A leading neurologist recounts some of her most astonishing, challenging cases, which demonstrate how crucial the study of epilepsy has been to our understanding of the brain.
This mesmerizing book by London neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan is a true gift to readers who may have brain injuries or disorders, and well beyond that population, to anyone interested in the brain and how its wounding shapes behavior ... The doctor comes across as compassionate and humble; she describes misdiagnoses and failures, as well as breakthroughs and near-cures. Her patients emerge as complex and strong people whose resilience she celebrates.
Fascinating ... these profiles poignantly capture the indiscriminate nature of epilepsy and its wide-ranging manifestations ... O’Sullivan’s prose strikes a balance between empathy and science, thoughtfully communicating each person’s story while explaining the uniqueness of his or her case and the intricacies of the brain. This book will especially appeal to those interested in medicine and education, anyone impacted by epilepsy, and all Oliver Sacks fans. Enlightening and humbling, O’Sullivan’s neurological detective work captures the mysterious nature of the brain and emphasizes how much more there is to learn.
O’Sullivan won acclaim with her first book, Is it All in Your Head? True Stories of Imaginary Illness, winning the 2016 Wellcome Book Prize. This is a terrific follow-up ... O’Sullivan’s patients help to tell the history of neurology and illustrate its hopeful breakthroughs ... In the space between cold diagnostic data and the personal challenges facing her patients, O’Sullivan’s sympathy, compassion and understanding come through ... Many mourn the passing of Oliver Sacks...who was known for his neurological case histories including The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Brainstorm deserves a place on the same bookshelf.
