---
product_id: 105128186
title: "Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness"
price: "R62"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/105128186-brain-on-fire-my-month-of-madness
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

**Price:** R62
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- **What is this?** Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness
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## Description

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING CHLOË GRACE MORETZ A “captivating” ( The New York Times Book Review ), award-winning memoir and instant New York Times bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery, Brain on Fire is a powerful account of one woman’s struggle to recapture her identity. When twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan woke up alone in a hospital room, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak, she had no memory of how she’d gotten there. Days earlier, she had been on the threshold of a new, adult life: at the beginning of her first serious relationship and a promising career at a major New York newspaper. Now she was labeled as violent, psychotic, a flight risk. What happened? In an “unforgettable” ( Elle ), “stunningly brave” (NPR), and breathtaking narrative, Susannah tells the astonishing true story of her descent into madness, her family’s inspiring faith in her, and the lifesaving diagnosis that almost didn’t happen. “A fascinating look at the disease that…could have cost this vibrant, vital young woman her life” ( People ), Brain on Fire is an unforgettable exploration of memory and identity, faith and love, and a profoundly compelling tale of survival and perseverance.

Review: Riveting retell of a science fiction-like disease - Brain on Fire is a riveting book that brings to light a terrifying disease. Susannah Cahalan describes her unbelievable journey though anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. She manages to describe not only the emotional turmoil that both she and her family experienced, but also the biological mechanisms behind her disease. I thought that this book was unbelievably good. Cahalan has a writing style that captures the reader's attention and makes them feel as though they are living out her life. She manages to bring a tremendous amount of feeling to the book, considering the amount of memory loss she endured. She takes the reader though all stages of the disease though interviews with hospital staff and family and describing videos of herself that the NYU hospital kept. The book is broken up into three main parts: before she went to the hospital, she month long stent at NYU, and her recovery at her mother's home. Before being admitted to the hospital: Cahalan starts the book by describing what many people with the disease experience as symptoms. Her flu-like symptoms and paranoia are not enough to get her admitted to the hospital and she gets diagnosed with psychological disorders. It is clear in the beginning that she is making a break from reality and her personality is changing. It is hard for the reader to tell what is Cahalan's true self and what is the disease. Cahalan admits in the book that she could not longer tell the difference between what is going on in her mind and what is reality. During her hospital stay: It is impressive how much information Cahalan has on this time of her life, seeing as she remembers almost none of it. The book takes a dramatic turn as Cahalan can only report on her conditions through other people's eyes. There are parts of these chapters where she describes what was captured on video tape, this allows the reader to feel as if they are actually in the hospital room with Cahalan. Recovery: Cahalan's recovery might be the most tragic part of this book. She can fully remember who she used to be, but cannot seem to regain that old self. It is amazing to see the transformation she goes though not only physically, but mentally. As the book progresses, she regains her fine motor skills and cognitive function. It is during this part of the book that the reader begins to wonder if she will ever make a full recovery. Cahalan describes this part of the book in such detail, that the reader feels as if they are to recovering form anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. "In essence, I was gone. I wish I could understand my behaviors and motivations during this time, but there was no rational consciousness operating, nothing I could access anymore, then or now." This quote from Cahalan truly explains her break from reality. She does not recognize the person she had become while the doctors where struggling to diagnose her and she has no personal memories to help her. She truly brings into the light the fear that this disease has cause hundreds of people and families. It has only recently been discovered and while there is a cure and over 75% people make a full recovery, there are still many doctors that do not know to look for it. "...I no longer struggled for the right words, didn't have to push myself to make small talk, and had reclaimed my old sense of humor." It is astounding that Cahalan lost so much of her self in the time, which her disease was running rampant. She lost physical abilities, cognitive function and her personality; the very essence of who she is. As she recounts her recovery and struggle to become who she once was, she allows the reader inside very private parts of her life. This makes her story very relatable, even for people who do not know someone suffering with this or a similar disease. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a more dramatic read. It is impossible to put down once you start reading. The chapters are very short; normally just a few pages long and is perfect for a read who tends to frequently put books down. I got half way through the book without even realizing it. The book is perfect for anyone looking to feel as if they are in another world. This disease is almost something straight out of science fiction, but Cahalan is able to bring it down to a relatable level. Her story is a compelling one and is one that should be shared with people all over the world so that people with is disease can be diagnosed and treated.
Review: Fascinating true story about Illness, Family and Perseverance - I searched a lot about medical science. I had to look up some words -- which I like because I'm into learning new things. I could relate to the autoimmune aspects. The brain aspect was very mysterious. As the author wondered how many people were misdiagnosed because of this fast moving "Brain on Fire" so did I. It lingers in the mind of the reader. I would have loved to know more about Susannah's family but that's not what the book was really about.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #19,152 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) #1 in Neurology (Kindle Store) #2 in Medical Diseases (Kindle Store) #8 in Biographies of Medical Professionals (Kindle Store) |

## Images

![Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/718FHaPBJ-L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Riveting retell of a science fiction-like disease
*by L***W on September 29, 2013*

Brain on Fire is a riveting book that brings to light a terrifying disease. Susannah Cahalan describes her unbelievable journey though anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. She manages to describe not only the emotional turmoil that both she and her family experienced, but also the biological mechanisms behind her disease. I thought that this book was unbelievably good. Cahalan has a writing style that captures the reader's attention and makes them feel as though they are living out her life. She manages to bring a tremendous amount of feeling to the book, considering the amount of memory loss she endured. She takes the reader though all stages of the disease though interviews with hospital staff and family and describing videos of herself that the NYU hospital kept. The book is broken up into three main parts: before she went to the hospital, she month long stent at NYU, and her recovery at her mother's home. Before being admitted to the hospital: Cahalan starts the book by describing what many people with the disease experience as symptoms. Her flu-like symptoms and paranoia are not enough to get her admitted to the hospital and she gets diagnosed with psychological disorders. It is clear in the beginning that she is making a break from reality and her personality is changing. It is hard for the reader to tell what is Cahalan's true self and what is the disease. Cahalan admits in the book that she could not longer tell the difference between what is going on in her mind and what is reality. During her hospital stay: It is impressive how much information Cahalan has on this time of her life, seeing as she remembers almost none of it. The book takes a dramatic turn as Cahalan can only report on her conditions through other people's eyes. There are parts of these chapters where she describes what was captured on video tape, this allows the reader to feel as if they are actually in the hospital room with Cahalan. Recovery: Cahalan's recovery might be the most tragic part of this book. She can fully remember who she used to be, but cannot seem to regain that old self. It is amazing to see the transformation she goes though not only physically, but mentally. As the book progresses, she regains her fine motor skills and cognitive function. It is during this part of the book that the reader begins to wonder if she will ever make a full recovery. Cahalan describes this part of the book in such detail, that the reader feels as if they are to recovering form anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. "In essence, I was gone. I wish I could understand my behaviors and motivations during this time, but there was no rational consciousness operating, nothing I could access anymore, then or now." This quote from Cahalan truly explains her break from reality. She does not recognize the person she had become while the doctors where struggling to diagnose her and she has no personal memories to help her. She truly brings into the light the fear that this disease has cause hundreds of people and families. It has only recently been discovered and while there is a cure and over 75% people make a full recovery, there are still many doctors that do not know to look for it. "...I no longer struggled for the right words, didn't have to push myself to make small talk, and had reclaimed my old sense of humor." It is astounding that Cahalan lost so much of her self in the time, which her disease was running rampant. She lost physical abilities, cognitive function and her personality; the very essence of who she is. As she recounts her recovery and struggle to become who she once was, she allows the reader inside very private parts of her life. This makes her story very relatable, even for people who do not know someone suffering with this or a similar disease. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a more dramatic read. It is impossible to put down once you start reading. The chapters are very short; normally just a few pages long and is perfect for a read who tends to frequently put books down. I got half way through the book without even realizing it. The book is perfect for anyone looking to feel as if they are in another world. This disease is almost something straight out of science fiction, but Cahalan is able to bring it down to a relatable level. Her story is a compelling one and is one that should be shared with people all over the world so that people with is disease can be diagnosed and treated.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fascinating true story about Illness, Family and Perseverance
*by M***R on June 8, 2025*

I searched a lot about medical science. I had to look up some words -- which I like because I'm into learning new things. I could relate to the autoimmune aspects. The brain aspect was very mysterious. As the author wondered how many people were misdiagnosed because of this fast moving "Brain on Fire" so did I. It lingers in the mind of the reader. I would have loved to know more about Susannah's family but that's not what the book was really about.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A riveting and relatable journey through brain trauma
*by J***C on October 11, 2025*

I just finished Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, and I appreciated its emotional punch. I recommend this memoir to anyone who has ever felt lost in their own mind. Susannah Cahalan's story of her terrifying descent into autoimmune encephalitis is told with raw honesty and gripping detail, turning what could have been a dry medical tale into a page-turner that I read quickly. As someone who survived a traumatic brain injury several decades ago, I found myself nodding along to many of her experiences. Our conditions were worlds apart. Mine from a shooting accident, hers from a rare brain inflammation, but her confusion, anxiety, and the frustration of not being believed or understood are elements many of us have experienced in different forms, and it's helpful to have someone articulate it as well as Susan. I appreciated how she weaves science into the narrative, and the factual insights into encephalitis and the diagnostic process were eye-opening. Still, there were a couple of spots where the data dives pulled me out of her personal narrative and could have been trimmed to keep the emotional flow even tighter. Those are minor concerns, and overall, this was a solid and unique look at a nightmare medical scenario that fortunately had a happy ending.

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-07-30*