Product Description

In 1999, after almost twenty years of symptoms, Montel Williams, a decorated naval officer and Emmy Award-winning talk show host, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He was struck with denial, fear, depression, and anger, and now he's battling back. Graced with strong values, courage, and hard-won wisdom, he shares his insights in this powerful book on the divergent roads a life can take, and recounts how he rose to meet the challenges he's faced. Surprising, searing, and deeply personal, Climbing Higher is as honest and inspiring as its author.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #87277 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780451213983
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Montel Williams has established himself as a top player in the competitive daytime talk show arena since his debut in 1991. He is also a decorated former naval intelligence officer and a renowned motivational speaker, author of half a dozen books, actor, and philanthropist.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Book for MS Patients to Read!
This book is a very easy read and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I was never a great big fan of his because he was always the Pollyanna type believing a good attitude and a strong belief system will get you through anything. That always irritates me and pushes my buttons!

In Climbing Higher he is very frank about his road trip with MS. How he felt right after being diagnosed. He talks about his career and childhood briefly, his symptoms and marriage & relationship problems.

I won't spoil the details of the book for those who want to read it but will only give a brief overview if you will. His main problems are bad vision in one eye, burning painful feet and difficulty walking when the pain is at the 10 level (which he says is often).

He also experiences the electric pain where a touch or even water is excruciating. He also has difficulties sexually. He's very frank and it's refreshing to see he does have bad days and is not the Pollyanna he used to portray. He's very emotional and admits to crying a lot (this is a big admission for a man as most won't come clean about tears).

His attitude is that MS can kill ones spirit especially if one is emotionally weak (and who isn't these days in this world) and he realizes there are still others far worse than him so he thanks his lucky stars most mornings when he wakes up.
He is a very confident, over achiever and some see this as arrogant.

I now see him in a different light and I like him. What his core message is MS does indeed suck but we have to fight whatever hand we are given and hope for a better tomorrow.
He is very big on congress allowing medical mj and decriminalizing it.

He acknowledges how lucky he is to be able to have the best healthcare when there are lots more struggling and becoming bankrupt etc.

He is a good voice for the MS community and I like that with his foundation 100% of the money coming in goes to MS. I was shocked to find out with the exact numbers going to MS with the NMSS foundation - it's definitely not 100%!

I encourage anyone struggling with a chronic illness to read this book but especially if you have MS. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and this book will hold a very special place on my book shelf!

Great book!
I was recently diagnosed with MS, and have been wanting to find more information about the disease, and as Montel states, it is hard to find any type of concensus on this disease. His roundtable discussion at the end of the book was a stroke of genius, and I found it very informative.

Most of the book was great, and it made the best arguement for legalization of medical marijuana research that I have ever heard. Also, I happen to live in Utah, and I have had a great experience with my neurologist. Just wanted to let everyone know that not all Utah doctors are like the one that he had to deal with.

Overall, this is a great book. Another book I would recommend is Lance Armstrongs "It's Not About the Bike". Montel made me feel better because I could relate to his symptoms and feelings, however Lance's book is a great story of fighting for life, despite increadible odds. They are both great books that help people understand what it means to fight to overcome life threatening and/or debilitating diseases.

The..
I am not a fan of Montell at all, and I don't watch his show. I don't know what made me pick this book, but I'm glad I read it. The book was not what I expected at all. I had never heard of MS prior to reading this book. It was short and to the point. He makes some compelling arguments for the legalization of marijuana and the benefits and disadvantages of some other drugs. I felt his pain as I read the book. I felt every spasm, frustration, and fatigue episode. This will be a helpful read for MS sufferers. I hope a cure is found soon. I also hope that those who do not have MS will pick up the book and understand not just the nature of the ailment, but also those who live with it daily.