Brain On Fire by Susannah Cahalan

The book chronicles the harrowing experience of a young journalist who suddenly finds herself battling a rare and mysterious illness. Initially misdiagnosed with psychiatric disorders, her symptoms rapidly progress from paranoia to hallucinations and seizures. With her health deteriorating rapidly, it is only through the intervention of a dedicated doctor who finally identifies the true cause of her condition, an autoimmune disease called anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. The memoir captures her terrifying descent into madness, her family's desperate quest for answers, and the life-saving diagnosis that eventually leads to her recovery.

The 9707th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 60

Since this book was first published in 2012, there is a penalty of 60.8%. The age adjusted score is 23.52.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.