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nina_milevoj's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
itslilyhart's review against another edition
5.0
This was such and amazing account of how terrifying it is to be a patient. Feeling out of control and unable to help yourself is not how many people live. This is especially great to read if you’re in the medical field as if gives good insight into how patients actually feel.
bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
4.0
For those also living with inexplicable or confounding health symptoms that seem neurological in nature, but difficult to diagnose, Brain on Fire will both resonate and deeply unsettle.
In those infrequent moments when you let yourself reflect on death (or crippling illness), to truly feel its full force, you realize how suddenly your health can completely destabilize, be it due to a brain injury, "long COVID," an infection, or cancer. You cherish days when you don't have to wrestle through Sisyphean health burdens.
Depending on your current health situation, Cahalan's book will either offer comfort or trigger you (especially if your current psychological state is precarious due to the onset of unexplained symptoms). So I don't recommend it to everyone.
Still, it's quite a feat for a memoirist to pen. If you or a loved one is struggling through a similar sounding onslaught of misdiagnoses or stumped medical professionals, perhaps Brain on Fire will offer insight and direction. And a bit of hope in the midst of a dark medical saga.
In those infrequent moments when you let yourself reflect on death (or crippling illness), to truly feel its full force, you realize how suddenly your health can completely destabilize, be it due to a brain injury, "long COVID," an infection, or cancer. You cherish days when you don't have to wrestle through Sisyphean health burdens.
Depending on your current health situation, Cahalan's book will either offer comfort or trigger you (especially if your current psychological state is precarious due to the onset of unexplained symptoms). So I don't recommend it to everyone.
Still, it's quite a feat for a memoirist to pen. If you or a loved one is struggling through a similar sounding onslaught of misdiagnoses or stumped medical professionals, perhaps Brain on Fire will offer insight and direction. And a bit of hope in the midst of a dark medical saga.
lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition
3.0
This book was scary and depressing to read. Many notes on how the brain works. It will make you paranoid to go crazy. The end.
reader4evr's review against another edition
4.0
This book hooked me right in the beginning and some points it dragged a little bit but then it would pick up again.
It is crazy how your body can totally take over your body and give you all of these crazy symptoms! I can't even imagine feeling like I was going crazy and no one knowing what was going on.
I already book talked this and a student checked it out.
It is crazy how your body can totally take over your body and give you all of these crazy symptoms! I can't even imagine feeling like I was going crazy and no one knowing what was going on.
I already book talked this and a student checked it out.
jniemeier's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting read into the treatment/diagnosis of her issue. Gotta say I am glad something like this has not happened to anyone I know!
readingonmountains's review against another edition
4.0
Wowza, this was a terrifying and incredibly interesting medical memoir. As someone who suffers with an autoimmune condition this hit close to home. It’s so scary how our bodies can go into fight or flight and attack our joints, organs and in this case, the author’s brain. Susannah was incredibly fortunate to have her parents advocating for her. It can take so long, so much testing for diagnosis and then trial and error with treatments. She also mentions that it cost about a million dollars to diagnose and treat Susannah, much of which was thankfully covered by her insurance as she worked for The Post. Which leads to so many questions about those who do not have insurance coverage.