Brain on Fire (Cahalan) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
Brain on Fire is at its most captivating when describing the torturous process of how doctors arrived at [the] diagnosis…At its best, Cahalan's prose carries a sharp, unsparing, tabloid punch in the tradition of Pete Hamill and Jimmy Breslin.
Michael Greenberg - New York Times Book Review


Cahalan's tale is told in straightforward journalistic prose and is admirably well-researched and described. Because she has no memory of her "month of madness," the story rests on doctors' notes and recollections, hospital films, her father's journals, both parents' recounting of what happened, and the reminiscences of her devoted boyfriend and those of her many friends and relatives. This story has a happy ending, but take heed: It is a powerfully scary book.
Maggie Scarf -  Washington Post


The best reporters never stop asking questions, and Cahalan is no exception.… The result is a kind of anti-memoir, an out-of-body personal account of a young woman's fight to survive one of the cruelest diseases imaginable. And on every level, it's remarkable.… Cahalan is a gifted reporter, and Brain on Fire is a stunningly brave book. But even more than that, she's a naturally talented prose stylist—whip-smart but always unpretentious—and it's nearly impossible to stop reading her, even in the book's most painful passages.
NPR.org


A fascinating look at the disease that—if not for a nick-of-time diagnosis—could have cost this vibrant, vital young woman her life.
People


The bizarre and confounding illness that beset the 24-year-old New York Post reporter in early 2009 so ravaged her mentally and physically that she became unrecognizable to coworkers, family, friends, and—most devastatingly—herself… She dedicates this miracle of a book to "those without a diagnosis"…. [An] unforgettable memoir.
Elle


Focusing her journalistic toolbox on her story, Cahalan untangles the medical mystery surrounding her condition.… A fast-paced and well-researched trek through a medical mystery to a hard-won recovery.
Publishers Weekly


A compelling, quick read with a moving message. Cahalan's hip writing style, sympathetic characters, and suspenseful story will appeal to fans of medical thrillers…. [T]his book may save lives and promote empathy for those struggling with mental illness. —Chrissy Spallone, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Lib.
Library Journal


 (Starred review)This fascinating memoir by a young New York Post reporter…describes how she crossed the line between sanity and insanity…Cahalan expertly weaves together her own story and relevant scientific information…compelling.
Booklist


[T]he author conjures the traumatic memories of her harrowing ordeal.… A valiant attempt to recount a mostly forgotten experience, though the many questions that remain may prove frustrating to some readers.
Kirkus Reviews