Frustrating, sad, and truly inspiring, A Mind Unraveled opens our eyes to the real discrimination that people with epilepsy are facing. It illuminates us of the heinous acts of doctors and  people of the academe whom we believed dedicated their lives in doing good for the people. Lastly, it is a story of never giving up and fighting for what is right.

This autobiography was a brave and compelling novel. I cheered on every triumph achieved by Mr. Eichenwald and actually cried at his treatment by doctors, professors, bosses, and others in his life. As a child in the 50's, I saw a man have a seizure in a store which caused him to knock over a large display of items before falling to the ground. Most people looked away, others tried to offer unfounded advice such as putting a spoon in his mouth. My mother rushed us away. I am a retired teacher/social worker who worked with children and adults with epilepsy and other disabilities. I would like to say that much has changed and I believe that is true in terms of medical knowledge but not in terms of misconceptions and people's understanding of the disease. So often people look away in horror and never try to understand. Mr, Eichenwald's book should be a must read. Through his eyes and those who supported him through the years, a sad but realistic picture of the disease and what it is like to live with it is painted. Reading brings knowledge and understanding. Mr. Eichenwald's perseverence is to be admired and hopefully followed by anyone else suffering from a disease that is not diagnosed correctly or not being treated well. Thank you Mr. Eichenwald for sharing your pain and your joys.

Eichenwald, a successful journalist, wrote this memoir in order to explore his own struggles with epilepsy that started when he was just a teenager. As someone who has endured a ton of medical trauma myself (much of which was due to incompetent or just plain bad doctors), I could completely relate to much of Eichenwald's account. His ability to impeccably describe the experiences he had struggling to come to terms with his medical condition (along with how its severity affected his friends and family) made it both easy to step into his shoes and to be grateful for your own good health. Eichenwald's honesty about what he's gone through did so much to educate me about epilepsy, as well as how far our country has come in fighting discrimination against disabled people (in schools and in the workplace). I'm not sure if everyone would be able to connect with the story if they haven't been through the anguish of a misdiagnosis or a medical professional claiming symptoms are 'all in your head,' but for me, Eichenwald's story made me feel seen in a way that not all memoirs do. His courage and honesty alone made this book feel valuable and important.

Great telling of his personal experiences with doctors that were too arrogant to admit that they didn't have the answers. Eichenwald has shared some scary moments in his life. Great book.

"A Mind Unraveled" details the author's battle with epilepsy, focusing primarily on the early years, when he had the misfortune of being treated by incompetent neurologists, one of whom displayed gross negligence that was life-threatening, then found a very competent neurologist that helped set him on a path of partial improvement (the author's epilepsy has proven incredibly difficult to adequately control), only to have staff at the college he attended invent lies about his condition and performance in order to force him to leave. At the time he developed epilepsy and was undergoing the initial years of treatment, it was the early 1980s and knowledge of epilepsy both by medical professionals and the general public was not as advanced as it is now, with lots of misconceptions. Thankfully, there has been a lot of improvement, both in terms of treatment options and understanding of the causes of epilepsy and in understanding and acceptance of people with epilepsy by society, especially in employment and academic settings; however, fear, ignorance, and discrimination is still present.

I don't give 5 stars reviews often or lightly, and from a purely literary perspective, the book probably does not deserve 5 stars. However, "A Mind Unraveled" is such an important book because of the messages it contains, that 5 stars are warranted. Personally, I think this book should be required reading for every medical student and everyone pursuing a master's or doctorate in psychology. The arrogance, ignorance, hubris, and neglect displayed by some of the doctors or psychologists who treated the author is maddening. At the same time, the understanding, compassion, education, etc. he received from other doctors, principally Dr. Naarden, who became his primary neurologist for years, is uplifting and encouraging.

[Granted, I may be somewhat biased because I have a wife with epilepsy; I had an aunt with significant health problems who showed tremendous strength and persistence coping with her health problems and refused to let her health define who she was; and I have a job that involves spending large amounts of time reviewing medical records, so I see examples of great medical care and subpar medical care).]

The author does a great job of portraying the personal side of having epilepsy/having a disability as he discusses his experiences, acknowledges his fears and concerns, including times when he failed to speak up or take appropriate actions due to fear, confusion, lack of knowledge, etc. Through notes and audio recordings he had made over the years, as well as interviews/conversations with family, friends, and doctors about his experiences, what they witnessed, how they felt, etc., the author is able to provide a vivid description of the toll that having a chronic illness can take on an individual and on family and friends, especially when the individual is trying to hide his illness from all but his family and closest friends out of fear of what might happen if people knew about his condition and especially when the individual is being badly mistreated/mismanaged by medical providers and does not know he needs help or could not obtain the proper help, placing an intense emotional and physical burden on those around him who are trying to keep him safe.

The author discusses some of the traumatic events that happen during seizures or following a seizure. He discusses in detail the battle with his university to allow him to remain a student. After graduating, he discusses his career development, in particular his efforts and struggles to develop a career in journalism, talking about jobs he is forced to turn down or leave early because he cannot obtain health insurance individually and the employer will not allow him on the group policy. However, he also discusses how he took advantage of opportunities to do "grunt" work in order to get noticed by people in authority in the hopes of obtaining more promising assignments, developing a rather successful career as a journalist in the process. While the author had periods where he significantly struggled, wanting to give up and even seriously considering suicide at times, he overall demonstrated amazing fortitude, fighting to achieve his goals. He also had the good fortune to eventually recognize that he needed to reassess what was important to him and develop more meaningful and fulfilling aspirations. Although the author has developed a successful career and found a loving supportive wife, with whom he had three sons, he has continued to struggle with epilepsy control, medication side effects, and the physical and psychological impact of past traumas, which has required further medication changes and other types of treatment. This memoir has a little bit of everything -- drama, anger, humor, etc.

One of the most consequential things the author did was write a story for New York Times Magazine discussing life with epilepsy. His friend and former college roommate, Carl, contributed a quote that the author came to realize was the most important paragraph of the story -- and is one of the most important statements in this memoir:

"If everybody in the world knew how to deal with epilepsy, if everybody in the world were not mystified by a seizure, if everybody in the world were willing to help out when they see a stranger have a seizure, then the lives of people with epilepsy would be infinitely easier. They would be able to go everywhere and do just about everything and not worry."

I am very glad I had the opportunity to read a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

An in-depth personal account of living with epilepsy, the unvarnished reality of misdiagnosis and the struggles that people with medical challenges face every day. It is quite amazing how Kurt Eichenwald’s determination, motivation, and belief in himself helped power him through the many dark periods in his life as he struggled to get accurate diagnosis despite numerous obstacles. Much has to do with his personality and his persistent nature - at times confrontational, at others slipping into the depths of despair, but generally not for long. The book is a detailed - sometimes excruciatingly so - journey living with epilepsy, from its early onset to his success in managing his life despite his health challenges. His cadre of supportive friends was admirable - much rested on their young shoulders - particularly his room mates. They are to be commended for sure. Keeping epilepsy a secret is probably one of the hardest medical conditions to hide. Deeply personal, the book is an unabashed exposure of the author’s life experience living with epilepsy - personally and professionally. A book worth reading but be prepared for a bit of length and a dose of reality. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

A Mind Unraveled shook up everything I thought I knew about people with epilepsy, the medical profession, and higher education. I was constantly amazed at the tenacity of Mr. Eichenwald as he faced down brutal bullying and discrimination by professors and doctors while also fighting the debilitating physical effects of uncontrolled epilepsy. Throughout his life, and this narrative, Eichenwald maintains a sense of humor, insight and humility that was at once relatable and humbling. I was at times angry, happy, sad and cheering for Kurt, but I am so happy he was willing to share this story with us. I hope this book inspires doctors to be more open and willing to have conversations with their patients; to look at them holistically, and to individualize treatments.

5 stars
“The compelling story of an acclaimed journalist and New York Times bestselling author’s ongoing struggle with epilepsy—his torturous decision to keep his condition a secret to avoid discrimination, and his ensuing decades-long battle to not only survive, but to thrive.”
Oh, holy buckets! This book is simply amazing, awe-inspiring, utterly maddening and truly heart warming. I am shocked at how deeply this book touched me. However, as a woman with uncontrolled epilepsy, this book really hit home for me.
I am astonished and sickened by what Kurt Eichenwald went through just trying to get proper medical care, to get an education and obtain a job. The extreme difficulties he faced to just have a normal life is disgusting. Eichenwald is a true testament to the axiom of never give up.
I really liked and appreciated the sections of the book which included statements from roommates, parents, wife and kids. It added so much to the book and show how his uncontrolled epilepsy impacted so many lives.

I am appalled at the way Eichenwald was treated throughout most of his life. His positive attitude and push for normalcy have certainly changed how many people with epilepsy are treated now.
This is a book everyone touched in any way by epilepsy needs to read or for that matter, anyone touched by a chronic illness should read. This is an important book. I am so thankful Eichenwald wrote it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own. #Netgalley #AmindUnraveled #BallantineBooks

This is my number one read of 2018. This book will rip you apart. It is agonizing to go on this journey of epilepsy with Kurt Eichenwald. It is infuriating to meet a bevy of incompetent doctors. There are so many people in this book that I absolutely hated. Yet through it all Kurt never gave up. He kept pushing on demanding answers and never letting epilepsy keep him from accomplishing his goals even when it was really difficult. This book tackles very difficult subjects but is written beautifully. I had a hard time putting this one down.

A Mind Unraveled: A Memoir by Kurt Eichenwald is a beautiful, tragic, and strong memoir. I found I had tears in my eyes at many of the things Kurt experienced, both sad at times, and joyful when we was triumphant.

This is the memoir of Kurt Eichenwald who was diagnosed with Epilepsy as a young adult nust entering college in the 1980’s. This book details the author’s struggles with incompetent doctors and college staff who are also incompetent and afraid of what they don’t know. Eichenwald’s doctors prescribe him medication without knowing the side effects and keep prescribing it until he lands in the hospital due to toxic levels of tbe medication. Meanwhile, his college, Swathmore, decides to try to force him out because of his disability.

This is his story of how he overcomes his circumstances, and ultimately is grateful for his experiances as they’ve made him into the man he is today. This is a wonderfully inspiring memoir and I would recommend it to everyone. It is also practical as you learn what to do and not to do if you ever encounter someone having a seizure. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

A Mind Unraveled by Kurt Eichenwald

This is a remarkably courageous biography of Kurt Eichenwald and his life long journey with debilitating epilepsy at his heels. There are so many adjectives to describe Kurt's story; courageous, resilient, sad, frustrating, infuriating, scary, strong, remarkable, humiliating, debilitating, but most of all, he has shared with his readers an incredibly humbling educational experience.

I found this story shocking on so many levels. Most shocking of all was that a renowned physician, an extremely well educated man (his father) would be so blind to the horrors endured by his son by a quack neurologist he insisted Kurt see and stood behind at all costs. Thankfully his mother had enough sense, love and compassion to step in, take control and over ride this decision. Then to have two additional neurologist that were responsible for so much more harm than good. I would have liked to discover that these entrusted doctors had the pants sued off them or at least had some repercussions as a result of their heinous malpractices.

Secondly the discrimination he suffered from Swarthmore College (and from others) is beyond comprehension. What was the point of them being so hell bent on denying him his education and causing so much pain in his life? I was glad to see some closure on this tragedy.

Kurt is an amazingly strong, resilient person who has over come the odds. I have personally never known anyone with epilepsy so have no first hand experience with seizures. I found Kurt's story remarkable. I never realized how debilitating seizures are, that the person may not be coherent for a prolonged time post episode, making them very vulnerable to their surroundings, nor have I ever stopped to reflect on how injured a person could get during a seizure. Truly an eye opener.

While reading this book I couldn't help reflect on our country's current drug addiction problem and the common question, "is drug addiction a disease or a habit"? So many agree it's disease, an illness that needs to be battled. Well after reading this book, I beg to differ. These people clearly have a choice, to either be healthy or to take drugs and not be healthy. Kurt had absolutely no control of his illness, he is forced to endure horrible side effects from drugs he doesn't want to take just to experience some semblance of a normal life and to mitigate injury.

Note to the author: Mr. Eichenwald, the world is a much better because of you. Thank you for sharing your raw, life experiences with the rest of us who live a blissful epilepsy free/ignorant life. You have opened my eyes and I am grateful.


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This was a fascinating look at the life of an epileptic man who just wanted a life like everyone else had. There is so much stigma attached to the condition that he was often forced to fight for the right to do normal things like attend college and get a job. His rise above all the odds was inspiring and you find yourself rooting for him as he forces open closed doors. A true tribute to the human spirit and what can be accomplished through hard work, a supportive family and an unfailing belief in yourself. #netgalley #AMindUnraveled #KurtEichenwald

Living with epilepsy is a terrible thing. Deciding to do it in private is brave. This book is a wonderful testament to the power of taking one's health and life into one's own hands.

As a layperson, and someone whose personal neurological problems begin and end with unmanaged migraines, this book was an interesting (if somewhat lengthy) read.

Two years ago, my young daughter's best friend had a frightening seizure while at school. They were 12 years old at the time, and she had been standing on risers during choir practice. After many tests, exams, doctors, theories, medication changes, and a hospital stay this summer where they tried to induce a seizure (but were unsuccessful; it came an hour after she got home), they are no closer to keeping her seizures at bay.

Fortunately for her, it is 2018, and her mother has been diligent about educating her friends, their mothers (i.e., me), her teachers and coaches, with no fear of prejudice -- so unlike what Mr. Eichenwald endured. When her daughter is invited to birthday parties or for sleepovers, this mother contacts the other mom, to let her know when her last seizure was and to be sure she is comfortable enough with the possibility that another one might happen during the planned event. All the girls in the group know that if she has a seizure, they are not to call 911 unless she has seriously hurt herself, to move away any furniture or objects that might hurt her during the seizure, and to make sure it doesn't last more than a minute or two. They know she is going to come out of it groggy and somewhat confused, and to let her rest if she wants to. What an enormous difference from the experiences in "A Mind Unraveled", just a generation before.

Well written and researched, I found it to be a captivating, if cautionary, read. It felt very lengthy, but I wanted to read and understand every detail: every part that was included was important and relevant to overall story. After reading "A Mind Unraveled", I wonder if we are treating people with some other kind of chronic condition or disease in the same way today. I hope not, but it is worth consideration.

This is a inspiring story about epilepsy and there were times it was tough to read. It showed a side of epilepsy that I never knew or even thought about.. My heart broker for him as he kept getting misdiagnosed and almost died due to him not being on the right meds. But his will and his strong spirit kept him fighting. He had to fight to stay in college, fight to have a job. He overcame it and is a very well regarded reporter (and a great author) and most of all, he has a family of his own.
Good read and I recommend this to everyone.

A very good memoir, even though it was a little bit heavy on the medical subject, wish there was more from different aspects of his life. But overall a good and educational read.

I’ve enjoyed Kurt Eichenwald’s books and articles for over 20 years. His stories are thoroughly researched and his insights show you exactly how the key players ran down their slippery slopes.

Because of his detailed and powerful writing, I couldn’t handle this book. Its brutal honesty (and the medical arrogance he’s dealt with) are too painful to read. It’s a story that needs to be told, and I hope someday I can return to it.

Exceptionally well written memoir that completely held my interest. It’s the story of one young man’s diagnosis of epilepsy in the late 70s. I often find the details in a memoir tedious but this author found the exact right balance. An epilepsy diagnosis is horrible but I had forgotten what a terrible stigma was associated with it in the past and I hadn’t known how hard it often was to get the right diagnosis. This author’s trials and tribulations were way beyond horrible and at times it is hard to read but the lessons in persistence and resilience are well worth it. I look forward to going back and reading this author’s prior books and highly recommend this compelling read.

This memoir will prove to be useful to other people, especially those suffering with epilepsy. Eichenwald does a thorough (perhaps too much at times) job detailing his experiences of first being diagnosed, getting kicked out of college, and eventually landing a successful career. As a memoir, I wish the focus wasn't just on his epilepsy, even though the illness consumes his life, but more about other factors in his life. it's well written, honest, and revealing, but I found the excerpts from other people in his life at the beginning of the chapters to be distracting, and wished, as a writer, he found a better way to tie that info into his narrative.