Memoirs of a Born Shlepper: Never Give Ocd a Third Thought

Rating:
Summary: Very interesting and lots of laughs
Review: I found this book very interesting from the point of view of his disease and how he handled it. Being a Catholic, I also found the Jewish-ness of his family very informative, since I know a lot of Jews, but not intimately. It was a very sweet picture he painted of his parents and his youth. I laughed a lot and felt some strong emotions for him and his challenges.
A very good and easy read! I recommend it !

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant view of OCD
Review: I really had never talked to or experienced someone with OCD, but this book really was an insight into the world of someone with a condition that can be both frustrating and sometimes paralyzing. With a humorist approach, the book takes a very serious subject and makes it funny and approachable. Mr. Fadem did a masterful job! Kudos!

Rating:
Summary: Kept me laughing!
Review: I've never seen another book that promised to refund my money if I didn't laugh--and laugh I did!

Author Rod Fadem's humor is reminiscent of Woody Allen in his prime. Subtleties abound in this tongue-in-cheek memoir which follows the self-proclaimed "Shlepper" through his eventful life-from his actual conception, a "near miss" at his circumcision, strange events at his Bar Mitzvah, bizarre army events and promotion, to such diverse experiences as a stint on the comedy stage and several experiences in international travel (I fell off my chair laughing at his recounting of the overnight train ride and the fellow passenger who mistook his toupee for a rat!). And...I will never look at a pawn shop sign again in the same way after reading the description of his vacation at a nudist resort in France! Throughout the book, Mr. Fadem continues to poke fun at himself for his bumbling ways in dealing with his OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) He takes plenty of license in describing events but, I quickly learned to distinguish between the actual events and his fantasies-such as the funny description of how his name showed up in the Torah's "Bible Code" or the many times that his guardian angel "Shleppriel" came to his rescue. Mr. Fadem has written a memoir in a style that I wish more authors would follow--not just for the style of humor but for the ability to treat a serious subject such as OCD in a way that doesn't simply pander to the reader's heartstrings. I never felt uncomfortable or that my emotions were being coerced. Instead, I came away with a deep appreciation for Mr. Fadem's tremendous accomplishments in spite of his OCD. Whereas so many OCDers struggle with simply holding down a steady job, he has done that and more-from having a long-term marriage, raising children, writing a couple of books and most of all, never being afraid to experience life.

I would highly recommend the book

Rating:
Summary: Kept me laughing!
Review: I've never seen another book that promised to refund my money if I didn't laugh--and laugh I did!

Author Rod Fadem's humor is reminiscent of Woody Allen in his prime. Subtleties abound in this tongue-in-cheek memoir which follows the self-proclaimed "Shlepper" through his eventful life-from his actual conception, a "near miss" at his circumcision, strange events at his Bar Mitzvah, bizarre army events and promotion, to such diverse experiences as a stint on the comedy stage and several experiences in international travel (I fell off my chair laughing at his recounting of the overnight train ride and the fellow passenger who mistook his toupee for a rat!). And...I will never look at a pawn shop sign again in the same way after reading the description of his vacation at a nudist resort in France! Throughout the book, Mr. Fadem continues to poke fun at himself for his bumbling ways in dealing with his OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) He takes plenty of license in describing events but, I quickly learned to distinguish between the actual events and his fantasies-such as the funny description of how his name showed up in the Torah's "Bible Code" or the many times that his guardian angel "Shleppriel" came to his rescue. Mr. Fadem has written a memoir in a style that I wish more authors would follow--not just for the style of humor but for the ability to treat a serious subject such as OCD in a way that doesn't simply pander to the reader's heartstrings. I never felt uncomfortable or that my emotions were being coerced. Instead, I came away with a deep appreciation for Mr. Fadem's tremendous accomplishments in spite of his OCD. Whereas so many OCDers struggle with simply holding down a steady job, he has done that and more-from having a long-term marriage, raising children, writing a couple of books and most of all, never being afraid to experience life.

I would highly recommend the book

Rating:
Summary: The book is hilarious!
Review: In this inspirational autobiography, author Rod Fadem chronicles the trials and tribulations of going through life with OCD, and he does it with great humor. He overcomes this condition (or at least copes with it) through sheer determination, but not before experiencing a myriad of strange events which will keep you entertained from beginning to end. These include losing his hairpiece on a train, going to a nudist colony, and acting as a defense lawyer in the army. One of the side effects of having OCD is being disorganized, and one of the charms of his story is the situational humor which results from the consequences of being a shlepper--a person who a disorganized klutz. Read the book, you won't be sorry.

Rating:
Summary: Laugh While You Learn
Review: Rod Fadem's memoir skillfully uses humor to deliver important lessons about OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). While the laughs make the book enormously readable, the poignant stories about Fadem's personal struggles make the book truly memorable. This insider's view of understanding and managing OCD is recommended reading for anyone dealing with being "different." Kudos to Fadem for a job well done and--more importantly--a life well lived.