{"id":3808,"date":"2025-08-12T14:50:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T14:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=3808"},"modified":"2025-08-12T14:50:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T14:50:00","slug":"book-review-stroke-of-the-genius-by-kathy-zant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=3808","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Stroke of the Genius by Kathy Zant"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4b2eccd6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong><em>Stroke of the Genius<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-regular-font-size\">by Kathy Zant<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Genre:<\/strong> Memoir \/ Caregiving<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>ISBN: <\/strong>9798285315636<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Print Length:<\/strong> 178 pages<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/45ALuFL\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Amazon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Reviewed by Amy Brozio-Andrews<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ub_advanced_heading wp-block-ub-advanced-heading\"><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong>A compelling account of strength and resilience following a medical crisis<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Things are going pretty well for Mark Ryan and Kathy Zant, except for some apparent food poisoning. But when that medical crisis actually turns out to be a life-changing stroke for Mark, the Zants\u2019 world turns upside down.<\/p>\n<p>Kathy has two options: surrender to the hopeless future predicted by medical professionals and consider abandoning her husband in a nursing home, or seize every opportunity to bring him home. Kathy chooses to rebuild a life at home with Mark that continues to honor their commitment to each other.<\/p>\n<p>In <em>Stroke of the Genius<\/em>\u2014a spiritual memoir\u2014Kathy shares her journey to rock bottom and back again in the hope of inspiring other caregivers.<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Mark had a strong career as a world-renowned neurolinguistic programming (NLP) leader and hypnotist before his stroke. Always eager to help people become their greatest selves, he and Kathy are a great match from the moment they meet. As their family grows, Kathy is a strong supporter of Mark and his work.<\/p>\n<p>But once the stroke upends everything familiar to them, Kathy\u2019s willingness to take the lead ensures her husband has the medical care he needs, from proper nutrition to physical therapy. As Kathy navigates these obstacles, she has to find within herself the resources to keep going while also raising their teenage daughter and earning a living.<\/p>\n<p>Through Kathy\u2019s sharing of her hopes, relating of her fears, and embracing of her new thought patterns, which help release habits that have previously held her back, she offers a way forward to others who are facing challenging circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Kathy\u2019s voice is engaging and her writing is smooth. It\u2019s easy to be carried along by her story and identify with her experiences, such as the realization that their lives have been irrevocably changed when Mark\u2019s condition takes a turn for the worse in the hospital: <strong>\u201cAnd I was left, sinking to the linoleum, the cold seeping through my jeans like it was claiming me, too.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Throughout the book, Kathy refuses to pull any punches\u2014whether with the medical establishment or with herself. Her earnest recounting of her husband\u2019s devastating stroke, the tsunami of caregiving she is thrust into, and her steadfast dedication to her marriage, her family, and herself is stirring but soothing. It\u2019s like striking up a conversation with someone at the local coffee shop who really gets it.<\/p>\n<p>By turns a medical drama, a family saga, and a midlife coming-of-age story, Kathy\u2019s writing style keeps the pages turning swiftly. She lays bare her struggles with being a primary caregiver who\u2019s learning on the job, raising a teenager, and taking care of herself, mentally, physically, and professionally.<\/p>\n<p>Her tone is honest and real, whether it\u2019s acknowledging the hard work that being her husband\u2019s advocate demands or encouraging the reader to step into their personal power: <strong>\u201cWherever you\u2019re standing, here\u2019s what I\u2019d tell you: the worst thing isn\u2019t the end. It\u2019s the beginning.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Through it all, Kathy\u2019s touchstone is her love for her husband and her belief that what makes him special cannot be lost to a stroke. Her story will inspire others to nurture their resilience in the face of similar hardship with the hope of standing stronger for both themselves and their loved ones.<\/p>\n<div class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/45ALuFL\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Amazon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Thank you for reading Amy Brozio-Andrews\u2019s book review of<em> Stroke of the Genius <\/em>by Kathy Zant! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/category\/book-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Book Reviews<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/category\/blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">IBR Blog<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/writers-only\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ub-button-block-main   ub-button-flex\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub-button-icon-holder\">\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/span><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">Resources for Writers<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/p><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/2025\/08\/12\/book-review-stroke-of-the-genius-by-kathy-zant\/\">Book Review: Stroke of the Genius by Kathy Zant<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/independentbookreview.com\/\">Independent Book Review<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stroke of the Genius by Kathy Zant Genre: Memoir \/ Caregiving ISBN: 9798285315636 Print Length: 178 pages Amazon Reviewed by Amy Brozio-Andrews A compelling account of strength and resilience following a medical crisis Things are going pretty well for Mark Ryan and Kathy Zant, except for some apparent food poisoning. But when that medical crisis [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3808"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3808"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3808\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}