Spoken: A Memoir Sprinkled with a Little Quadriplegia is a work of non-fiction in the memoir, health, and inspirational writing genres. The work contains some sexual imagery and text and is preferable for an adult reading audience. Penned by author Robert A Rieck Jr, this memoir is a candid exploration of the author's life, weaving together threads of resilience, introspection, and connection. From the heartland of Nebraska emerges a narrative that transcends geographical boundaries, delving into the complexities of the human condition. Through triumphs and challenges, the author's journey resonates universally, offering insights into the shared experiences of guilt, innocence, and heroism. His story, sprinkled with raw honesty and profound reflections, serves as a beacon for those grappling with their place in society, touching the hearts of readers from all walks of life.

Author Robert A Rieck Jr has crafted a profound and intimate memoir, immersing readers in the rich tapestry of interconnected experiences that show you how a person is shaped and tested by the life they’ve led. From the vast plains of Nebraska to the depths of introspection, Rieck's narrative captivated me with its raw honesty and universal themes. There is a novel-like quality to his descriptive techniques that truly brought the vignettes of his life into being for us from every angle. His journey from adversity to resilience is a hopeful nod to the human capacity for strength and connection and despite some of the trickier experiences of his life, the narrative is delivered with a confident and optimistic tone. As I delved deeper into the pages, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences and connections to the broader human experience. There’s a universality to the art of memoir that Rieck has achieved beautifully, urging readers to take his experiences as a catalyst to confront their own vulnerabilities and embrace the power of empathy and introspection. Overall, Spoken: A Memoir Sprinkled with a Little Quadriplegia is a highly recommended read for anyone who enjoys accomplished and heartfelt memoirs that give you space to think.

Spoken is an emotional memoir by Robert A. Rieck Jr. that chronicles his life from childhood to adulthood while living with quadriplegia. By the time he was fifteen, Robert had already lived an eventful life, and as he grew older, he faced even more challenges. These included family problems, learning about racial prejudice, unconventional relationships, and a life-changing spinal injury caused by a guilt-driven incident. Despite these obstacles, Robert found the strength to keep going, experiencing love and loss along the way. He transformed his life by participating in different sports, counseling alcohol and drug addicts, and becoming an animal rights activist, ultimately finding a new sense of purpose.

Spoken is a captivating memoir that offers a candid and deeply personal exploration of Robert's life, filled with struggles, triumphs, and profound self-discovery. It covers a wide range of topics, including social issues, medical information, and details about quadriplegia. From growing up in Nebraska to navigating complex relationships, the memoir delves into universal themes of resilience and life connections. It is well-written in a journal format, featuring detailed descriptions and accompanying pictures. However, it should be noted that the book contains sexual content that may not be suitable for young audiences. Through his raw honesty and vulnerability, Robert invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and find commonality in shared human journeys. Spoken is a poignant reminder of the power of empathy, introspection, and the enduring thread of humanity that unites us all. This is why I recommend it to anyone who loves reading thought-provoking memoirs that challenge perspectives and evoke reflection.

Robert Rieck exposes a real, uncensored and sometimes uncomfortable Memoir of his life; the childhood that served as the pillars for adolescent choices, a failed attempt to end his life, and somehow, the ability to understand that life is worth living. Robert's detailed description of Life events enables the reader to be in the moment and feel the emotion. The growth Robert shows as his timeline unfolds is simply amazing, and his humor stays with him through the most difficult times. Reading this Memoir reminded me that in spite of setbacks, one's attitude can set the stage for true fulfillment and enjoyment in life.

"This book isn’t just a straightforward, honest account of Robert’s life; it shares with us the trials, tribulations, and most importantly, triumphs that have shaped his life. He is a shamelessly open author and he lets that shine through in his writing. If you take the time to pick up this book, you won’t want to put it down!"

"Reading this astonishing and inspiring book that Robert has written will keep you intrigued for days. I loved how he took the path of writing from his birth to present day to include all of his life experiences. His use of emotions throughout the memoir captives the reader. I would like to thank Robert for going above and beyond to share his story with us, and how he became the wonderful person he is today. I just hope that everyone takes sometime to read this amazing book."

An eye opening and honest reflection of experiences, life altering choices, and intimate adventures. This memoir is difficult to put down as it follows Robert Allen Rieck Jr through accounts of his youth to adulthood, with every twist and turn possible. Including a multitude of topics relatable to us all. Family, Relationships, Religion, Internal struggles, Advocacy, and finding what you value in life.
SPOKEN A memoir sprinkled with a little quadriplegia is a book that I highly recommend!
It is an easy read that is thought-provoking and very entertaining!

I had met Robert a few years ago. After reading his book, I appreciate his life so much more. He has been through so much yet has been able to learn his life lessons and become a compassionate human being. He has definitely made me think about what choices I make in my life. Thanks Robert!

This book is daring and courageous, raw and unfiltered. Robert recounts distant memories as if they happened yesterday with precise detail, luring us into those secret places while exposing all his humanness, allowing the reader to identify with the pleasures and pain of our human condition. He makes us comfortable to be vulnerable and challenges us to examine the impact our choices have on society and the planet. Impactful and insightful, let Robert's story serve as an inspiration to be a game changer and a way maker.

Yes I am the author of this book so there is bias in this review. However, I do want to objectively point out that I wrote this book in a way that it's very easy for you read it for a little bit and set it aside and come back to it later. The way this was done throughout the whole book is my storytelling style is a conglomeration of many short story events pieced together in an often chronological order. Doing it this way makes it very easy to have your attention stick to reading because the stories fluctuate and keeps you alert, and connected. This is also a book that it's very easy to look in the table of contents and find any of your favorite stories very easily, so you don't have to underline, fold pages, leave sticky notes etc. Because of this feature, you can look at the table of contents and bounce around reading throughout the book. I really encourage you to read it and I do not believe you will be disappointed.
Here are the first two quotes in the book to kind of set the stage for the surprising content: "Hearing each other's stories actually raises our levels of the feel-good hormone oxycontin, which is what nursing mothers secrete when they breastfeed - what partly helps them bond with their young. It helps to join us together in some tribal Way."~Mary Karr
"There is little quite as humorous when you are paralyzed having severely limited tactile feeling and the loud alarming noise of your own fart startle scares you."~Robert A Rieck Jr

A candid depiction of life after living through religious trauma and disability. A fulfilling life is possible, but it can also be a struggle.

Spoken- Made Me Speechless !
This book was absolutely phenomenal, riveting and attention catching!! I loved this book so much it was hard to put down!!!
Emotional, Inspirational, Action Packed, Couldnt Put It Down

Amazing Journey In Living Life.
Robert's story is a journey of birth to adolescense to being a adult. His journey of understanding guilt, love , and becoming. Engages the reader from the beginning. You can hear his thoughts thru his words that help you understand his decisions along the way. Very open about sexuality and the complications and joy. Highly recommend.
Couldn't put it down.

Like Reading A Diary!
SPOKEN: A MEMOIR SPRINKLED WITH A LITTLE QUADRIPLEGIA is a memoir by Robert Rieck in which he reflects on his unique life experience. He describes growing up in a religious home as an abled boy, the life changing relationship he had with a girl he worked with, the incident that disabled him, changes in his life after becoming disabled and becoming an animal activist. I’ve never seen a memoir formatted like SPOKEN, longer chronologically themed chapters with many vignettes noted by name in the table of contents. If you are interested in other people’s lives and personal details, this book is for you! You can read it front to back or pick up in the middle of the author’s life if a vignette piques your interest. One of my favorite stories in the book is when Robert won a trip to be the VIP at a party at the Playboy Mansion. I do wonder if the Mansion has become more accessible since then.

Spoken- Made Me Speechless !
This book was absolutely phenomenal, riveting and attention catching!! I loved this book so much it was hard to put down!!!

Amazing Journey In Living Life.
Robert's story is a journey of birth to adolescence to being an adult. His journey of understanding guilt, love , and becoming. Engages the reader from the beginning. You can hear his thoughts through his words that help you understand his decisions along the way. Very open about sexuality and the complications and joy. Highly recommend.

A lot of the adjectives previously used to describe this book are so dead on: raw, honest, human. It is difficult to add to the discussion. Robert does a great job of laying it all out on the table not to make himself look like a hero, not to make himself look like a subject of pity, but as a human being with a strong notion of justice trying to figure it all out; much like we all are.

At first, I was a little thrown off by the format of the memoirs where each section is only a few paragraphs long, with the longest being maybe a page and a half. At times it can feel like the format can cause some stories and themes to stop abruptly. However, as you read on, and get more accustomed to the style, it feels very much like a good friend telling you stories of his life. Complete with feelings of shock, humor, and moments where you just have to go "Robert noooo! what are you doing?" tapping into the awkward moments in all of our lives that replay over and over in our heads. (Spoiler: The correct answer to which of your partners has the best butt is always and forever: The one you're with now.)

Overall, this is a memoir that truly feels like the author poured everything they've got into the work with thought provoking and moving stories that make you think deeply about what you do with the time that you are given in this life.

A Must Read!
I'm pleased to be writing a positive review on Spoken: A Memoir Sprinkled With a Little Quadriplegia by Robert A. Rieck, Jr. This is the first book I've read written by someone I know, and being a memoir with a Parental Advisory to boot I entered this book with a little trepidation. But Robert writes with such openness, honesty and humor I easily forgot my fears and felt myself drawn into his story of a religious upbringing in a dysfunctional family and his maturation into the man I'm now acquainted with. Along the way he easily writes matter of factly of how he faced unimaginable trauma. It is his account of dealing with quadriplegia as a very young adult and his struggles both physical and emotional to become the selfless animal advocate and activist I know him as that I found not only inspirational, but aspirational as well. I highly recommend this book.

**This review has spoilers.
Thoughtfully written autobiography
This is a thoughtfully written autobiography by a young man Who overcame a difficult and chaotic childhood. Things finally brought him to a point when he decided that he could not go on. His attempted suicide ended up with him alive but quadriplegic. The story of the consequences of this and the incredible bravery and willpower it took to recover and face life in a different body is told in painful and inspiring detail. With his choices in life seemingly limited, he eventually decided to devote himself to animal rights. He has become a vegan and a dedicated animal activist. Robert's story is very inspiring and written with heartfelt honesty and commitment. I recommend this book.

Vulnerable and raw recollections of the human experience
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2024
Robert exposes the beauty, the pain, the triumphs, and the challenges of the human condition in such a vulnerable, poignant, and easily digestible way. We can all find parts of our childhood, our adolescent and our adulthood in the stories of Robert’s life. While his particular story may be unique to only him, there were so many moments in this book where I felt like he could have been writing the story of my own life. We all want to be connected in this human experience, and Robert does a beautiful job through his use of words and story telling to remind us we are all human together and more alike than we are different.