I just recently read If I Get to Five: What Children Can Teach Us About Courage and Character. This is a book by Fred Epstein, who was basically one of the best pediatric neurosurgeons in the world, pioneering techniques for base of the brain & spinal cord surgeries.... up until one day, he was riding his bicycle, hit a depression in the road, went over the handlebars, slamming his head into the pavement, and splitting his helmet... The force of his brain slamming forward, tore some blood vessel at the back of his brain, causing a massive bleed... After months of rehab, he managed to walk again, I think he stayed partially paralyzed on one side, and of course never operated again.

This was a book that he wrote during his recovery, about all the lessons he'd learned from his child patients over the years that helped him when he was recovering.

Here's his obituary for more background information:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/ny...12epstein.html

It's mostly an uplifting book, even if the subject matter is sad... It's only peripherally related to cycling - but I do think there's a lesson and that is that helmets cannot completely prevent brain injuries - so everyone should be safe. I was just reading the thread on 7rider's commuting partner, which also emphasized this.