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Don't Ask Me How I'm Doing: Life, Death and Everything in Between
Co-authored by Sanjay Deshpande (Lead Author), Sachin Rajakrishnan, Snehal Ponde, Thanisha Sehgal, Anuraag Khaund, Piuli Roy Chowdhury, Vani Verma, Nikita Wadhwani, Pallavi Saraswatula, Aditya Arun, Subeksha Poudel, and Poornima Sardana.A very generous gift, written beautifully by courageous, intelligent, expressive young people sharing their stories of dealing with cancer. — Yashodhara Lal, Best-Selling Author of How I Became a Farmer’s Wife, Harper Collins, 2018
Life is always lived in denial. Denial of the fact that the end reality is death... What happens when the alarm-clock of mortality goes off all of a sudden? Do we get jolted, and how!... “Don’t Ask Me How I’m Doing” is... an insider’s view of a sudden mortality jolt. — Harish Bijoor, Business and Brand-Strategy Specialist
... brutally honest in articulation and brilliant in execution. — Cmde (Dr) Srikant Kesnur, VSM, (Retd), Indian Navy Veteran, Historian and Author
You are 29 and entering the gates of your dream college, you are 30 and have just moved countries with your partner to start your new life, or you are 34 and are expecting your first child. You are in the midst of truly living your life when you wake up one day and find out that you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness such as cancer. The world as you know it turns upside down in an instant and you are left all alone grappling with multiple questions in a sea of uncertainty. The world as you know it turns upside down in an instant and you are left alone grappling with multiple questions in a sea of uncertainty.
So, when cancer knocks the living daylight out of you, what do you do? This book is a collection of stories of people in the age group of 17-39 who came together to recount what it's like to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age or become caregivers to those diagnosed and how they navigated or are navigating their lives through such difficult times. Filled with raw, honest and vulnerable narratives of coping with something whose cause and outcome are mostly unclear, this book is a must read for anyone who wants to find support and have their own voices reflected in the stories of the authors.
Life is always lived in denial. Denial of the fact that the end reality is death... What happens when the alarm-clock of mortality goes off all of a sudden? Do we get jolted, and how!... “Don’t Ask Me How I’m Doing” is... an insider’s view of a sudden mortality jolt. — Harish Bijoor, Business and Brand-Strategy Specialist
... brutally honest in articulation and brilliant in execution. — Cmde (Dr) Srikant Kesnur, VSM, (Retd), Indian Navy Veteran, Historian and Author
You are 29 and entering the gates of your dream college, you are 30 and have just moved countries with your partner to start your new life, or you are 34 and are expecting your first child. You are in the midst of truly living your life when you wake up one day and find out that you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness such as cancer. The world as you know it turns upside down in an instant and you are left all alone grappling with multiple questions in a sea of uncertainty. The world as you know it turns upside down in an instant and you are left alone grappling with multiple questions in a sea of uncertainty.
So, when cancer knocks the living daylight out of you, what do you do? This book is a collection of stories of people in the age group of 17-39 who came together to recount what it's like to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age or become caregivers to those diagnosed and how they navigated or are navigating their lives through such difficult times. Filled with raw, honest and vulnerable narratives of coping with something whose cause and outcome are mostly unclear, this book is a must read for anyone who wants to find support and have their own voices reflected in the stories of the authors.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2022
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12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 4, 2023
When Saumita Banerjee from LetsAuthor Books reached out to me regarding this book, I was intrigued. The first thing that caught my attention was the title of the book 'Don't Ask Me How I'm Doing'. The second was the synopsis, straight, to the point and written in a way to grab your attention immediately.
Before I write about the book, I want to mention that I truly appreciate Sanjay for finding the courage and stepping up to talk about his experience and opening up the conversation about having or living with cancer. In addition, I have only the utmost respect for all the wonderful co authors (all in a specific age range as the synopsis suggests) who have stepped up to share with us their journeys and the impact cancer has had on their lives as well as that of their loved ones.
I cannot even begin to fathom what any of them or others in general have gone through but this book has given me some insight into how they or anyone might feel or react to the information of having cancer and later dealing with it. The authors are candid and even funny in some cases, bringing to us their thoughts, feelings, insecurities and finally strategies they used to cope with the diagnosis and further. This book is a testament to their strength and more than that their will to educate us all. I have learnt so much from this book and more than anything, I understand that sometimes people need time and space to find their way.
This is a book that is so much more than just people's accounts. It is about their journey, adulting and in some ways providing a safe space for everyone. One message I came away with is that we are not alone! There is always someone who will understand you or what you are going through and it is okay to ask for help, to reach out to people! I highly recommend this book to all and please do forgive me if I have expressed anything incorrectly here!
Before I write about the book, I want to mention that I truly appreciate Sanjay for finding the courage and stepping up to talk about his experience and opening up the conversation about having or living with cancer. In addition, I have only the utmost respect for all the wonderful co authors (all in a specific age range as the synopsis suggests) who have stepped up to share with us their journeys and the impact cancer has had on their lives as well as that of their loved ones.
I cannot even begin to fathom what any of them or others in general have gone through but this book has given me some insight into how they or anyone might feel or react to the information of having cancer and later dealing with it. The authors are candid and even funny in some cases, bringing to us their thoughts, feelings, insecurities and finally strategies they used to cope with the diagnosis and further. This book is a testament to their strength and more than that their will to educate us all. I have learnt so much from this book and more than anything, I understand that sometimes people need time and space to find their way.
This is a book that is so much more than just people's accounts. It is about their journey, adulting and in some ways providing a safe space for everyone. One message I came away with is that we are not alone! There is always someone who will understand you or what you are going through and it is okay to ask for help, to reach out to people! I highly recommend this book to all and please do forgive me if I have expressed anything incorrectly here!
February 22, 2023
Do you like reading an anthology?
This is a riveting anthology of the people who fought cancer and here they put out their journey, they compiled their days and thoughts. Often it was terribly isolating due to the toxic feeling of constantly being misunderstood because none can truly comprehend what they are struggling with. And here they come up with their journey in a jovial mood. The inside feeling is poignant but it's a humorous roller coaster ride and I enjoyed the days I spent with this book.
Their Vivid narrative tells us about the fragility of life, their own morality sometimes burst out of their bubble of invincibility. I love reading about their journey in their own voice, I couldn't ignore the spirit, the vibe of the hardship of their soul infiltrate my soul and empowered me deep inside. This book is a collection of stories of people in the age group of 17-39 who came together to recount what it's like to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age. Filled with raw, honest, and vulnerable narratives of coping with something whose cause and outcome are mostly unclear. They are inflicted from the core of their body and heart and yet they are so full of life, people often forget that.
Their livelihood astonished me and encouraged anyone who is tired of their own life issues. I have often read real-life journeys but this one was full of life and Fun which is a very important ingredient to absorbing any book, I felt it here. The ability to make fun is the most important and powerful spice in our life we must not forget that. It could change the ambiance of our life.
This book aims to get close to those who are struggling with cancer or entangled in any other long-term fight with health issues, let them will realize that they are not alone, not weird, not insufficient, for struggling to figure out how to get back to the life or establish your new normal.
While reading this anthology I felt that weight went off my heart. You can feel the stirring energy inside those authors in every part of this book. The best part of the book is its striking humorous presentation, the optimistic satire towards life, stunned me, and I let myself flow with the winds of the book.
It's a touching anthology, stirring, poignant and jovial. Read it when you are tired and need some inspiring, refreshing cool breeze.
This is a riveting anthology of the people who fought cancer and here they put out their journey, they compiled their days and thoughts. Often it was terribly isolating due to the toxic feeling of constantly being misunderstood because none can truly comprehend what they are struggling with. And here they come up with their journey in a jovial mood. The inside feeling is poignant but it's a humorous roller coaster ride and I enjoyed the days I spent with this book.
Their Vivid narrative tells us about the fragility of life, their own morality sometimes burst out of their bubble of invincibility. I love reading about their journey in their own voice, I couldn't ignore the spirit, the vibe of the hardship of their soul infiltrate my soul and empowered me deep inside. This book is a collection of stories of people in the age group of 17-39 who came together to recount what it's like to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age. Filled with raw, honest, and vulnerable narratives of coping with something whose cause and outcome are mostly unclear. They are inflicted from the core of their body and heart and yet they are so full of life, people often forget that.
Their livelihood astonished me and encouraged anyone who is tired of their own life issues. I have often read real-life journeys but this one was full of life and Fun which is a very important ingredient to absorbing any book, I felt it here. The ability to make fun is the most important and powerful spice in our life we must not forget that. It could change the ambiance of our life.
This book aims to get close to those who are struggling with cancer or entangled in any other long-term fight with health issues, let them will realize that they are not alone, not weird, not insufficient, for struggling to figure out how to get back to the life or establish your new normal.
While reading this anthology I felt that weight went off my heart. You can feel the stirring energy inside those authors in every part of this book. The best part of the book is its striking humorous presentation, the optimistic satire towards life, stunned me, and I let myself flow with the winds of the book.
It's a touching anthology, stirring, poignant and jovial. Read it when you are tired and need some inspiring, refreshing cool breeze.
February 1, 2023
I finally got round to reading Don’t Ask Me How I’m Doing, also just in time for World Cancer Day this Saturday (4 Feb) I’m so excited to share this giveaway for UK only.
First of all, I’m so grateful to the @letsauthorbooks team and @sangriawithsanjay for reaching out to me and sending me a copy of this book because wow! It honestly blew my expectations away. What a courageous, raw, beautiful, unique book.
I knew it was going to be a tough read in parts, how can it not be reading about people’s experiences of dealing with cancer but the level of transparency was incredible. You often find people take the look at how strong I am approach when discussing their cancer journeys, but that wasn’t the case this time. I have nothing but respect and awe for the co-authors when sharing their vulnerability and very honest, sometimes ugly and scary experiences.
First of all, I’m so grateful to the @letsauthorbooks team and @sangriawithsanjay for reaching out to me and sending me a copy of this book because wow! It honestly blew my expectations away. What a courageous, raw, beautiful, unique book.
I knew it was going to be a tough read in parts, how can it not be reading about people’s experiences of dealing with cancer but the level of transparency was incredible. You often find people take the look at how strong I am approach when discussing their cancer journeys, but that wasn’t the case this time. I have nothing but respect and awe for the co-authors when sharing their vulnerability and very honest, sometimes ugly and scary experiences.
February 6, 2023
There are few books that make you weep, this is one of them. Compiled with extremely touching stories, the book introduces us to people going through the fatal disease Cancer.
Since I have had 2 encounters of cancer in my close relatives, I could try to empathize with some of them. Extremely touching, relatable and beautifully written.
Since I have had 2 encounters of cancer in my close relatives, I could try to empathize with some of them. Extremely touching, relatable and beautifully written.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews