A Mind Unraveled

A Memoir

By: Kurt Eichenwald

Narrated by: Kurt Eichenwald, full cast, Franz Paasche, Scott Thornton, Joe Ochman, Staci Snell, Ryan Eichenwald, Theresa Eichenwald, Adam Eichenwald, Sam Eichenwald, Allen Naarden, Carl Moor

Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

The compelling story of an acclaimed journalist and New York Times best-selling author's ongoing struggle with epilepsy - how, through personal resilience and the support of loved ones, he overcame medical incompetence and institutional discrimination to achieve once unthinkable success.

"REMARKABLE...inspirational in the true sense of the word." (The New York Times Book Review)

This is the story of one man's battle to pursue his dreams despite an often incapacitating brain disorder. From his early experiences of fear and denial to his exasperating search for treatment, Kurt Eichenwald provides a deeply candid account of his years facing this misunderstood and often stigmatized condition. He details his encounters with the doctors whose negligence could have killed him, but for the heroic actions of a brilliant neurologist and the family and friends who fought for him.

Ultimately, A Mind Unraveled is an inspirational story, one that chronicles how Eichenwald, faced often with his own mortality, transformed trauma into a guide for reaching the future he desired.

Praise for A Mind Unraveled

"An intimate journey...bravely illuminating the trials of living inside a body always poised to betray itself." (O: The Oprah Magazine)

"Poignant and infuriating...merges elements of medical drama, anti-discrimination fable, and coming-of-age memoir." (The New Yorker)

"One of the best thrillers I've read in years, yet there are no detectives, no corpses, no guns or knives." (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

"Terrific.... Eichenwald's narrative is a suspenseful medical thriller about a condition that makes everyday life a mine field, a fierce indictment of a callous medical establishment, and an against-the-odds recovery saga." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Riveting.... Eichenwald has created a universal tale of resilience wrapped in a primal scream against the far-too-savage world." (Booklist, starred review)

"An extraordinary book." (Harriet Lerner, PhD, New York Times best-selling author of The Dance of Anger)

©2018 Kurt Eichenwald (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"This powerful account provides an important blueprint for anyone struggling to overcome serious challenges." (Katie Couric)

"Kurt Eichenwald’s memoir is an immensely moving and captivating chronicle of his struggle with epilepsy. His unflinching descriptions of the extreme challenges of his condition have much to teach all of us about living. This is an extraordinary book." (Harriet Lerner, PhD, New York Times best-selling author of The Dance of Anger)

"This is a very powerful, tremendously informative book. Pure emotional honesty has great impact, and that is what Kurt Eichenwald has provided here." (James Fallows, National Book Award winner and national correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly)

EXCELLENT!!

Beautifully written and inspirational!
A man who summons courage in the face of repeated challenges and adversity! Must read!

A great moving book

This is a great book, powerful, moving, sad, wonderful. I strongly recommend it. It is a story of courage and fortitude in the face of great stupidity, overconfidence and injustice.

Harrowing tale of medical mismanagement

Kurt Eichenwald tells his story of life with Epilepsy and all the hurdles thrown his way. It seems he lived a nightmare for decades as he sought to find a neurologist who would be honest with him and prescribe medications to control his seizures. Sound simple? Definitely it was not, and as his father wanted to control the choice of neurologists this worsened the situation. Kurt was a teenager when the Gran Mal seizures began. He started college and found several life-long friends who supported him throughout his search for control and the desire to graduate with his class, It is amazing. His narration is rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was left breathless at times considering what he went through and angry at the treatment he endured by people who should not have been allowed anywhere near him, or others with any "handicap" I urge everyone to read/listen to this story of a brave man fighting for a bit of normalcy and and finding it in spades. I would love to meet him and tell him how profound I found his memoir is.

Very informative and inspiring!!!

Thank you for writing this inspiring and informative book! I love how real and genuine Kurt is in his reactions to life events. I like how he expresses his feelings. It gives me courage to discuss issues with my own doctors. I’ve dashed off a few emails today! Thank you again!

Exactly What I needed

I came to this book after my son, 5yo, had his first seizure and later diagnosed with epilepsy. This book provided me with all the emotional support i needed. It gave me hope, guidance and peace of mind. I feel i am more emotionally and mentally ready to go through this journey with me son. Thank you Kurt for sharing your story with us.

Outstanding!!

I could not stop listening to this book to get any work done. Best book I have listened to in a long time (and that takes in a lot of territory). If you deal with a chronic medical condition, yours or someone else’s, do not miss this book. At least some of it, possibly a lot, will sound familiar... I’m betting.

Easy to see how the author has gained such respect and fame. No gimmicks. Just straight-on telling something as it happened. Truth is stranger than fiction.

Get this book. It’s awesome.

Fascinating Page -Turning Story on Epilepsy

I loved this book. Who knew that a story about epilepsy could be so riveting. It is a story about determination and the fight to succeed. This book based on the author's real life experiences illuminates the challenges people with epilepsy face including the discrimination, fear and misunderstanding. You will understand this disease and the struggles people with epilepsy fight on a daily basis. Epilepsy is not curable by cannabis or any other treatment, and it can be fatal.

It was absolutely fascinating to hear the author read the book. There are also portions of the book that are read by friends and family, which make the experience all the better.

A must read

If you have a cronic health condition or love someone that does this book is a must read. The author does an excellent job of bringing out the struggles of living with epilepsy and in obtaining medical care.

Most important book I've encountered.

cried through most of the way through the book. l too am on Lamical and onfi.

As a person with epilepsy this book is the best I have found & most inspiring towards continuing to fight

Thank you, Kurt. You have captured the experience of epilepsy very well. It’s second to none in its reality and inspiration to continue fighting.

I have given away many hard copies of to my non audiobook listeners. So often I finally gave away my copy to an Uber driver with a friend with epilepsy just the other day. Thank you, Kurt
—-
Other listeners:
I ask you to gift a copy of this (if possible) to any and everyone. Especially those you may know with epilepsy or those you wish understood more about epilepsy or our healthcare system. Kurt writes bluntly about the system we once had & how dangerous it is for those without insurance.
Thank you.

Be well.