About the Book
Identity Theft, Second Edition is an award-winning book that follows Stanford professor Debra Meyerson’s journey to recover from a severe stroke that initially left her physically incapacitated and unable to speak. In addition to providing realistic expectations for the hard work needed to regain everyday capabilities, Meyerson and Zuckerman focus on the less frequently documented emotional journey as she and her family rebuild identity in recovery.
Virtually every stroke survivor is haunted by questions like “Who am I now?” and “How do I rebuild a meaningful and rewarding life?” after losing so much of what they had before—capabilities, careers and jobs, relationships, and more. This is a book full of hope for survivors—from stroke or other life-changing injuries or illnesses—as well as their care partners, families, and communities.
The first edition of Identity Theft centers on Debra’s experience: her stroke, her extraordinary efforts to recover, and her journey to redefine herself. But she also draws on her skills as a social scientist, sharing stories from several dozen fellow survivors, family members, friends, colleagues, therapists, and doctors she has met and interviewed. By sharing this diversity of experiences, Debra highlights how every stroke is different and every recovery is different. She provides a valuable look at the broad possibilities for successfully navigating the challenging physical recovery—and the equally difficult and frequently unspoken emotional journey toward rebuilding one’s identity and a rewarding life after a trauma like stroke.
This second edition is written by Debra and her husband, Steve Zuckerman. As they have shared in countless talks, “Just as the original book was headed to the printers, we decided that ‘the finish line had become a new starting line.’” They co-founded the nonprofit Stroke Onward, where they have been working side by side to build an organization that can catalyze change in the healthcare system to better integrate the emotional journey of rebuilding identity into a lifelong recovery process. This edition draws on five more years of experience as a post-stroke couple and what they’ve learned from thousands more survivors, family members, and healthcare professionals. They’ve added new insights about the long-term recovery process and how we can change the stroke system of care to better support all survivors and their families.
Their 4,500-mile bike ride called Stroke Across America in 2021 helped raise awareness for Stroke Onward and stroke suvivorship care.
About the Author :
Debra Meyerson is an author, advocate, and a professor at Stanford University Graduate School of Education. Following her severe stroke in 2010, Debra wrote Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves after Stroke (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2019). Writing the book began as a critical part of her personal journey to rebuild her own life outside mainstream academia. It became the foundation for maintaining meaning and purpose in her life despite her ongoing disabilities. Prior to her stroke, Debra’s academic work focused on feminism, diversity, identity, and organizational change. Debra’s most significant contribution from that period was Tempered Radicals: How Everyday Leaders Inspire Change at Work (HBS Press, 2001). Debra currently serves on the board of the Pacific Stroke Association (PSA), and the BU Sargent School Constituent Advisory Board.
Steve Zuckerman is an experienced executive who has held leadership positions in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. His first career involved 14 years as a managing director with a private equity firm. In 2006, Steve launched a California presence for Self-Help, a nationally recognized economic justice nonprofit based in Durham, NC, and in 2008, he co-founded Self-Help Federal Credit Union. Steve served as President while Self-Help Federal grew to $1.5 billion in assets; in 2021, he transitioned to a special project role to make more time to build Stroke Onward with his wife, Debra. Throughout his career, Steve has served on numerous nonprofit boards supporting economic, social, and health justice, including Tides Foundation, Positive Coaching Alliance, and Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. He currently serves on the BU Sargent Clinical Advisory Board.
Review :
“Identity Theft is a great read for survivors, families, and professionals. It adds important voices and perspectives to the stroke recovery landscape and most importantly helps people see there is a way forward, even in the face of adversity. Debra and Steve highlight the important emotional journey in recovery with clarity, depth, vulnerability and warmth.”
(CAROL PERSAD, PHD, ABBP, CLINICAL PROFESSOR, DIRECTOR, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM AND UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN)
“Identity Theft deeply resonates with my personal journey. It’s a powerful narrative that captures the emotional and physical challenges of rebuilding one’s life after stroke—not just regaining abilities but rediscovering who we are.”
(LAWNAE HUNTER, OWNER, PLUS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT; STROKE SURVIVOR; COFOUNDER, STROKE AWARENESS OREGON)
“Identity Theft is a game changer for stroke survivors and families. It dives deep into the emotional journey of recovery, emphasizing the importance of rediscovering yourself. A must read for anyone navigating life after stroke. Powerful, insightful, and incredibly helpful.”
(CAROL DOW-RICHARDS, CAREPARTNER, COFOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, APHASIA RECOVERY CONNECTION)
“Identity Theft will provoke thoughts, ideas and paths to growth for anyone wrestling with identity in the face of life changes. Even while struggling with the aftermath of Debra’s stroke, she and Steve found a way to create this gift to others.”
(LAWRENCE BACOW, PRESIDENT EMERITUS, HARVARD UNIVERSITY)
“Identity Theft is a scholarly yet easy-to-read exposition that addresses so many issues faced by stroke survivors, especially those with aphasia. It is a story of determination and hope that should be of interest to everyone.”
(LEORA R. CHERNEY, PHD, SCIENTIFIC CHAIR, THINK + SPEAK LAB, SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB; PROFESSOR, PHYSICAL MEDICINE?& REHABILITATION, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY)
“A colleague who is a speech therapist gifted me Identity Theft following my series of strokes. It is, by far, the best stroke book I’ve read! One chapter after another resonated with my experiences and gave me new ideas for effectively rebuilding a full and rewarding life.”
(TIMOTHY K. BEHRENS, PHD, CHES, RFSA, FACSM; STROKE SURVIVOR; PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF REHABILITATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE)
“The first edition of Identity Theft advanced my understanding of stroke recovery. This second edition provides further insight into the emotional journey and chronic nature of stroke recovery. Debra and Steve shine a spotlight on this critical, yet often overlooked, part of the stroke journey.”
(BLAISE MORRISON, PHD, HSP-P, CRC, LPC, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, CLINICAL REHABILITATION AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, UNC SCHOOL OF MEDICINE)
“It is a rare book that can begin with medical trauma and loss of self- identity and turn into a deeply moving, surprisingly uplifting, and profoundly wise meditation on what it means to be human.”
(ROB REICH, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, STANFORD UNIVERSITY; AUTHOR OF JUST GIVING AND COAUTHOR OF SYSTEM ERROR)
“Identity Theft is a must read for stroke survivors, their families, and stroke professionals. Using their story, and those of others, Debra and Steve write with humor and pragmatism about embracing and thriving in new identities after stroke.”
(DR. CHITRA VENKATASUBRAMANIAN, MBBS, MD, MSC, FNCS, PROFESSOR, STROKE AND NEUROCRITICAL CARE, STANFORD UNIVERSITY)
“A powerful and emotionally rich exploration of the experience of living with aphasia after stroke. Meyerson’s background in sociology and in identity research give her a distinctive survivor voice. Zuckerman’s voice is an important addition—stroke really is a family illness.”
(BARBARA B. SHADDEN, PHD, CCC-SLP, BOARD CERTIFIED ANCDS, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS)
