From the foreword by Dr. Luise Lutz: Those who deal with aphasia know that it strikes unexpectedly, affecting the entire lives of those affected and leaving them and their loved ones helpless. Despair and confusion are often followed by loneliness, as neither the aphasics nor their surroundings know how to overcome this abyss of silence. It takes a long time for them to develop the almost superhuman strength needed to escape this paralyzing solitude. There are some moving accounts from aphasics who describe their years-long struggles on the path back to life. Uwe Keller's text is among them. It possesses a very special quality often attributed to bestsellers: you can't stop reading! With unusual intensity, he takes us readers into his aphasic world. He captures us: I experience his fears.