The Thunder Within: A True Story

Ian W. Toal is a registered nurse in Barrie, Ontario.

The Thunder Within has two distinct threads, one dealing with a physical
illness, the other with religion and philosophy. In 1991, the author was
diagnosed with dystonia and cerebral palsy. His life fell apart as he
lost control of his motor movements. Physicians were unhelpful (even
destructive), and the social “safety net” failed him. Eventually, he
tried alternative therapies and discovered a gift for manipulating human
energy, contacting ghosts, and healing other people by manipulating
their energies.

The book has major structural problems. Heney jumps from topic to
topic, delivering his story in pieces that do not mix with each other.
For example, he combines details of his disorder with complaints about
his former employer that are followed by musings on the meaning of life.
There is no flow to the narrative, and a sense of moral superiority is
conveyed throughout. Finally, there is little concrete information about
Heney’s disorder or its treatment, and no resource material.
Hopefully, readers who enjoy spiritual healing stories (the obvious
audience for The Thunder Within) will be able to navigate this
meandering book.