Back in the spring, we brought you a list of recently published Parkinson’s books. The response was absolutely fantastic: not only did many of you engage with the authors and enjoy reading the books, it also led to us receiving even more recommendations for new Parkinson’s books that have been published in 2024.
As ever, this list contains books in multiple languages to try and serve as much of our European audience as possible, including English, Dutch, Spanish and Greek. If your language isn’t covered below, check out the original list (linked above) for more ideas.
Please do keep your recommendations of new Parkinson’s books coming – either tag us on social media, or send us an email with details to [email protected]
New Parkinson’s books in English
Running on Empty: 18,000 Miles Down Africa with Parkinson’s by Guy Deacon
This heroic and adrenaline-packed book recounts Guy’s 18,000-mile trip from his home in the UK to the tip of Cape Town, driving the full length of Africa through 25 different countries to raise awareness of Parkinson’s. Guy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s back in 2010, and the book tells the story of how he managed this monumental trip around his condition, with his adventures including “five breakdowns, one emergency evacuation and 3650 prescription pills”.
Buy Running on Empty for £6.40 (or equivalent currency) on Amazon
Starry Skies, Cosmic Shakes: An Astronaut’s Journey through Parkinson’s disease by Alexandra Boogers and Tine Van Bogaert
This charity children’s book explores the topics of Parkinson’s and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery in a way that allows families to start a conversation with children about Parkinson’s in a friendly, non-scary and accessible way. Written by two Belgian neurology professionals, neurologist Alexandra Boogers and neuroscientist Tine Van Bogaert, Starry Skies, Cosmic Shakes is a story of an astronaut called Alex who gets diagnosed with Parkinson’s, begins to take medication, and eventually has DBS surgery.
Download a PDF for free on the book’s website, or buy a hardback copy for 20 Euros + shipping.
Running on Hope! My secret to manage Parkinson’s Disease by Marco Serrabulho
We wrote about this book’s original Portuguese version in our last books roundup, and now it has been translated into English. The book details Serrabulho’s struggles after being diagnosed with YOPD (Young Onset Parkinson’s) 14 years ago at the age of 34. Part of the book deals with how he has used running as a way to cope with his condition, and its inspirational story led to the original Portuguese book winning the Editor’s Choice prize for best non-fiction book of 2023.
Buy for £14.19 (or the equivalent in your local currency) on Amazon
Be Reet: A Life with Parkinson’s by Richard Parkin
Hailing from West Yorkshire in the UK, Richard Parkin has released a book about his life since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s nine years ago, hoping to help raise awareness for the condition. The often uplifting book details his diagnosis and how he has adapted to life with Parkinson’s, and what he does to ensure he doesn’t endure his life, he enjoys it.
Copies of the book are available by contacting Richard at [email protected]
A Son’s Journey: From Parkinson’s Disease Caregiver to Advocate by Dr George M Ackerman
George Ackerman is a well-known and beloved figure in the Parkinson’s community online, running the website Together for Sharon to honour the memory of his late mother, who died in 2020 after living with Parkinson’s for many years. His latest attempt to raise global awareness for Parkinson’s is this poignant and honest book, which tells the story both of his mother’s battle with Parkinson’s and George’s experience as Sharon’s caregiver.
Buy a Kindle edition of the book for £8.85 (or the equivalent in your local currency) on Amazon.
SHAKEN: In ten minutes my life changed by Mark Holt-Rogers
Wellbeing specialist Mark Holt-Rogers has been living with Parkinson’s for over a decade, and this book is his self-help guide to living with the condition, based on his own experiences. The book includes coping strategies, insights into life with Parkinson’s for caregivers and family members, and Mark’s own account of adapting to living with Parkinson’s.
Buy the paperback for £9.99 (or the equivalent in your local currency) on Amazon
New Parkinson’s books in Dutch (and English)
Handboek Parkinson Symptomen: Mensen met Parkinson beter begrijpen en daardoor beter begeleiden by Monique Thoonsen
Physiotherapist Monique Thoonsen has spent much of her career working with people with Parkinson’s, and in 2021 she was diagnosed with the condition herself. This book is the result of her in-depth knowledge of Parkinson’s, raising awareness of the many possible symptoms of the condition, and how to deal with each one.
Buy the book for € 19,99 on Uitgeverij Abessijn here in Dutch and here in English
New Parkinson’s books in Greek (and English)
Parkinson’s Faces Project by Nikolas Koukoulakis
As well as being a power lifter and person with Parkinson’s, Nikolas Koukoulakis is also a talented photographer, and he has created this book of captivating black-and-white portraits of athletes with Parkinson’s from around the world. The photographs give a striking glimpse into the subjects’ personal stories with Parkinson’s, from diagnosis to the current day, and also feature uplifting quotes (in both Greek and English).
Buy for € 7.80 from Fylatos
New Parkinson’s books in Spanish
A La Sombra Del Parkinson: 15 Relatos Llenos de Vida by Various
This book was put together by 15 friends with early-onset Parkinson’s, telling their individual stories of what it was like to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s at such young ages, from struggling to get a diagnosis to finding companionship in the Parkinson’s community. Indeed, the book itself came out of a WhatsApp group of people with Parkinson’s in Spain, and is full of the positivity of friendship and camaraderie.
To buy the book (€ 15 + shipping), contact the authors on Facebook or Instagram
Not-so-new Parkinson’s books still worth reading!
We’ve also been recommended two other books since our last article which were published in previous years but still well worth looking up:
Kopfbahnhof: Leben mit Young Onset Parkinson by Gerald Ganglbauer
This latest book from Austrian-Australian writer Gerald Ganglbauer, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s almost 20 years ago at 48 years old, was published in 2020. It’s a personal account of his life with Parkinson’s, detailing his travel adventures, reunions and personal relationships in an open, honest and understated way.
Buy for € 29,90 by emailing [email protected]
Just Wobbling Along: My First Five Years with Parkinson’s Disease by Helga Mellor Macfarlane
Published in 2020, this hilarious and heartbreaking read tells Helga’s deeply personal and honest account of daily life during the first five years of having Parkinson’s, after being diagnosed in her early fifties. It’s disarmingly honest and full of Helga’s determination and joyous personality.
Buy as a paperback for £15.99 or e-book for £4.99 on Amazon
Not Afraid to Fall by Brian Hall
Brian’s Parkinson’s symptoms appeared at just 14 years old, and this book recounts how his Parkinson’s has been a formative part of his life in New England, USA over the past five decades. It especially focusses on how he has used physical activity and exercise to help treat his Parkinson’s symptoms, from mountain biking and sailing to golf and ocean swimming, and is also filled with advice for living with Parkinson’s.
Buy a paperback for £15.93 or Kindle edition for £6.28 on Amazon
If you’ve got any recommendations of Parkinson’s books, email us at [email protected]
