Beyond the Surface by Jessica Long is a powerful and relatable memoir that resonated deeply with me, even though I am not disabled. I have a rare genetic disorder, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), which is the most common genetic disorder, yet one that most people have never heard of. This condition, like Jessica’s experience, has made me grapple with feelings of anger, shame, bravery, and everything in between. Jessica’s journey to self-acceptance is one I found myself connecting with on many levels, and I found myself highlighting many of her words because they echoed my own experiences so closely. Her words resonated with me so much, because I could have written them myself, having experienced the same emotions and struggles.

Jessica’s story is not just about her incredible achievements as one of the most decorated athletes in history, but also about the emotional and psychological challenges of living with a visible difference. She writes candidly about the trauma of multiple surgeries and prosthetics, as well as the anger, resentment, and insecurity of trying to find her place in a world that often views those with disabilities as less than whole. Her words, “I didn’t want to be special; I wanted to be normal,” struck a chord with me, as I’ve also struggled with the desire to blend in while dealing with the challenges of my condition.

My disorder, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 affects people in various ways, from visible tumors and disfigurements to less obvious but sometimes significant symptoms. Like Jessica, I’ve had to navigate a world that doesn’t always understand or accept those who are different. Some people with NF1 have visible signs and face significant discrimination, while others, like myself, have manifestations that are not very noticeable. I’ve been fortunate that my condition is relatively mild and invisible to outsiders, but that could change, bringing with it a whole plethora of complications. Jessica’s acknowledgment of her visible difference and her determination to embrace it rather than hide it is both inspiring and empowering.

Because my body can’t produce neurofibromin correctly, cells may divide and replicate excessively, leading to tumor formation. NF (which includes all three types) is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of tumors along the nervous system. It can lead to severe disfigurement, deformity, deafness, blindness, brain tumors, cancer, death, shortened life expectancy, learning disabilities, scoliosis, bone abnormalities, short stature, an oversized head, and much more. The condition is widely varied, affecting everyone differently from mild to severe. Like Jessica, I understand the complexities of feeling different but wanting to be normal.

Jessica’s story is not just about her incredible achievements as a decorated athlete but about her struggles with identity, self-worth, and the challenges of being seen as “less than whole” by society. Her words about not being a victim to circumstances and the importance of harnessing self-love are powerful. Over the past year, I’ve also become an advocate, using my voice and sharing my story—a journey I once wanted to keep hidden. Jessica’s journey has inspired me to continue speaking out, not just for myself but for others who might feel the same way. She reminded me that we never know who is listening or who we might be inspiring and this is how we create change and acceptance.

As you can see, Beyond the Surface is not just a memoir about overcoming physical challenges, but a profound exploration of the emotional journey to self-acceptance and a call to embrace our differences and find strength in them. Jessica Long’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, and her words offer comfort and inspiration to anyone facing their own battles. Her words about not being a victim to circumstances and the importance of harnessing self-love are powerful. Her experiences remind us that our worth isn’t defined by external achievements or how others see us. Instead, it comes from loving ourselves without judgment. I found her story not only inspirational but also a comforting reminder that we can all find strength and beauty in our uniqueness. This memoir will leave you with a sense of hope and a renewed belief in the importance of self-acceptance

Thank you to the publisher Sounds True Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley

Beyond the Surface
A Gold Medalist’s Guide to Finding and Loving Yourself
by Jessica Long
Pub DateOct 01 2024
Sounds True Publishing |Sounds True
Biographies & Memoirs| Health, Mind & Body| Self-Help


Netgalley and Sounds True Publishing provided me with a copy of Beyond the Surface for review:


A Paralympic champion and inspirational speaker, Jessica Long shares her story-and powerful principles to help you achieve unconditional self-acceptance for yourself.

Jessica Long is one of today's most compelling figures. As a toddler, her lower legs were amputated, but she has since gone on to become one of the most decorated athletes in history. But her true successes-and struggles-do not come from winning medals or setting world records. “Our worth cannot be placed in external things—our looks, job, or approval of others,” she says. “No achievement will make us feel worthy unless we can love ourselves without judgment.”

With Beyond the Surface Jessica explores the hard-won lessons she learned on her extraordinary journey. The struggles she encountered were not only the trauma of multiple surgeries and prosthetics, but the anger, resentment, and insecurity of trying to find her place and identity in a world that saw her as less than whole.

Throughout each chapter, she reveals the resources and support that empowered her to overcome hardship and translates them into practices to help you do the same.

The first part of the book invites you to examine your beliefs about yourself, how they have arisen, and how you can move from self-criticism to unconditional self-love. The second part urges you to look outward and challenge systemic forces that obstruct a more inclusive, equitable society.

“In sharing my story,” says Jessica, “including the ugly and uncomfortable parts, I hope to inspire you to love yourself just as you are. It is our differences that make us so incredibly beautiful and human and strong.”

In Beyond the Surface, we explore both the aspects of our lives that make us utterly amazing and unique, as well as the essential dignity and value we all share.

I give Beyond the Surface five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

After following her during the Paralympics I was excited to read this book! I enjoyed it but left wanting a little bit more of her. This is a pretty short book and there were quite a few parts that also focused on inspiring the reader which were good, but I wanted her to dive into some parts of her story a little more. She does have another book that I read about her life that I feel like went into more detail so I was kind of hoping this one would expand on that one which it did in some parts and not others. This might be a great read for others who are looking more for a book that has direct calls to action from the author.