Book Review: Running Uphill by Stacia Kalinoski

[ID: a white and brown book cover with a blurred photo of a white woman with her hair in a bun wearing a pink shirt running with a golden lens flare of light around her. “Racing Uphill by Stacia Kalinoski Confronting a Life with Epilepsy” written in looping cursive text. The book sits on a bed of open books with fake golden flowers to the right and fake willow branches to the left. Book confetti shaped like curled flowers is scattered around.]

Thank you to the publishers for an early look at RACING UPHILL by Stacia Kalinoski!

RACING UPHILL is a memoir and exploration of epilepsy by journalist and athlete Stacia Kalinoski. Epilepsy has taken most of Kalinoski’s memories, so she applied her investigative journalism skills to reconstruct her life.

RACING UPHILL is a fascinating read! I didn’t realize how little I knew about epilepsy until Kalinoski drew the curtain back and shared her personal experience. At times, it was a hard read too as Kalinoski often made dangerous and harmful choices in order to appear “normal” and deny the reality of epilepsy.

I appreciated the way the author interspersed scientific research and into her personal stories, but I wish we had heard more from other people who have epilepsy. At times, I felt like the author was a bit judgmental towards other people with epilepsy who didn’t follow the exact path she did. I know it might’ve pushed the concept of “memoir”, but I would have liked to get a more diverse perspective on epilepsy.

I was a bit wary as the author is now a motivational speaker, but I think this book is a solid and realistic mix of pragmatism and hope. Kalinoski has not “overcome” epilepsy, but learned to live with it. I think this book is a must read to learn more about epilepsy and break down the stigma and misunderstandings about this neurological condition.