The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

This fascinating and charming book was written by a French magazine editor after he suffered a massive stroke and was locked inside his own body, unable to speak or move. Incredibly, he wrote this book in his mind throughout the day and then each letter was slowly transcribed by blinking his eyes. I kept thinking about this book long after I read it. It’s a nightmare scenario, but he leads us all the way through it. We’re with him as he survives and even finds meaning when almost everything else is lost.

This is the classic memoir written by a locked-in author that was made into a movie of the same name. Bauby wrote this book by focusing his gaze on a letter-board interpreted and written down by another person. I was inspired by his determination to write despite the tedious process and to find freedom for his spirit (the butterfly). I was also influenced in my writing by his honesty. Bauby is not a particularly nice fellow, and he made no effort to portray himself as otherwise. It made the memoir genuine. So, I wrote honestly, with private thoughts exposed, and… show more.

I am a sucker for true stories about people who’ve faced unthinkable adversity and yet, found ways to survive and ultimately thrive. 

In 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor of the French Elle magazine, suffered a brainstem stroke resulting in the rare condition known as locked in syndrome. Completely paralyzed with the exception of his left eyelid, Bauby summoned incredible determination and bravery. Using a system of eye blinks, he wrote this memoir about his experience, serving as a remarkable example of the resilience of the human spirit.

I chose this book because it focused on the importance of learning to navigate life’s challenges and how to turn them into something beautiful. This book helps you to understand the importance of mind control and using your imagination to create your own reality. I felt like this book placed emphasis on how determination, despite life’s disappointments, strengthens you as a person overall. In my life there have been many things that have not gone the way I imagined them to, but I have used those disappointments as fuel to drive me to obtain even greater feats.