Map to the Unknown

A Journey Inward

By: Isabella Huffington

Narrated by: Brina Palencia

Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

A riveting, darkly funny true story of illness and of learning to trust the Universe while living with pain and uncertainty 

“In a collective moment of loss and uncertainty, here comes Isabella Huffington to show us how to survive and thrive anyway. This book will be a balm to all in need of a little fiery hope.” (Glennon Doyle, author of number one New York Times best seller Untamed and founder of Together Rising) 

"Isabella Huffington’s Map to the Unknown captures her journey through illness with strength, vulnerability, and a great deal of good humor. Her wise-beyond-her-years memoir will inspire its readers to find joy amid all of life's challenges." (Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of Lean In and Option B) 

One day, on her way to a date, Isabella Huffington gets hit by a bike. What begins as a concussion with a diagnosed recovery time of seven-to-ten days becomes more than two years of debilitating pain with no apparent end and a string of unhelpful doctor and specialist visits.   

In the wreckage, jobs are canceled. Leases are broken. There is no second date. What’s left is Isabella, her body, and her pain. Because the source of her pain cannot be located within the body, she is told over and over that her pain is psychosomatic. And Isabella believes it, over and over.   

What follows is a surprisingly funny medical and spiritual journey, during which Isabella must learn to trust in all that she cannot see or quantify: her pain, God, and her inner voice. Everything fell apart and then something new emerged.    

©2020 Isabella Huffington (P)2020 Audible Originals

Very touching

A good read - very well performed.
After suffering from chronic pain for most of my lifetime (starting after a car accident at 11), I can so much relate to the endless doctor visits, the frustration, no resolution, lack of energy, etc. now, as I’m turning 40 I’m tackling the chronic back pain, the oh so frequent migraines and headaches head on... add osteoarthritis to it and I realized I don’t want to be living another 40 years in daily pain. It’s a journey and every day is different.

I wish Isabella the very best for her future and hope she can find some help, answers or some relief.

moderate

ok book. it wasn't very long so didn't invest a lot of time. I wanted her to be checked into hospital for psych care. Looked her up after finishing the book- interesting fam.

Good book

Isabella Huffington went through hell and back after a head injury caused a serious brain concussion. Add to that, she suffered with endometriosis. The author showed tremendous courage throughout her ordeal and did an excellent job describing it for readers. Fortunately, she had a tremendously supportive family and sufficient financial resources to make it out the other side in good condition. The narrator did a wonderful job with Isabella's book.

This author is so talented

I was captivated by Isabella’s story from the very beginning and couldn’t stop listening. I finished it in 2 days. I needed to know how her story would end and if she would ever get better. I loved the narrator so much, i never once “zoned out” because she does such a great job keeping you interested. Overall, very well written story that is humorous, honest, dark and even hopeful. I felt every emotion with her as Isabella took us through the last 2 years of her life. Thank you Isabella for sharing your story. I truly hope you get relief from your illnesses and pains.

Great read for teenagers/young adults who are trying to figure things out about themselves.

Isabellas story is remarkable in finding her true path to herself. Her recent accident opened her up to a lot of struggles she will face but her determination and willingness is inspiring and I found myself cheering her on! Great read for teenagers/ young adults who are trying to figure things out about themselves.

So relatable

It's an amazing book!! First book that i can actually relate to!! So good. Must read 😊😊😊😊

Simple and beautiful

I quite enjoyed this book. It was honest and beautiful. The description of the feelings in the story was quite deep but sometime very funny!

It is alarming to see yourself…

I am writing about content. The delivery was very good but I was riveted by the content. I was an accident victim in 2016 suffering a severe concussion as well as a broken neck & back. I finally had back & neck surgery in the next two years after the accident, but the most alarming injury was what happened in my brain. I couldn’t find words to express myself, only somewhat successful now but not up to the old me. My short term memory was affected and still is. I used to have basically a photographic memory. And the California DMV wanted my license. A big truck was being driven by a man texting hitting me at a red light at double the speed limit.
I still cannot accept the changes. As with this author. You get tired of explaining to a new doctor what you have overcome and this is my problem now. So you learn to just deal with who you are. Pain? A condition that never leaves. Then I had to retire early to meet medical demands.
Good job on this piece. I can actually give this to family and say, here i am. I finally have the words…

This book is a must listen!

This book is the story of Isabella's journey after she suffers a concussion and her subsequent path to healing. She miraculously turns the mundane into the profound, gravity into levity and her very personal crisis becomes a shared and relatable story. She weaves together so many aspects of her life in such a raw and vulnerable way that is was impossible not to be touched deeply. I felt like I was along for every moment of this ride with her. I laughed and cried and sometimes at the same moment. I think everyone should listen to this book. I

Thank you Isabella

By sharing your own path you give hope to those who are navigating theirs.

A hopeful, honest, vulnerable story. A good example of the twists and turns of life and the importance of patience and the power of the “frame” we put on things. I loved the shift about moving from being scared about not knowing the future to being excited about it. Highly recommend.