This was an informative, well-researched and fascinating look into the wonders of the human brain. I enjoyed it on audio and really appreciated the author's knowledge and passion for the subject. As a brain tumor survivor, the brain's amazing capabilities has always fascinated me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is an intriguing, wide-ranging book. It really is about the strangeness of human brains--Dr. Anand is a neurologist, and she writes from inside her experience as both a doctor and a patient. Each chapter goes unexpected places, usually beginning with a patient's unusual symptoms, and then expanding to Anand's own experiences as a patient (particularly during pregnancy), literary sources, first historical records of such cases, brain anatomy, etc. While I sometimes felt like I couldn't pin down the central idea or theme of a chapter (there are multiple discussions of memory loss, etc), I really enjoyed the many facets each essay brings to the discussion. Anand writes with empathy of her patients' experiences, though I did want to know more about their experiences of their illnesses (perhaps not possible, given the seriousness of their medical conditions). It is accessible for the ordinary reader--Anand offers clear explanations throughout--but best approached with willingness to wander.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

In "The Mind Electric," neurologist Dr. Pria Anand invites readers into the fascinating and often bizarre world of the human brain. Dr. Anand combines clinical case studies, personal reflections, and scientific insights to illuminate the mystery and marvel of how our brains work, and how they sometimes fail us.

Anand’s writing is elegant yet accessible, never bogging the reader down in jargon. She has a gift for simplifying complex neurological phenomena into vivid and often moving narratives. Each chapter unfolds like an exploration of the unknown corners of the human brain, led by a physician whose compassion matches her intellectual curiosity.

The subject matter, which includes strange brain disorders, consciousness, and the nature of identity, is inherently gripping, and Anand handles it with both wonder and humility. While the book occasionally drifts into familiar territory for fans of medical nonfiction, Dr. Anand's voice and perspective lend a refreshing depth and sincerity to the genre.

"The Mind Electric" is an illuminating read for anyone intrigued by the mysteries of the brain. It strikes a fine balance between storytelling and science, offering insight into not only neurology, but also what it means to be human.

"The Mind Electric" by Pria Anand is a captivating exploration of the complexities of the human brain, blending memoir with medical nonfiction. Anand masterfully intertwines her personal experiences as a neurologist with the stories of her patients, highlighting the often overlooked impacts of race, gender, and socioeconomic status on the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions. Her writing tackles difficult truths about how these factors shape both the perception and treatment of illness, shedding light on systemic inequalities within medicine.

The book takes readers through a wide range of neurological conditions, from sleep disorders to epilepsy, while delving into the historical misdiagnosis of conditions like “hysteria” and how these perceptions persist today. Anand balances scientific explanations with human stories, offering a thorough yet accessible exploration of the brain's mysterious and sometimes troubling behaviors. The personal anecdotes add emotional depth, making the scientific content both relatable and thought-provoking.

While the depth of information can feel overwhelming at times, it’s a small price to pay for such a well-researched and insightful read. Anand’s clear, engaging prose makes complex topics accessible to readers of all backgrounds. "The Mind Electric" is a thought-provoking book that offers a deeper understanding of the mind and challenges assumptions about illness, identity, and the human experience.

The brain is a strange and wonderful organ. If you have ever had a friend or relative with a neurological illness, or you simply want to understand the complexity of the human brain, you will appreciate this well-researched book of anecdotes, historical context, explanations, treatments and the author's experiences as a neurologist to primarily women, people of color and the poor. Wow, that was a long sentence! But it also perfectly describes this book -- lots of information, research and case studies.
From sleep deprivation -- as the author experienced herself as an overlooked medical resident -- to epilepsy to vertigo to MS -- it is fascinating how throughout history, many neurological and physical diseases had -- and still have -- been attributed to witchcraft, "hysteria," lack of sleep and more.

I took off one star because the book is very detailed and it is easy to get bogged down with so much information, but I still really enjoyed it and learned a great deal.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Washington Square Press/Atria Books for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is an interesting look at how the human brain works and functions. The brain controls pretty much everything in the physical sense. It’s amazing how the brain works to keep us healthy and alive. The author does a great job outlining which side of the brain controls emotion, impulsivity, language, and behavior. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this. Very informative.

Thank you @washingtonsquarepress #partner for the gifted copy of this book

Ever since I read Brain on Fire, I’ve been completely fascinated (and mildly terrified) by books that dive into how our minds — these incredible, complex things we rely on every second — can turn against us in the blink of an eye. The Mind Electric by Pria Anand totally scratched that itch for me, but in a very different way than Brain on Fire.

This is a memoir, yes, but it weaves together so much more. Pria pulls from her own family’s history, her grueling medical training, personal struggles with neurological issues, and the stories of the patients she’s treated along the way. She doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff either — she dives into how race, religion, and socioeconomic status impact the way neurological issues are perceived, treated, and lived with. It’s heavy at times, but so important.

I’m honestly amazed (and a little unnerved) by how something as vital as your brain — the thing that literally makes you, well, you — can suddenly betray you without warning. This book had me feeling all kinds of things: it was thought-provoking, educational, eerie, and completely fascinating.
If you’re someone who loves to learn while you read, enjoys stories about the human body and mind, or are just in the mood for a compelling memoir that’ll stick with you long after you finish, definitely give this one a shot. Some of the people and cases Pria talks about will be haunting my thoughts for a while.

In The Mind Electric writing meets medicine to share the stories the body tells; the doctors who know the language of—and listen to—those stories have a better chance of understanding and potentially healing the patient. Dr. Pria Anand is one of those doctors. While trained as a neurologist, her writing reflects the mind of an anthropologist, detective, paleontologist, biologist, and gifted storyteller. She uses her personal story and those of her patients, along with studies and stories from Ancient Greece to nineteenth and twentieth century doctors who influenced both our knowledge of the brain and how medicine is practiced today. She illustrates and simplifies the complexity of the human brain. The Mind Electric offers a medical narrative that gives voice to often overlooked female patients who historically have been diagnosed with hysteria, depression or anxiety. Dr. Anand gives new meaning to the diagnosis "it's all in your head," providing evidence that many symptoms reflect specific neurological illnesses that can be treated appropriately rather than brushed off with antidepressants. Her research includes diverse cultures and the animal kingdom, living and extinct, as analogies for our human biology, health, and symptoms. Her poetic explanations neither condescend nor assume the reader has existing knowledge, and even if they do, Dr. Anand's explanations offer new insight.

As someone interested in neuroscience, medicine, and health I found The Mind Electric a fascinating read that prompted me to reflect on the universality of the human condition.

Thank you to Atria Books/Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

In “The Mind Electric”, neurologist and author Pria Anand has crafted a work that blends the genres of memoir and medical nonfiction that centers on the miracles and eccentricities of our brains.

While the book is loosely structured across different neurological conditions and symptoms, I found that there was much more meandering across different topics and perspectives than I’d initially believed. Anand opens with “The Theater of Illness”, going back through history to the (incorrect) diagnoses and treatment of diseases, and the skewed perception of female “hysteria” the related symptoms it was associated with. From there, she weaves through a number of different neurological conditions and illnesses, including epilepsy, sleep paralysis, kuru, anxiety, delusions, schizophrenia, and pain (both the experience and the medical treatment for it). In between, Anand shares her experiences as both a patient (during her own pregnancy and as woman of color in the US), a medical resident experiencing sleep deprivation and the endless deluge of patients and illnesses, and as an established physician. She also dives into the history of medicine, exploring different illnesses and breakthroughs that have emerged over time, and the dated racial and gender-based assumptions that still persist today in medicine.

Anand’s writing is clear, precise, and descriptive; especially in a work of scientific nonfiction, the storytelling was central and suitable for readers of all different academic backgrounds. I found the balance between more personal and emotional experiences well-juxtaposed to the more academic and educational topics, encouraging a natural flow across each chapter.

Very much a recommended read when “The Mind Electric” is published in June 2025!

If you're someone who is interested in learning more about how the brain works but don't know where to start, this is where. Pria provides a look into how the brain functions, and malfunctions, in a way that makes it easy to ingest. She does this in a way that doesn't make it cut and dry by mixing in just the right amount of humanity and heart with her stories. You won't regret reading this.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for my review.

A fascinating blend of real medical science and research with also historical legends, folklore, and inaccuracies. The book would have been stronger without as much time spent on the author's personal life and her pregnancies, but still the discussion of neurological conditions and glitches is interesting. It is terrifying, yet fascinating how fragile our minds and neurological systems are and how easily / quickly something can go haywire and ruin a life.

This was an engaging and moving collection of medical tales by Anand, a hospital neurologist, about the diseases that can and do affect the human brain. It is told partly in case study, in fable, in history, and in autobiographical memoir.

I liked the duality the author weaved as both clinical physician and narrative storyteller, taking readers on a journey that explored the strange, complex, and often debilitating diseases that can afflict patients and their brains. She isn't shy about discussing how peculiar symptoms - particularly those voiced by women, minorities, and displaced or impoverished people - were or have been summarily dismissed as "hysteria" at the start. Or are/were foisted off as psychological problems like stress, anxiety, or delusion. It was also fascinating to learn about the various disorders that can attack the brain, from everything from epilepsy, to facial blindness, to vision loss, to dementia etc. It's definitely worth a read if you're at all interested in the complexity of the human brain.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Rating: a solid 3.5

This is an accomplished, capably written hybrid work of nonfiction by a young practising neurologist. As one might expect given the title and subtitle, the book is focused around case studies of patients with a variety of neurological diseases and the historical understanding of the conditions, sometimes going back as far as antiquity. In addition to patient profiles, the author weaves in personal memoir (of her South Asian heritage, medical residency, and two fairly recent pregnancies) as well as literary elements. There is quite a bit more material about the doctor herself, especially her pregnancies, than I bargained for. (One could argue that the book is often about experiences that shaped her as a neurologist, and her pregnancy appears to have been one of the biggies. It made her understand pain on a personal level. Never a bad thing for a physician!) These autobiographical sections didn’t have much to do with “the strangeness and wonder of our brains” (as advertised) and I would have preferred their being excluded. The references to literature likewise seemed to add little. Apart from the discussion of Dostoevsky, who suffered from and referred to temporal lobe epilepsy in his novels, the allusions to literature, myths, and stories seemed tangential and sometimes distracting.

Pria Anand is presently a hospital neurologist, specializing in diseases involving both the nervous and immune systems. She works in what she describes as a “safety-net” medical facility that takes in patients who lack health insurance, citizenship status, and financial means and who wouldn’t be accepted elsewhere. Anand is often called in by other medical professionals for consults on their patients. A few of the cases she presents in the book, however, seem to have been from the time of her training. Although she claims early on that her book will highlight those who have been marginalized by medical culture—women, minorities, the displaced and disempowered—this doesn’t actually play out as much as I expected.

Given her institutional role, it appears that the author doesn’t have warm, longer-term personal relationships with the patients she tends to. Some are in pretty dire straits by the time she is on the scene. For example, the doctor is summoned to assess a pregnant woman with full-blown eclampsia (high blood pressure and convulsions). Emerging from unconsciousness after two days, the patient evidently cannot see, but she doesn’t know it. She has “cortical blindness”: her visual cortex, where vision reaches consciousness, has been badly damaged; the neurons that allow interpretation of what is perceived are now nonfunctional. Cortical blindness is not only marked by the inability to see but also by anosognosia—the total lack of awareness of a neurological deficit. We’re not talking about the garden variety psychological defence mechanism of denial here, but a condition fully grounded in damage to the brain.

In the blurb for this book, Dr. Anand is (seemingly reflexively) likened to Oliver Sacks. I don’t find the comparison apt. Anand provides interesting and accessible accounts of a range of neurological conditions—their presentation, the anatomy and physiology involved, their cause (if known) and some historical context—but, unlike Sacks, she’s unable to make her patients come alive on the page. The stories seem . . . well . . . rather impersonal. I had little to no sense of who these people actually were, beyond their being “interesting cases”. Furthermore, Anand seldom elaborates on her own reactions to those she cares for. Unlike Sacks, she doesn’t write about her mental and emotional processes as she’s trying to figure out what’s going on with them. She mentions her lack of curiosity as a sleep-deprived, thoroughly exhausted resident and also writes that as a medical student, she’d already absorbed a certain cynicism from physicians she’d trained with. For example, when confronted with an Ethiopian student, the member of a rigid Orthodox Christian order, who suddenly and painfully become blind and believed she was being punished by God for kissing a boy, Anand acknowledges responding to the girl’s tearfulness and emotionality with a sort of stony skepticism. In fact, the patient’s condition was due to neuromyelitis optica, a rare autoimmune disease related to MS which attacks and inflames the fatty myelin sheath covering the optic nerves as well as the spinal cord.

Dr. Anand is very good at explaining what is known (and what is not) about the conditions she highlights. The young Ethiopian student’s medical problem and subsequent treatment are very well described, for example. And this is true for the other pathologies Anand covers in her book as well—among them: fatal familial insomnia (in which a genetic mutation causing the misfolding of a protein brings tormented sleeplessness and death to its victims); temporal lobe epileptic attacks (which, in one case, were presaged by a patient’s hearing four musical chords of a Van Halen song); pain perception (Anand considers the extent to which physician attitudes towards patients in pain are racially biased); Capgras Syndrome (in which sufferers believe family members have been replaced by doubles); autoimmune encephalitis (inflammation that occurs when the body attacks certain protein receptors—NMDA—on the cell membranes of neurons in the brain); and movement disorders (restless legs syndrome and Huntington’s Chorea, which manifests as spasmodic involuntary contractions of the muscles that send the patient into a bizarre, fidgety “dance”).

One of the most compelling and terribly sad sections in Anand’s book concerns the case of a teacher who presented to the neurology clinic with a months-long sensation of the world spinning around her. I’m unfortunately personally acquainted with vestibular neuritis, an inflammation of the nerve associated with balance, and I well recall the weeks’ long torture of vertigo and accompanying nausea, but my experience was nothing compared to this poor patient’s. Anand notes that the woman’s condition was far “too wide-ranging to be blamed on a single nerve.” She was wildly uncoordinated and consequently had great difficulty doing everything, including eating; her torso swayed as she sat; and her voice was strange, uneven, and lacking the rhythm and tones of normal speech. An MRI revealed that the patient’s cerebellum, the “little brain” (Latin) at the back of the big one—the structure that coordinates movement and balance—had atrophied. This can occur with a genetic condition called Machado-Joseph Disease, but that was not at play here. <spoiler>In fact, a paraneoplastic syndrome—which causes strange, varied symptoms far from the site of a cancerous tumour—was responsible. The patient had an ovarian mass, and the antibodies produced by the immune system to target the mutant tumour cells also went for a protein made in the cerebellum. That structure’s Purkinje cells, large branching neurons, were seriously damaged. The patient was unable to walk, eat, and speak with any degree of normalcy. By the time her cancer was found, it was everywhere: in the membranes that cover the abdominal organs, in the abdominal fluid, and in her lymph nodes. The poor woman wondered what might have happened if the first neurologist (Dr. Anand was the second) who’d seen her had actually assessed her gait instead of sending her off with benzodiazepines for anxiety.</spoiler>

The author makes excellent points about the language doctors use: the patient “complains of”, “claims”, and “denies” certain things, as though he (but more often she) is an unreliable witness to what’s going on in the body. Anand writes about a movement dedicated to putting an end to this negatively connoted medical speak, which might influence a patient not to bring up important symptoms for fear of being labelled. She also stresses that in medicine, the body tells a story that isn’t always carefully read by rushed, impatient, fatigued and incurious physicians. That is a wonderful thing to see articulated.

There is a great deal to admire in Anand’s book, and I’d certainly read her again. I am left grateful for a still well-functioning nervous system. I do think the doctor was a bit too ambitious here, however, and as I mentioned earlier I could have done without a lot of the autobiographical details. The lyrical prose also got to me at times. When we’re talking about the body, I prefer that the correct terms are used. Why not call a neuron’s cell membrane by its actual name—a cell membrane— rather than repeatedly refer to it as the neuron’s skin? It isn’t skin.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy of a mostly rewarding book.

I love the way Anand wove her story within stories of different neuro diseases. Her opinions of how the medical community overworks their employees, how doctors seem to be treating patients as problems and annoyances, and in turn how people may prevent getting treatment or think that they’re over reacting. If you’re a fan of Oliver Sacks, you’d like this one.

Pria Anand is equal part physician and storyteller. She beautifully weaves together several case studies of patients, representing many parts of the field of neurology, who are diagnosed with common and rare diseases. I haven’t read anything like this since Oliver Sacks. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the intricacies of the mind.

First book of 2025! This is a captivating and thought-provoking sci-fi novel that explores themes of power, morality, and human consciousness. Set in a world where technology can manipulate minds, the story follows a protagonist grappling with the ethical implications of their groundbreaking invention. Pria’s writing is both lyrical and sharp, seamlessly blending suspense with philosophical undertones. The characters are deeply layered, and the plot is filled with twists that challenge the reader to question what it means to truly have free will. With its richly imagined world and emotionally resonant narrative, The Mind Electric is a stunning exploration of technology’s potential and its cost.

I read a lot of books that are fantasy, but I also love to are based within our reality and science! The Mind Electric by Pria Anand is a fascinating book of scientific fact, mixed with philosophy! You will not be able to put this book down! You will learn so much about the human brain as well as about Pria! Overall, a very wonderful read if you want to learn more about how our brains work!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️