Reviews

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

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mirandaleighhhh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative tense medium-paced

3.5

It is sometimes so scary being a person and having a body in general - nevermind when your body and mind are working against you. I think that the author did a great job telling her story, I could really feel how frightened and trapped she felt in the hospital - and in her body. I had a hard time relating to her as a person, but that wasn't the point. Really interesting and important, though I'd be curious to know what research has been done since this was published.

the_escape_artist_'s review against another edition

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3.0

This book is interesting and well written, but my main complaint is except for a throw away comment, she never acknowledges how being well off and white played in her ability to get a diagnosis beyond just being mentally ill. In that way it may the book seem somewhat self indulgent, and self aggrandizing and spoiled the good things for me.

shelbydm's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

suicunejpg's review against another edition

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5.0

4/5 stars page count 250 this book is about a girl that gets a rare disease where her body tries to kill her brain and she has a variety of terrifying symptoms including psychosis and loss of speech, seizures, etc. she almost dies and then makes a full recovery but has no memory of the month she spent in the hospital. as a result, the heart of the book is based on the experiences of those around her and of the recordings of her during that period as she attempts to reconstruct her lost month. she includes detailed scientific studies and information, diary entries and pictures throughout this raw and emotional and terrifying memoir. a fast read for me, and a top nonfiction recommendation tbh