We’ve all heard stories – usually intended to be inspirational in some way, shape or form – about people who have died and come back. People who have suffered some sort of catastrophic accident or health-related incident and briefly passed away, only to, through some combination of quality treatment and pure luck, return.

The thing is, that’s often where the story stops – with the return. But what about what happens next? And what about the other people, the friends and family who, if you’ll pardon me, lived through it?

Those questions and their answers serve as the foundation for Drew Magary’s "The Night the Lights Went Out: A Memoir of Life After Brain Damage." It’s the story of a fateful night a few years ago when the author suffered a massive and still-unexplained brain injury, one that led to his brief (but very real) death, followed by a medically-induced coma. It’s also the story of what happened when he woke up, as well as of the people who were there to witness what happened during that stretch of time before he came back. Not to mention his ongoing efforts toward some kind of recovery.

As you might imagine, there’s a lot of darkness to be explored here. And make no mistake – the shadows run deep in some sections of this book. But here’s the thing – Magary has developed a unique voice over his years of online writing (you can currently find him doing his thing on the excellent collectively-owned website Defector, which you should 100% subscribe to), a voice that is sharp and sly and self-aware and perfectly capable of mining humor and heart from the bleakest of ores.

This story really begins on the night of the Deadspin Awards in 2018 (Magary was a writer there before the mass exodus of talent that eventually led to Defector; I’m not going to go into the whole thing here, but that is also a fascinating story if you care to check it out). Magary was serving as the host for the evening’s festivities, a master of ceremonies of sorts. The event itself went off quite well by all accounts, but tragedy awaited at the karaoke bar afterparty.

(And really, isn’t there always some sort of tragedy awaiting at the karaoke bar?)

In an incident whose particulars remain undetermined to this day, Magary fell while waiting for the bathroom. The circumstances of the fall are unclear, but the aftermath was horrible – he fell so hard onto the concrete floor that he fractured his skull in multiple places and suffered a severe brain hemorrhage. These injuries were so catastrophic that, were it not for immediate intervention by those nearby, he almost certainly would have died.

As it was, he wound up in a medically-induced coma for weeks while his family and friends stood vigil and hoped for the best. Of course, when he came to, it was only the beginning. Traumatic brain injuries are notoriously fickle and unpredictable – particularly when it comes to recovery. Magary’s struggles going forward would be difficult, and ultimately, there would be no way of knowing just how much of his former faculties he would regain.

Recovery from this sort of injury is a long road, one that is rarely traveled at a steady clip. In fits and starts, Magary began finding his way back – not to normalcy as he knew it, but a new normal. And as it became clear that some changes were permanent – physically, mentally, emotionally permanent – he was left to push through his frustrations.

Still, in the midst of uncertainty, he dug deep to find the one thing on which he knew he could count – his words.

“The Night the Lights Went Out” is a thoughtful meditation on what it means to come back from the brink. It explores the harsh realities of survival – yes, living on after such a tragic and terrifying incident is wonderful, but there’s a lot more to recovery than simply waking up. There is a lot of work to be done, and even if everything falls in just the right way, it’s almost certain that some of the “you” from before is never coming back. It’s a kind of existential terror that most of us will never comprehend.

Sounds pretty f---ing bleak, doesn’t it? And in other, less capable hands, this book would be just that – unrelentingly bleak. But since we’re talking about Drew Magary, we instead get a combination of insight and irreverence. Yes, those bleak moments are there – how could they not be? – but they’re surrounded by the charm of the mid-stage curmudgeon that he evokes so well. You might not think that a book about traumatic brain injury would be funny, but this one absolutely is. His gift for vivid coarseness serves him well, every thoroughly detailed description of trauma and traumatic events punctuated and punctured by an unwavering sense of humor.

Even as he digs into his struggles – both his own and the ones reflected upon those close to him – that sense of self-deprecation remains, allowing us a holistic glimpse into his experiences. Neither overly sunny nor unduly shadowed, “The Night the Lights Went Out” is indicative of what is perhaps Magary’s greatest trait as a writer – his honesty.

While his own experiences are the bulk of the book, Magary also takes great care to engage with the people who were there during the time when, well … the lights were out. By doing this – by talking to the people who were there for the incident and those who were by his side at the hospital – he adds dimension to the story that otherwise wouldn’t be there. To get the perspective of his doctors, with jargon-laden explanations of what happened and how much worse it might have been. To hear from his family members, people who sat unendingly beside his hospital bed. Or his friends, the people whose quick actions on that fateful night very well may have saved his life. It’s a layer of texture that beautifully elevates the story, providing the context that quite literally fills in the gaps.

Obviously, “The Night the Lights Went Out” has a happy ending – Drew Magary is still here, still churning out Funbags and Jambaroos and telling us why our teams suck. He worked hard, yes, but he also got lucky. And one thing is for damned sure – he is absolutely cognizant of just how lucky. That sense of good fortune shines through on every page, even when the story is at a nadir. It is a meditation on survival, refracted through the skewed prism of a gifted smartass.

Thanks for sharing this, Drew. We’re glad you’re still here.

4.5/5

What a wonderfully written medical memoir. I enjoyed this one very much and found it hard to put down. It was filled with stressful moments, especially the ones where Drew was in a coma and his difficulty afterwards with the hearing and tasting, that kept me turning the pages. The touch of humor by Drew was added in the right moments and I found myself laughing out loud at times. The perspective by friends and family at the beginning of the book was very well done. If you are a fan of medical memoirs with a touch of humor, then this book is for you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

This book was very personal for me as it described perfectly so many things I experienced with a loved one who had a stroke plus additional hospitalizations. I was struck at first by the title because that's how my husband described his stroke - 'lights out!'. Although Drew's case was different from a 'regular' stroke, many of the things he experienced were the same. The confusion, the anger, the delusions from the drugs, etc. It was actually cathartic - though painful - for me to read of Drew's struggle. And especially of Sonia's struggle because that was mine too.

The writing in this book is powerful. It's honest and truthful and written in a down-to-earth manner that feels like just sitting down and talking with a friend. It was truly inspiring to read of the struggles Drew and his family went through - - and that he came through it all. I thank him for sharing his story.

Drew Magary tells a compelling story of his recovery from a traumatic brain injury. Threaded throughout his narrative are interesting facts about aneurysms, subdural hematomas, and the lingering effects of a traumatic brain injury, as well as loss of hearing, smell, and taste. I thought this memoir was both informative and funny, and also a little scary because something similar could happen to any of us.

I especially appreciated Magary’s discussion of how his disabilities affected his personal identity, and how his experiences were shaped by limiting beliefs from childhood. He also points out how many ways he was lucky, because many people would not have had the support and resources to survive and recover as well as he did.

Magary uses crude language, including frequent F-bombs. If that won’t bother you, then I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys memoirs and is curious about traumatic brain injury.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

Very mixed feelings on this book for me. I chose to read it to better understand someone who had a TBI and his very different post accident personality. Yes, I found what I needed. What was not my style was the author's personality both before and after his injury. He seemed really full of himself in a way that completely turned me off. In spite of his frequent F bombs,which added nothing to his story, i did learn what I needed, but I could have been happier with less repetition.

Al.most dying did change his life and the lives of many others. It took a while for him to learn to dapt,but mostly he needed to accept before he could adapt.

I did not care for him or his writing style, but I still would suggest this book to the families of others facing a TBI. Thank you NetGalleyfor an advance reader copy in exchange for anhonest opinion.

The author recounts the aftermath of an accident that caused traumatic brain injury. I enjoyed the first part of the book which was told from various viewpoints of his siblings, parents, wife, friends and co-workers. The varying perspectives created a more holistic view of his time in a coma, his recovery and what they endured in caring about him. It had to be difficult to later understand what his family and friends were going through while he was unconscious. The next part of the book is his perspective on dealing with the grief process dealing with what he’d lost of himself and how he had to function in his new reality. Highly readable account of such a difficult medical event.

Drew Magary has written a stunning, insider's look at the impact of living with a truamatic brain injury. Told in his voice and the voices of those who love him, this book shares the new reality that Magary and his family had to accept and adapt to to move past his accident into the future.

Drew writes poignantly and honestly of his new life, and I can only applaud him for the strength and courage that it takes to get past something like this. He has produced a memorable read that will not be easily forgotten.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harmony/Rodale for letting me read an ARC of this book which is scheduled to be published on 10/12/21. All opinions stated in this review are my own and are freely given.

Fascinating and moving in equal measure, this book is a reminder of how quickly things can change. I loved the writing style - a touch of humour giving colour to the darkest observations.

Every time I read one of Drew's books, whether fiction or nonfiction, I'm reminded by what an amazing writer he is and how he's so much more than that guy who writes witty, dirty jokes in an NFL column. His ability to write about something that he was physically present for, but completely absent, while piecing together everything and everyone, makes for a poignant and unique memoir: poignant because he handles everyone and their emotions perfectly, but unique because it's a memoir about others being around his comatose or otherwise partial body and mind. Read this book!

I only knew Drew Margary from his beloved Hater's Guide to the Williams Sonoma catalog posts every year, and I had known he'd suffered something traumatic around Christmas a few years ago. I was intrigued, and indeed there was a lot to appreciate in this memoir. The very beginning of the book was a bit of a hurdle for me, because I found its humor to be tired dad stuff in combination with overly-similed and slightly exaggerated comic prose that I find, like, unsustainable to read over the course of an entire book. But then the actual incident of the TBI happens and everything shifts.

The idea to do an oral history on your own TBI and subsequent coma is brilliant, and it's brilliantly done. Reading it is like being a fly on the wall of a hospital room bustling with medical staff and well wishers. It's emotional, it's detailed, it shows how differently people can experience the same event.

But then Drew wakes from his coma and the recovery begins, and we're back in his voice. It was a very thorough account of what it's like for someone who in the end was very lucky and acknowledges that luck/privilege. It shows how confounding the brain is. What it looks like to face something you'd really rather not. And I thought the writing was really well controlled, in that it showed a new outlook developing in real time, instead of reflecting back with an already established outlook. It landed on exactly the right amount of shmoopiness for me, which is really admirable.

A Story of Tragedy and Recovery

On December 5th, 2018, Drew Magary was having a great time. He’d just hosted a successful Deadspin Awards ceremony. He and his coworkers were headed for the Karoke bar to celebrate, but the night ended in near tragedy for Drew. He collapsed, hitting his head so hard on the cement floor he fractured his skull, but that wasn’t the only problem he had a massive brain hemorrhage.

To save his life the doctors put him in a drug induced coma for two weeks. When he woke he was alive, but he had to figure out who the new Drew was and learn to live with his disabilities. This is the story of the two years it took him to recover.

This is a very honest and at times heart-wrenching story. However, it is told with humor and self-deprecation that makes it enjoyable to read. It is also the story of his family and friends and how they supported him through his recovery. I was particularly impressed with his wife Sonia. Suddenly she had to cope with the children as well as a husband who suffered from mood swings and inexplicable rages, and she did it with grace and humanity. If I’m every faced with the problem I hope I do as well.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

As one would expect from a popular and professional writer like Drew Magary, this is a very well written book. For the most part, I couldn’t put it down. Among other things, I liked the humour, I liked the interview style perspectives from people around him and I liked how he described his relationship with his friends and family. I did not quite enjoy the chapters chronicling in detail the medical conditions, causes and treatments for his hearing issues etc and skipped many paragraphs. But I’m pretty sure people with similar health issues would find them helpful and informative.

All in all, really worth a read, especially for people who’ve suffered brain damage like he did, people who are fans of his and generally people who like a well written memoir.

I enjoyed The Night the Lights Went Out. It is an interesting memoir about Drew Magary's traumatic brain injury (TBI) It really gets into the emotions that a family goes though when waiting to see if a loved one will live or die by this experience. Later in the book it gets into the emotions Drew went through to pull the pieces of his life back together and get back to a life similar to his past. His experiences with losing his several of his senses is terrifying and fascinating. I have always heard that if you lost a sense that another would help pick up the slack. Mr. Magary did not get into this theory but losing 3 of 5 senses my be too heavy of a lift for the other two.

I am on many FB groups about books. This book does have foul language that could technically have been left out and not changed the story. I especially noticed it in the beginning and the end. It was not that big of turn-off for me because I can talk like a sailor but for those easily offended by language, this may not be a book for you.

One thing I really got out of this book came from his therapist. Anger has five root causes: A need for revenge, feeling helpless, feeling discouraged, a need to prove your importance, and feeling overwhelmed. Well this tells me a lot about my ex husband and his desperate need for a therapist. I thought alcohol was his vice but anger may be the root of the problem. Drew's experience was really an awaking to me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Drew Magary for fascinating read. I am giving an honest review in exchange for an advanced copy of this book. @Netgalley @DrewMagary @PenguinRandomHouse @thenightthelightswentout
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As a fan of the formerly great Deadspin (now currently great Defector), I remember when Drew Magary went dark from the site and the outpouring of worry & support from his coworkers, friends, and readers. One fateful night in December, Drew fell and suffered a serious brain injury. The memoir chronicles not only his struggles, but also how it impacted his family and friends. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will be grateful you read it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harmony for the e-ARC of this book.

What a humorous struggle to get back to “ordinary life” after suffering a traumatic brain injury. How lucky he was to have friends, family, and doctors all do the right thing at the right moment to not only save his life but to also ensure he was able to have the best possible quality of life after. His humor was fun but the information about memory, taste and hearing loss and the current remedies (or lack of, in some instances) was most valuable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Harmony Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

Full disclosure, I have a lot personally in common with author Drew Margary. We’re two years apart in age and have the same number of kids. We both write for a living. Our taste in music is similar (I usually loved his picks of songs to make you want to run through a brick wall). I found the protagonist in his debut novel “The Hike” to be deeply relatable. So when it came to reading his memoir of both his own and his family and friends’ experiences surrounding his traumatic brain injury and the subsequent journey towards recovery, I was deeply engrossed.

The author doesn’t hold back from the messy details of how his recovery impacted his family. I found his narrative of the personal growth required to find some form of peace in a new reality extremely compelling. The book moves at a rapid pace through a variety of perspectives, from the friends and colleagues surrounding him when his injury occurred, to the family members that supported him through the aftermath. I kept imagining myself in his place and wondering how my own family would be impacted by this kind of trauma. The shifts in voice and perspective kept the narrative flowing at an urgent pace that I found worked very well. Towards the latter part of the novel we are provided with more of the author’s own voice and perspective. I think that transition helped lead the memoir towards a narrative peak that was very rewarding to read.

Overall, I highly recommend the book. I found the author’s description of their journey to grow past their own anger and entitlement moving and insightful. I’m glad he shared these experiences from one of the hardest trials of his life.

I was familiar with Drew Magary's name from Deadspin, but this was my first time really reading his work. He gives readers an inside view as he tries to recover from a traumatic brain injury. The journey isn't an easy one, but he writes with great humor and brutal honesty. By the end you'll feel as though you know him, his friends, his family, and even his medical team. A unique and hopeful read - medical memoir lovers will enjoy this one!

Thank you to Rodale and NetGalley for this ARC.

A beautiful book written with style and humor. Magary's ability to acknowledge and build on his differences after his TBI is impressive. This could have gone a lot of ways and Magary chose to go with the direct approach- it's hard and hard work to recover as he did, not just on the patient but also on the family;. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a great read.

This is a medical memoir unlike any other. Drew Magary collapsed at an after-party in a Karaoke bar, waking up two weeks later having suffered a mysterious subdural hemorrhage, causing him to crash to concrete and fracture his skull in three places. This is the account in his own words of what happens when a person encounters a traumatic brain injury (TMI). At times hilarious and harrowing, Drew is unstinting in his descriptions of the physical insults delivered to his body, the losses (yes, plural) of several of his senses, and the long road to in some cases recovery, in some, acceptance in dealing with permanent loss. As with that of his right ear. Being a gregarious soul and a sensual lover of all life has to offer, he fights hard to regain those pleasures. But when the cerebrum is damaged, there are untoward consequences, mood swings, unexpected anger. Magary's writing is honest, vivid, informative, and what really stands out is his love for his friends, his family (what a remarkable wife is Sonia), and the knowledge that this is really a life worth preserving.

Before I read THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT by Drew Magary, I did not know who he was, knew nothing except he had suffered a traumatic brain injury with a complicated recovery. What I learned as I read this story is that Magary is a wide open, honest, and frank writer who made me laugh out loud, clutching my belly as he relates the unthinkable and the nearly unbearable experience of nearly dying and then having to struggle for every bit of normal living he could win back. While there were parts of the story that were not his to tell since he was in a medically induced coma, the story is a well-woven tapestry of the friends, colleagues, and family that rallied around him. Magary is a difficult person, admitting outright that he can be something of a jerk, but he changes over the course of recovery, becoming more open, loving, and present than he was before the TBI.
Ultimately, his story is inspiring, energizing, and engaging, bringing me to admire the incredible advances of medical science and the ages old wonders of love and friendship and living well in this world. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.