I've heard about Lyme disease. But how much did I know about Lyme disease? Not much.

I heard about this book from a friend, who is a friend of the author. The book was just published, and its a chronicle of what Lyme disease is, and the controversy behind it. I never even knew that there was so much debate! Basically, the question is: Is Lyme disease chronic, or is it a psychosomatic realization of something else that's going on? As someone who speaks openly about suffering with Lyme disease, Allie Cashel's bias is going to be towards the belief that it is a real infection. Despite the subjectivity of blood testing, she and many others like her know that it is a chronic disease that can relapse at different points in their lives. What makes Cashel's book shine, though, is her matter-of-fact interviews of people from both sides of the debate. When interviewing a doctor who was of the belief that Lyme was not chronic, no bias was given in her writing. As I read, I felt that I understood at least the basics of both sides of the debate. And for someone who has no prior knowledge of this disease, it is especially important to be able to read both sides.

Cashel's writing style is welcoming enough to let in any reader. No background in science or infectious diseases necessary. Whether she is recounting statistics from her research, her interviews with others who suffer from Lyme disease, or her outlook on the future of research, it is all in a style that is easygoing yet knowledgeable.

The was really only one thing that bothered me about the book, and really was an issue with the copyeditor (or proofreader). Grammar and punctuation mistakes stick out like a sore thumb. ( )

I've read several books on Lyme disease, but none have so succinctly captured this illness from the perspective of one living with the health complications and the surrounding controversy. I have late-stage Lyme disease, contracted at around the age of five but not properly diagnosed until four decades later. With this book, Allie Cashel captures what it's like to know you're physically sick, to feel your body deteriorating, only to be told by countless doctors that "it's all in your head".

Cashel shares her own harrowing story, along with brief accounts of others suffering similar problems. These are powerful moments in which those of us dealing with this disease feel a kindred spirit. There is much power in the telling and sharing. She also clearly and concisely defines the controversy over the "chronic" state of Lyme disease that continues to divide the medical field, too often leaving patients lost in the mayhem.

If you have or suspect you have Lyme disease, you'll definitely want to read this book. I suggest you also pass out copies to family and close friends. Maybe even buy a copy for your doctor. This disease is horribly under-treated, misdiagnosed, and misunderstood. Allie Cashel lays it all bare, so that readers get a true sense of what we experience, and there is no better gift than the understanding and compassion that will certainly come with reading this book. ( )