"Stanley''s candor and nimble storytelling will have readers following closely every peak and valley of the couple''s quest for relief. It''s a probing account of what it''s like to reside in what Susan Sontag memorably called the ''kingdom of the sick.''" -- Publishers Weekly " The Pain Project is a beautiful, humane, thoughtful inquiry into the challenge of living with chronic pain and how Stanley and Paradis navigate its impact on their lives. This is a tough subject but a joyful book; it takes on a daunting topic with heart and humor and determination. It''s wonderful." --Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and The Library Book " The Pain Project is ironically full of pleasure: on every page is another generous, original insight into this most intimate human subject. Stanley and Paradis invite you into their world, and it''s an incredible place to be--full of science, music, problem-solving, and love." --Naomi Klein, New York Times bestselling author "An extraordinary book, raw, honest, immediate, literate, and astonishingly readable.
an inspiring example on how to deal with the challenges of life itself." --Carol Shaben, author of Into the Abyss "In The Pain Project , Kara Stanley expertly synthesizes the most recent research and ancient wisdom on pain and, together with her partner, Simon Paradis, puts it to an honest, messy, real life test. In the process, she tells a story of endurance in the face of formidable odds--and a story of enduring love. If you live with pain, or care for someone who does, The Pain Project is necessary reading. --Susan Olding, author of Big Reader and Pathologies: A Life in Essays " The Pain Project will astonish and appall you--a riveting chronicle of one couple''s struggles to apply the latest insights into the enigma of chronic pain to their post-accident lives. Utterly fascinating and inspiring--a medical whodunnit." --Andreas Schroeder, author of Renovating Heaven "A medicine cabinet of wonders! On the outside, an unflinching reflection of a pain-wracked life. Inside are shelves stacked with loving wisdom, revelatory research, and all the right questions.
" --Avi Lewis, filmmaker and activist "I didn''t think there was much left for me to learn about modern pain science. But Kara Stanley''s compassionate, erudite, and wry new book has introduced me to a realm of ideas I hadn''t even considered, reflecting important progress in the field. Stanley is a brilliant, sensitive writer, fully in command of this narrative of a very-much-in-love couple whose lives changed in a second. I cheered them on, page after page, decision after decision. If you or someone you love suffers from ''the pain of a damaged central nervous system that [is] wildly misfiring,'' as Stanley puts it, this is a book you have to read." --Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, author of Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting on the Road to Recovery "Kara Stanley bravely tells the intimate story of a relationship any reader would envy despite its pain, and interweaves it seamlessly with what we know (and don''t know) about the science of pain." --Bonnie Sherr Klein, Officer of the Order of Canada, author, and disability activist A roadmap through the very human experience of pain." --Kenneth R.
Rosen, author of Troubled: The Failed Promise of America''s Behavioral Treatment Programs "Kara and Simon''s efforts to understand and control Simon''s horrific and constant pain have them investigating cutting-edge science, ancient practices, and all that lies in between. This is a journey rendered clearly in Kara''s elegant prose, inspiring in its courage and commitment to their shared purpose and each other; a powerful, accessible resource for those whose lives are marked by pain and everyone who cares about and for them. A hard, beautiful story told with great compassion and generous humor, The Pain Project reflects the courage, commitment, and love that lie at the root of healing." --Leslie A. Davidson, author of Dancing in Small Spaces " The Pain Project provides agency and meaning to those lost without a map in an unfamiliar world of relentless suffering. This book functions as both companion and ally, sharing personal experience of how to shift pain pathways as well as cutting-edge scientific research on the origins and treatments of pain. It''s rare to read a book that can offer genuine hope to those who are suffering. The Pain Project does just that.
" --Rachel Rose, author of The Octopus Has Three Hearts This book is dearly intimate and heartbreakingly universal. The Pain Project is an unforgettable inquiry into the deeper meaning of pain. What does it tell us? What can it teach us?" --Michael Harris, author of The End of Absence and All We Want.