When the message is simple the book may be thin. When the message is profound the book may also be thin. But, it’s a rare thin book that can be both simple and profound.

With the recent release of the film of the same name this memoir may gain a wider audience. It should because, unlike the film, the reader can stop and meditate on thoughts and ideas.

The story line is concise. On one day in December 1995 Jean-Dominque Bauby, the 43-year-old editor of the French magazine Elle has everything: wife, children, parents, and professional success. Then, he suffers a massive stroke and several weeks later he awakes to the realization that he can only blink one eyelid. The general reaction of people to stroke victims tends to follow the relationship one might have with an infant. They can understand but not much. Jean-Dominque mind is not infantile. It’s perfectly intact but since he can’t communicate no one will ever know. But, there is always the eyelid.

This is an extraordinary book. So many books are hawked and praised as “extraordinary” that word extraordinary has been diluted. In this case the adjective still applies more for what the book is not than what it is not. Surprisingly it is not filled with self-pity, remorse, or anger. Rather, Bauby relates his memories of his life and re-experiences them. The author, through the ingenious reorganization of the letters of the alphabet by their frequency of use, is able to dictate his story by blinking his eyelid for each letter. Letters forms words and once you have words it is possible to enter the author’s soul. I would imagine his training as an editor came in handy here—don’t waste words.

In this sparse volume there are many riveting details that it was quite common for me when reading the book to actually put it down. I mean, not just to reflect, but be aware of the physical act of just closing it and laying it on the coffee table. The movement of fingers and hands is, as you will discover in this book, vastly underappreciated. Walking, talking, smelling, eating and a host of other normal human activities are more appreciated.

One example, that explains the title, may suffice. In the prologue Bauby writes that “My diving bell becomes less oppressive, and my mind takes flight like a butterfly. There is so much to do.” Doris Lessing writes in the epigraph for her book Briefing for a Descent into Hell that “For there is never anywhere to go but in.” As you read this book and experience a descent you meet a man who is resurrecting himself.

Since I have read the book I am anxious to see the film and it might be wise to read the book before seeing the film. There is a lot to contemplate.


Recommended: Yes