Brain on Fire - BoundCovers

Paperback, 288 pages

Published by Penguin.

ISBN:: 978-1-84614-774-6

(1 review)

The book narrates Cahalan's issues with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and the process by which she was diagnosed with this form of encephalitis. She wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the events of the previous month, during which time she would have violent episodes and delusions. Her eventual diagnosis is made more difficult by various physicians misdiagnosing her with several theories such as "partying too much" and schizoaffective disorder.

The book also covers Cahalan's life after her recovery, including her reactions to watching videotapes of her psychotic episodes while in the hospital.

16 editions

Will Sargent reviewed Brain on fire by Susannah Cahalan

Review of 'Brain on fire' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

Oh god this book is terrifying. It made me very aware that I have a brain made out of fallible meat parts, and that a small thing fucking up one of those meat parts would turn me into a raving lunatic. Which is exactly what happened to the author.

The book only exists because the damage is reversible, but the amazing thing is that once her disease is diagnosed, 200 people are found to be treatable. That means god knows how many women were living ordinary happy lives and then got sick and went mad from this disease, never knowing how or why.