- Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc; Open market ed edition (29 July 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0452277027
- ISBN-13: 978-0452277021
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.5 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,527,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Twitch And Shout: A Touretter's Tale
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More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
Lowell Handler has Tourette’s syndrome, a disorder characterized by exaggerated facial tics, sudden jerking movements of the body and limbs, and explosive public outbursts, usually in the form of expletives and racial epithets. Although he is a successful and acclaimed photojournalist, Handler has often seen himself as an outsider—a social outcast. With courage and candor, he recalls the difficulties he suffered growing up, the confusion he experienced when doctors misdiagnosed his bizarre behavior as a psychological aberration, and finally how, restless and despairing, he embarked on a quest for answers.
In Twitch and Shout, Handler sets out, camera in hand, on a journey through less than savory parts of America. From a transvestite bar in Tampa to a flophouse in New Orleans to a community health center in New York, he meets a variety of people who, like himself, don’t conform to the standards of conventional society. With a keen eye for detail and an acute sense of humor, this memoir perfectly captures the unique and unforgettable life of a Touretter.
Lowell Handler is a photojournalist whose work has been published in, among others, Life, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, and the Sunday Times Magazine (London). He served as associate producer and narrator of the Emmy-nominated PBS documentary Twitch and Shout, an exploration of Tourette’s syndrome. He lives in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he is on the faculty of the Department of Performing and Visual Arts at Dutchess Community College. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
We read this book aloud (with some judicious editing of the more personal passages) with our 11-year-old son, who developed Tourette Syndrome at age seven. He found a strong identification with the author and was vehement in his praise for the book. It was evident that Handler's honesty helped M. feel he is not alone with this disorder that makes him feel so different from other kids. For this reason alone, I recommend the book to anyone suffering from Tourette Syndrome and their families. I've given it to teachers to help them try to understand what M. feels like inside, and they've found it enlightening.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Lowell Handler has the courage to come straight into the mainstream about one of the most misunderstood neurological disorders presently known. Mr. Handler was also a consultant on the Tourette themed film, "Niagara, Niagara". His experiences are truthfully and painfully explained. One can only wonder which is better; having partial control over one's bodily movements or none at all. Sensitive and accurate, it is a must read for every doctor, parent, social worker, or anyone in this complicated world. It is explained that people with Tourette are absolutely normal, except for this "neurological malfunction". Once you are familiar with it, you will see how common it is in public. It is then that true empathy comes into perspective. This book will change your outlook on the curiosities life places in our path.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
After hearing rave reviews about this book I finally managed to get hold of a copy. I read the book eagerly as I myself have TS but realised that I had nearly finished it and it had not been of any interest to me at all. I was somewhat surprised by this (and a good deal dissapointed), but this is more a reflection of someone's overall life experiences rather than someone's experiences with Tourette Syndrome.
I'm sure it is a good book, but if you are looking for a book where you can recognise your own self and feel a sense of acceptance through someone else's experiences then I would not reccommend this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Unbelieveably Mindboggling!
I am a 16-year-old who is not some type of geek, and I got so into this book. It is nice to see someone sharing such a story. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 1999
moving, funny, different
I loved this book for its humor, its pain, and its style. The author is very engaging, but the effect is well beyond entertainment. Read more
Published on 26 Oct 1998
Mr. Handler got a Lemon, then proceeded to make Lemonade
To triumph, even laugh at adversity of this magnitude is heroic. In his case Tourette may well be the launch.
Published on 2 Mar 1998
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