Travellers to Unimaginable Lands: Dementia, Carers and the Hidden Workings of the Mind

A Guardian 'Best ideas book of 2023' A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK 'The best book I have ever read that explores the effect on the brain of the carer, when someone has dementia' Professor June Andrews, author of Dementia: The One-Stop Guide Dasha Kiper was twenty-five when she first became the live-in carer for a Holocaust survivor with Alzheimer's disease. She soon discovered the emotional strain and challenges of caring for a person whose condition disrupts the rules of time, order and continuity. In Travellers to Unimaginable Lands, Kiper explores the complex and profound psychology of caregiving, illuminating how the healthy brain's biases and intuitions make caring for people with dementia disorders so profoundly and inherently difficult. Blending neuroscience, psychology, philosophy and literature with beautifully-observed case studies, Kiper illuminates the underlying mental mechanisms behind carers' experiences, dispels the myth of the perfect caregiver and, in the process, opens the door to understanding and forgiveness.

About the Author :
Dasha Kiper is the former clinical consulting director of support groups at an Alzheimer's organisation, and holds an MA in clinical psychology from Columbia University. She was born in Russia, raised in San Francisco, and makes her home in New York. For the past decade she has counselled caregivers, led support groups, and trained and supervised mental health professionals.

Review :
A work of exceptional compassion ... deeply imaginative ... immeasurably valuable. Startling and moving ... a book so humane and quietly profound that everyone should read it Kiper can write with an Oliver Sacks-like clarity ... a wise book, and one that is unsettling in the best way A deeply compassionate but often gently humorous investigation into the psychology of caregiving ... as Kiper points out in her lucid explanations of what is known about memory and consciousness, and the brain biology of self-control, no one can be perfect in such a situation: the carers, too, are victims of the disease What if caregivers are just as much victims of Alzheimer's as their charges? ... a fascinating account of the psychology of caregiving ... the message of this compassionate book is that confusion is, deep down, part of the human condition Astute and humane ... engaging ... a unique and essential read Painful, poignant, funny, revealing and instructive ... Dasha Kiper has words of advice and support for those who are caring for loved ones with dementia Intimate and compassionate ... a fascinating read Inspired by her experience as a live-in carer for a Holocaust survivor with Alzheimer's disease, Kiper blends clinical psychology and literary verve in a timely exploration of the psychology of caregiving A work that records the bravery and tragedy shaping many ordinary lives Drawing on case studies that focus on both the person with dementia and the care-giver, the book makes use of neuroscience and psychology to provide a new perspective on the condition and its effects Fascinating ... a worthwhile and accessible read both for carers and those who may not understand the pressures under which these often underappreciated workers must somehow find ways to survive the loss of a loved one who continues to live This book will forever change the way we see people with dementia disorders-and the people who care for them. Kiper compassionately illuminates the complex bond between us and our loved ones suffering from cognitive decline, surprising us with what we can learn about ourselves through this experience and the ways our own minds both deceive us and make us uniquely human The best book I have ever read that explores the effect on the brain of the carer, when someone has dementia. Unmissable for anyone who is supporting a carer. Helped my understanding leap forward Filled with insights and clinical jewels from start to finish, this book has much to teach us about the brain, our emotions, and the self. It is a treasure A kind and thought provoking book; poignant and full of rich insights from neuroscience and social psychology, skilfully introduced to make the stories come alive. Dasha Kiper's book is full of accessible insights into the complexity of travelling between the past, present and future, and her rich and humane perspective is hopeful as well as grounded in the reality of what people suffer An eloquent and gripping book about personalities and the dances between them, exposing what dementia reveals about both the patient and the caretaker. Stirring, persuasive, and memorable How do we cope with those who have lost something as profound as the 'normal' sense of self? Travellers to Unimaginable Lands is a compassionate and insightful book about dementia and its startling effects This book - richly endowed with experience and wisdom - is a treasure. It provides those who care for the neurologically impaired the comfort of empathic insight into their own problematic behaviour. Like no other book, it examines how taking care of the impaired mind affects one's own mind and sets up an internal struggle that reveals something fundamental about the human brain. I predict a long life for Travellers to Unimaginable Lands for anyone interested in or intimately involved with those afflicted by dementia Dasha Kiper's exhilarating and enlightening book offers sensitive, intimate portraits of Alzheimer's caregivers and their loved ones, enhanced by an informed tour of the mind and how it works. I can think of no other book that covers the challenges caregivers face - the 'fine, nearly impossible line' they must walk - with such insight and understanding. For them, Kiper provides a priceless way to find the meaning in the journey, and to feel less alone