the dignity, integrity, humour and repose which extend from a person out of whose presence flows an innate authority. The love between Olivia and Hob is majestic, and we are humbled by its presence as we read.

I chose this rating because the writing was so clear and readable as one who is starting in this field. I would recommend this book to anyone with a person with Alz. in their life, in any capacity. The book was compassionate and it told you a little from the patients perspective, which is just what I was looking for.

This is truly a story of two people, even though only one person wrote it. She was able to capture so much of her husband even as she gradually lost him to Alzheimer's. His "diminishment" is what he called it - the tiny piece by piece loss of a brilliant human mind. She honors him in her writing, and she honors herself as she writes honestly of the strain and heartbreak of being the witness to everything both of them lose, slowly, gradually, permanently. This book is very much a keeper - one I'll reopen frequently.

This was a wonderful book. It explained how the person felt as their disease progressed. I also learned that some of the symptoms come later like the falling into a semi coma occur and are normal. You also learned that a good support system is necessary for the caregiver as well as the ill person.

This book was very inspiring for me as a close member of the family has been diagnosed and this helped me to anticipate what might come up and how to deal with in.

A must buy if, like me, you have a father/relative that suffers from Alzheimer. Very soothing and also hands on! Highly recommended.

Haven't read the book yet, but the quality of the cover and the pages is just bad. Going forward, i would prefer buying an imported version rather than a locally printed one. Disappointed with the overall quality.