Book Summary
Despite a lifelong challenge managing epilepsy, Laura Beretsky has led a good life with friends, rewarding work, and a life-partner. After having a grand mal seizure at work, she was devastated by the subsequent job insecurity—her superiors sidelined her. When her first child was born three years later, she worried that loss of awareness during seizures jeopardized his safety. Laura opted for brain surgery despite terrifying possible life-threatening complications.
Seizing Control offers candid descriptions of rattling physical experiences of smaller and grand mal seizures and patient self-advocacy required to get the best possible medical care. Foreword by Dr. Steven Schachter, Harvard Medical School Neurology professor.
#2025covrvisionaryawards
Seizing Control is the Coalition of Visionary Resources (aka COVR) 2025 Gold Award winner for best Memoir and Personal Journey and Silver Award winner for best Social Justice book. https://covr.org/2025-cva-winners/
Best Memoir/Personal Journey
Best Social Justice Book
Praise for Seizing Control
Beretsky is an engaging writer, bringing her story to life in a way that’s often challenging for a memoir subject unknown to the reader…. Her book isn’t just for readers with epilepsy, who will find it useful and fascinating—others will appreciate her candid recollections as well. A gritty and involving look at one woman’s struggle against an unpredictable condition.–Kirkus Reviews
In Seizing Control, Laura Beretsky unveils her daily life, and much of our daily lives…while also coming to grips, physically and emotionally, with the profound impact that epilepsy and serious seizures have on her life. This is a compelling narrative, a window into our desires for dignity, health, and community.
–Bill Henning, director Boston Center for Independent Living
Seizing Control combines a memoir of Laura Beretsky’s experiences with practical advice, from a definition of what epilepsy is and isn’t to discussions of activism, developing resilience, undertaking paths of healing, and covering the minute daily details of living with epilepsy…. Libraries and readers seeking more than either another medical survey of the condition or a memoir alone will find both facets here blend into bigger-picture thinking about social reactions and actions. -D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review, full review here.
Book Unboxing Update
November 24, 2023: My publisher and I rendezvoused in Acton, where she brought me the first order of my books:
November 27, 2023/BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!: You can buy them here on my website (Seizing Control – Laura Beretsky) or from online book vendors, including Bookshop.org. E-book versions are also available. Alternatively, ask your local library to order it. Wherever you obtain it, please write a review on Amazon after you read it. Thanks!