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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Vintage International) | 
 enlarge | Author: Jean-dominique Bauby
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $12.95
Buy New: $7.22
You Save: $5.73 (44%)
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Rating:  159 reviews
Sales Rank: 5559
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 144
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6
ISBN: 0007790155
Dewey Decimal Number: 362.19681
EAN: 9780307389251
ASIN: 0307389251
Publication Date: November 20, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
We've all got our idiosyncrasies when it comes to writing--a special chair we have to sit in, a certain kind of yellow paper we absolutely must use. To create this tremendously affecting memoir, Jean-Dominique Bauby used the only tool available to him--his left eye--with which he blinked out its short chapters, letter by letter. Two years ago, Bauby, then the 43-year-old editor-in-chief of Elle France, suffered a rare stroke to the brain stem; only his left eye and brain escaped damage. Rather than accept his "locked in" situation as a kind of death, Bauby ignited a fire of the imagination under himself and lived his last days--he died two days after the French publication of this slim volume--spiritually unfettered. In these pages Bauby journeys to exotic places he has and has not been, serving himself delectable gourmet meals along the way (surprise: everything's ripe and nothing burns). In the simplest of terms he describes how it feels to see reflected in a window "the head of a man who seemed to have emerged from a vat of formaldehyde."
Product Description
In December 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby, the 43-year-old editor of French Elle, suffered a massive stroke that left him permanently paralyzed, a victim of “locked in syndrome.” Once known for his gregariousness and wit, Bauby now finds himself imprisoned in an inert body, able to communicate only by blinking his left eye. The miracle is that in doing so he was able to compose this stunningly eloquent memoir.
In a voice that is by turns wistful and mischievous, angry and sardonic, Bauby gives us a celebration of the liberating power of consciousness: what it is like to spend a day with his children, to imagine lying in bed beside his wife, to conjure up the flavor of delectable meals even as he is fed through at tube. Most of all, this triumphant book lets us witness an indomitable spirit and share in the pure joy of its own survival.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 154 more reviews...
 Unique piece of literature January 8, 2009
I bought this book as a christmas gift for a neurologist in my family, after reading a very favorable review of it in a major medical journal. I did not read it myself, but the final recipient was very happy.
Very Inspiring December 29, 2008
This is a very inspiring and amazing book. Bauby's situation might have seemed hopeless to most, but he turned it into an opportunity. He devised an alphabet which could be communicated by using the only body part he could move, his left eye. Through this communication vehicle he was able to "talk" to his family, friends and those tending to him, if they would only take the time to listen. Bauby's efforts provide helpful information to health care providers as well as to those with loved ones who are caught in the throes of locked-in syndrome which may be experienced by some stroke victims. Despite the dismal circumstances, Bauby's handling of the situation makes this an uplifting book. I could only hope to be half as brave as Bauby given the same circumstances.
 Amazing December 22, 2008
A rare look into the mind of a severely affected stroke victim. He has more courage than I have and I am glad he took the time to share his world with me.
acceptance of fate is his gift December 16, 2008
First, the story of this man communicating with the world by blinking his left eye is fascinating. The description of prioritizing letters based on their frequency of use in the French language is really cool.
However, the real wonder in this book is Jean-Dominique's acceptance of fate. He is certainly not happy with it, and feels quite demeaned at times by hospital staff, but he keeps on going, and as a result we have this beautiful memoir that he shared with the world.
Bauby's story will remain with you November 16, 2008
At this point, mostly everyone knows the story of what happened to Jean-Dominique Bauby as well as the story of his life, so it's pointless to rehash what's already common knowledge, but one thing that needs to be said (or reiterated) is that it's absolutely amazing that the late Bauby dictated this book to his therapist by blinking one letter at a time.
"The Diving Bell and The Butterfly" is a pretty quick read, but what's contained within is, at the risk of sounding cliche, deeply moving and powerful. To think that someone was patient enough (in this day and age of minus zero patience and even shorter attention spans) to take the time to transcribe his thoughts one letter at a time defies description.
As always, some details were changed in the adaptation from the book to the movie, but the message remains the same - and it will remain with you long after reading the book and/or watching the movie. - Donna Di Giacomo
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