The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death (Vintage International)
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A triumphant memoir by the former editor-in-chief of French Elle that reveals an indomitable spirit and celebrates the liberating power of consciousness. In 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby was the editor-in-chief of French Elle, the father of two young children, a 44-year-old man known and loved for his wit, his style, and his impassioned approach to life. By the end of the year he was also the victim of a rare kind of stroke to the brainstem. After 20 days in a coma, Bauby awoke into a body which had all but stopped working: only his left eye functioned, allowing him to see and, by blinking it, to make clear that his mind was unimpaired. Almost miraculously, he was soon able to express himself in the richest detail: dictating a word at a time, blinking to select each letter as the alphabet was recited to him slowly, over and over again. In the same way, he was able eventually to compose this extraordinary book. By turns wistful, mischievous, angry, and witty, Bauby bears witness to his determination to live as fully in his mind as he had been able to do in his body. He explains the joy, and deep sadness, of seeing his children and of hearing his aged father's voice on the phone. In magical sequences, he imagines traveling to other places and times and of lying next to the woman he loves. Fed only intravenously, he imagines preparing and tasting the full flavor of delectable dishes. Again and again he returns to an "inexhaustible reservoir of sensations," keeping in touch with himself and the life around him. Jean-Dominique Bauby died two days after the French publication of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. This book is a lasting testament to his life. Read more
Publisher : Vintage
Publication date : June 23, 1998
Language : English
Print length : 144 pages
ISBN-10 : 0375701214
ISBN-13 : 14
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 5.1 x 0.39 x 7.9 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #23,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #8 in Disability Biographies #12 in Journalist Biographies #29 in Love & Loss
#8 in Disability Biographies:
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Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Paperback
A Review of: The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, by Jean-Dominique Bauby Jean-Domique Bauby suffered a stroke which left him paralyzed with locked-in syndrome at the age of 43. He wrote the book for his two children with the help of Claude Mendibil. Bauby’s intention for this memoir was to give readers a view into what life after such a tragic event entails. He truly captivated both the positive and negative feelings which he frequently felt throughout the novel. For this review the chapters are summarized and reviewed, note some chapters are discussed as one. Wheelchair. Bauby spoke of his wheelchair in both his terms and what the professionals surrounding him provided him with. They thought of the wheelchair as progress while Bauby saw his life sentence. Prayer. Once he learned of what his new life would entail, Bauby let go of his large future plans that felt no longer attainable. Throughout this chapter he focused on the victories he could overcome, such as, swallowing the excess saliva that sits in his mouth. This chapter was meaningful in how Bauby was able to convey to the reader that he struggled with the idea of letting go his plans and making new ones. Bath time. Bauby describes his daily routine which includes a bath. He channels the reader into the harsh double edged sword that was this time in his days. On one end he would relish in the pure joy of taking the bath, reminding him of how relaxing his used to be. On the other, the nostalgia brings pain in knowing that this will never be the same feeling. The Alphabet. In this chapter Bauby discusses his communication system. He goes into detail the different types of communicators he encounters and how each one reacts to his form of communication. He discusses his preferences and how some make the communication harder as a result of not wanting to be wrong or disappoint Bauby. The Empress. Bauby lets us in to see his own appearance. He talks of the patroness of the hospital being Empress Eungenie and his imagination flourishes. Tourists. Bauby describes the different long term patients that are in the hospital. He makes a point to also discuss the patients who are there short-term and will return to their homes. Bauby makes a point to describe the way they laugh and joke to pass time but turn away from him. Guardian Angel. This chapter and the three to follow of it talk of his relationships. Bauby refers to his Speech Therapist as his guardian angel. She is the one who allows him to communicate through his communication board. He talks of his father and his daughter both of whom he calls while his guardian angel is there. Bauby tells us that he wishes the other professionals would communicate with him using his communication board instead of just ignoring his attempts. Our Very Own Madonna. Bauby speaks of his trip in Lourdes with Josephine. It gave a look into his life before the accident. They went to the Madonna and their trip was full of confrontations between the two of them, but love seemed to prevail. The Vegetable. Bauby tells us a way he copes with his locked in syndrome. He writes a newsletter to friends and associates to help them gain a better understanding of his condition and so that they do not just write him off. Outing. This chapter discusses how there are two different people that others know of Bauby. The way he was before his accident and the way he is now. Twenty-One. Bauby explains what his friend and colleague Vincent is like and how he is different from other visitors in the sense that he treats Bauby like he always has. He also tells of his own hearing, he is completely blocked in one ear and the other amplifies all sounds from the hallways. Sunday. This chapter gives us a look into what the days are like when there is no one around. Bauby relies on his caretakers to break up his days and on Sunday’s they are not around. A Day in the Life. Bauby delves into the day of his stroke. He talks of how his day went normally and he had planned to see a play with his son, Theodile. When his stroke was happening he thought he would just be find after a rest and that is when he slipped into a coma. Season of Renewal. The last chapter of the novel. It showed a sense of hope for the future. Bauby describes the change of season into autumn and how he has progressed. He states that he has made significant improvements since his time at Berck Hospital. The ending of the book was perfection. The beginning of the book was hard to get into. It was confusing the way it jumped into describing how he was feeling about being in the hospital. I didn’t understand some of the metaphors or if he was talking about reality or fantasy. I did not give up on the prologue and first paragraphs as I reread them to gain a better understanding of what he was describing. Throughout the rest of the novel it was so eloquently written and Bauby’s style of writing was imaginative and intriguing. A person may benefit from this book if they have recently suffered a similar traumatic event in their own lives, in a family member’s life, or will be working with this population. It provides excellent insight into how all aspects of Bauby’s communication and daily life struggles are handled and how he feels personally about them.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2016 by Amazon Customer
Format: Paperback
There’s a moment early on in Jean-Dominique Bauby’s The Diving Bell and the Butterfly when you realize that this is not just a story about paralysis, but a story about life itself—about what it means to be truly alive in a body that no longer listens to you. When Bauby writes about his condition, locked in a world of silence and immobility, you can’t help but feel the terrifying, crushing weight of being trapped—trapped in a body that has betrayed you, and yet somehow still able to feel and think, to remember, to exist. But then there’s the butterfly. There’s always the butterfly. Written after Bauby suffered a massive stroke, leaving him with locked-in syndrome—fully aware of the world but unable to move anything except his left eyelid—this book is a raw, aching exploration of the mind’s power to transcend even the most insurmountable of physical limitations. There’s a beautiful, almost surreal grace in the way Bauby, who could only communicate by blinking, crafts his memoir. This is not the tale of someone helpless, but of someone who has found a way to breathe within the confines of his body. To fight, to assert his voice, to exist in a world that has left him behind. What’s staggering about The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the way Bauby captures a life so paradoxical. His body is a prison, a diving bell that drags him down into the depths. Yet his mind, his spirit, is still fluttering, a butterfly, refusing to be confined. The metaphor is elegant, yes, but it is also painfully human. It is the representation of something we all feel at some point—the tension between the weight of our circumstances and the innate drive to find meaning, to reach out and touch something that will make the suffering worthwhile. As you read, the reality of Bauby’s existence—his forced immobility—becomes a backdrop to his extraordinary capacity for life, for art, for expression. Each word he writes is a victory. Each sentence is a testament to the indomitable human will. You’re never made to feel sorry for him. Instead, you’re forced to confront your own assumptions about life, about what it means to live. It’s not the muscles, the speed, the dexterity that define us, but something deeper, something that remains even when all the physical faculties are gone. This book will make you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about strength, weakness, suffering, and joy. Bauby’s prose is direct, clear, and unflinching, yet there’s a beauty in its simplicity. It’s almost as though he’s pared away all the excess and left only the essentials—the purest reflections of a man who has nothing left to lose but everything to say. And what he says is life-changing. There is no room for false optimism here; there is only the unrelenting desire to create, to make something beautiful out of something devastating. It’s a book about what can be achieved in the smallest of spaces—the space between the blink of an eye, between one breath and the next. Reading The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is like looking into a mirror and seeing the reflection of someone who’s faced the depths, who has met the abyss—and chosen to flutter, to rise, despite the weight, despite the darkness. Five stars. But only because there are no stars in his world. Only words. Only light.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2025 by Quentin Birdwhistle
Following a massive stroke in 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby found himself trading a life of galas and yachts to one of isolation and hospital rooms. Having suffered a traumatic brain stem injury, Bauby is a prisoner in his own body courtesy of locked-in syndrome. The subsequent themes of fear, impotence, and, eventually, the triumph of one’s own desire to maintain independence are explored in striking detail throughout the autobiography. The opening chapter, The Wheelchair, begins by painting the image of Jean’s dependency on others, his helplessness screaming off of the pages. The Prayer references the prayers for recovery that Bauby finds to be a waste of what little energy he has. Shifting gears from the spiritual to the physical, Bathtime and The Alphabet recount Bauby’s complete reliance on the staff tending to him. It is here we learn that there is a small chance his nervous system will start working again, but if it were to happen, the process would be extremely slow. The Empress, Cinecitta, and Tourists focus on Bauby’s life and neighbors at the hospital. Since his mental state in tact, he is able to recognize other patients and their needs, Empress Eugénie being one in particular. He thinks fondly of her and her compassion towards him, often offering comfort. This comfort is fleeting, though; upon wandering around the hospital, Bauby realizes the gravity of his condition: “exiled, paralyzed, mute, half-deaf, deprived of all pleasures, and reduced to the existence of a jellyfish” (26). Cinecitta conveys the frustration of not being able to express his wants and needs, viewing the hospital as a maze he mindlessly wanders through, while The Tourists derides the ability of hospital visitors to come and go as they please, demonstrating avoidance behavior all the while. The Sausage, Guardian Angel, and The Photo paint a portrait of his daily therapy. Knowing he may never eat orally again, Bauby retreats into mental “banquets,” dreaming a world of culinary delights where the beef is always tender and the fish is fresh from the sea. Though a tragic reminder of lost physical abilities, the richness of the chapter’s descriptions highlight the importance of his speech therapist, Sandrine: Without her, Bauby would never been able to develop the eye movement-based dictation through which this memoir was written. Yet Another Coincidence, The Dream, and Voice Offerings are painfully honest chapters. After a brain injury a person’s sense of reality may never return; as such, Bauby chooses not to remember his current dreams, but instead hold onto his past memories. Adding to his plight, we discover that an optical irrigation issue has forced Bauby’s doctors to sew one of one of his eyes shut. With the loss of sight he creates “productions” of the room’s goings-on; a mental show to keep himself entertained. My Lucky Day, Our Very Own Madonna, and Through a Glass Darkly, Paris come next. My Lucky Day is brief, recalling his experience as the TV channel ironically asking if it is his “lucky day.” Later, we’re introduced to Josephine, his former lover and mother to his two children. This cements feelings of inadequacy, and it’s here that Bauby gives us his memoir’s titular metaphor: “Yet since taking up residency in my diving bell, I have made two brief trips to the world of Paris medicine to hear the verdict pronounced on me from the diagnostic heights”, (77) going on to say “Nothing was missing, except me. I was elsewhere” (79). The Vegetable and Outing follow. It had been close to sixth months since the stroke, and, underestimated by the hospital staff, Beaudry determined he “would have to rely on myself if I wanted to prove that my IQ was still higher than a turnip’s” (82). In one memorable anecdote, he finds brief respite from the dreary hospital world on a trip to the beach, reminded of the “intoxicating” aroma of French fries (88). Twenty to One, The Duck Hunt, and Sunday give more glimpses of Bauby’s past, introducing us to his former colleague Vincent. This reminder of his former life leads him to conclude “Today it seems to me that my whole life was nothing but a string of those small near misses: a race whose result we know beforehand but in which we fail to bet on the winner” (94). The Duck Hunt refers to a duck he was gifted to indicate when someone entered the room. He had a severe hearing loss that made it difficult to recognize subtle sounds such as a door opening. “Far from such din, when blesses silence returns, I can listen to the butterflies that flutter inside my head” (97): He claims he must have butterfly hearing despite its constant deterioration. Continuing his life of routine, Bauby recounts how on Sundays the bell tolls, the TV is turned on, and he contemplates the small library on his windowsill (101). The Ladies of Hong Kong, The Message, At the Wax Museum, and The Mythmaker add to his recollection of and longing for travel, food, and desire to leave a note on the typewriter across his room. While his body is preserved, these memories are what keep Baudry from emotionally expiring within the dull hospital walls. Finally, A Day in the Life and Season of Renewal close out the memoir and summarize Bauby’s continued dreams, the memories that live on, and the future that lies ahead. Though the prose itself is beautifully constructed, the memoir occasionally blurs the line between past and present, dream and reality. As such, it may have been helpful if Bauby had more cohesively grouped the chapters together according to timeframe and level of fantasy. Given the nature of his condition, though, it’s understandable that portrayals of his thought process are at times free-flowing. Given its central theme of self-preservation in the face of physical adversity and, in particular, Bauby’s triumph in communication, this memoir would resonate with Speech Language Pathologists on personal, professional, and emotional levels, poetically shedding light on the “invisible” side of a devastating syndrome.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2016 by Amazon Customer
Format: Paperback
A heartfelt story, one we all can relate to. A worthy read.
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2026 by John T.
Format: Paperback
I loved this book and it’s very interesting. I would 100 percent recommend and I recommend watching the movie as well!
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2026 by Aaliyah
Format: Paperback
The writing style wasn’t to my taste. I was hoping for more. A lot of rambling. You’d think someone who was dictating this a letter at a time would get to the point quicker and have meaning in his sentences. There were some nice turns of phrases and some really interesting parts, so I have it at 3 stars. Could have been worse, could have been better. I did kind of like many sections of this book that were insightful and memorable. But taken as a whole, a lot of weak parts too. I know what he was going through so I want to be kind here
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Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2025 by Ed Beckmann
Format: Paperback
Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2026 by Ken
Format: Paperback
A Review of: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, by Jean-Dominique Bauby The 8th of December 1995 began as a relatively unremarkable day for Jean-Dominique Bauby, Editor of Elle magazine in France. That evening, Jean-Dominique would endure a colossal cerebrovascular accident that would leave him with locked in syndrome, resulting in the inability to move and speak. Using a ghostwriter, Claude Mendibil, and only the blinking of his left eye, Bauby gives the reader a glimpse into his current life and thoughts as well as overlooked memories form his past. Jean-Dominique’s use of a diving bell and a butterfly encompass his take on his new life, restricted in body but free in mind to take flight to new and old places. His descriptive telling of the experiences, thoughts and memories Bauby has draws the reader in and reminds us to cherish even the most mundane of experiences. The following paragraphs will highlight some of his experiences in the chapters. Prologue: The initial introduction to Jean-Dominique’s waking life. The pain he experiences upon waking without the ability to move or sense whether he is hot or cold. It is here the reader first understands what lock in syndrome is and how while it is quite awful, he is able to escape reality by exploring in his mind and creating vivid scenes as well as re-experience memories. The Wheelchair: A number of white-coated professionals place him in a wheelchair for the first time. He still unsure exactly what his situation is and remains the same after his short lived and unceremonious wheel chair experience when he is left alone once again. This should an eye opener for all professionals that while we are busy individuals we must take time to be present with our patients. Prayer: This chapter discusses Bauby’s realization of needed to achieve smaller goals rather than grandiose plans. In his mind and prayers, he assigns each spirit a specific healing task that brings a small comfort but little reprieve. The Alphabet: Bauby uses the French alphabet ordered by frequency to communicate. He discusses the simple yet tedious way he converses with others as well as the differences in communication partners that can be both fatiguing and enjoyable. Tourists: Bauby describes the rehabilitation room, a place where individuals of various levels of ability work on their recovery. During a particular exercise, he expresses feeling like a statue in a room full of tourists, who cannot acknowledge him. Guardian Angel: Sandrine, his speech therapist and guardian angel, returned to him the ability to communicate and remain connected with others. Unfortunately, we are also told that many of his caretakers fail to use this communication mode resulting frustrating experiences. The Photo: This chapter reminisces about his last time spent with his father, one where he was the caretaker for his fail elderly father, prior to the stroke. The contrast between his positions then and now points out how fast situations can change for any one of us. Voice Offstage and My Lucky Day: Here Jean-Dominique briefly discusses his fears and discontent with medical professionals as well as his own body. Through a Glass, Darkly: It is Father’s Day, and Jean Dominique writes of the tender love of his children and they way they are have grown into personalities that are influenced by their lives. Paris: A description of his how his views and feelings towards the city of Paris, Bauby is reminded during his trips to Paris that the city has continued to bustle and time has gone on without him. The Vegetable: This chapter marks 6 months since the dramatic shift in his life; he now sends monthly letters to family and friends. He receives many in return and feels proud to be able to exert his unwillingness to be called a vegetable, if even not in his presence. Twenty to One: A now painful memory of a trip to the racetrack with an old friend, where conversation, enjoyment, food and drink resulted in the loss of opportunity to win 20:1 odds on a particular racehorse, one who’s name he struggles to remember. This chapter is full of regret of for opportunities not seized but also of opportunities he will never again experience. The Duck Hunt: The stroke left him with hearing problems that make everyday noises sometimes unbearable, in this case the incessant quacking of a nearby patient’s movement detection device. He retreats to his mind and listen to butterflies to escape the unbearable noise. Sunday: His least favourite day of the week. The hospital becomes a ghost town with only minimal staff and visitors. This day is often lonely, particularly since he is unable to adjust the television or read a book by himself. The Ladies of Hong Kong: Here he describes his mind’s travels from places he a been a number times to others like Hong Kong, where fate has always disallowed him. He also recalls a memory of a friend who was captured and held by the Hezbollah for years and ponders the fact that he now feels imprisoned much as his friend was. “A Day in the Life”: This second to last chapter is where the read will at least read about the day when his life was forever changed. His description of the day as well as the songs on the radio give the impression that he had no idea what was to come. Season of Renewal: This final chapter describes some of his progress, his joy of family time, and his acknowledgement of his new life. My only criticism is that while Jean-Dominique’s descriptions are both eloquent and vivid enough to paint a picture of his experiences, each chapter feels separate from the next, leaving the reader to try and piece together the bigger picture. This does not overly distract from the enormity of the task Bauby completed writing his memoir only blinking his left eye. Finally, any individual who works in the medical setting will find insight both into patient’s lives and how they can improve their experiences in the smallest of ways. This memoir may also benefit those who have loved ones who have experienced the devastation a stroke can cause by giving them a small glimpse into the mind of someone who is no longer able to communicate as they once were. This book also gives hope that though life may be permanently altered by terrible events, there can be renewal and new joy in the unexpected.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2017 by Amanda Strang