47 pages • 1 hour read
Brain On Fire
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Compare and contrast the intake processes, treatment plans, and communication styles of Dr. Najjar and Dr. Dalmau versus Dr. Bailey and Cahalan’s team of doctors at NYU. How do these differences affect Cahalan’s quality of care, and her family’s perceptions of that care?
Consider the moment when Dr. Najjar’s examination provides the key piece to illuminating the true nature of Cahalan’s condition. What about Dr. Najjar’s exam led to his medical epiphany, and how did it differ from the exams of other doctors?
What behaviors does Cahalan commit that exacerbate the symptoms of her disease before she is admitted to NYU? What behaviors does she commit that impede her recovery after she is released from NYU?
What role or roles do Cahalan’s friends play in her diagnosis and recovery?
What lessons does Cahalan learn during her recovery regarding the nature of memory? What questions still remain for her, and why?
In what ways does Dr. Najjar’s personal history contribute to the successful treatment of Cahalan and other patients with similar cases?
In what ways is Cahalan’s family estranged? In what ways do they resolve their past issues in order to support Cahalan through her diagnosis and recovery?
What were the signs Cahalan showed throughout her treatment and recovery that gave her support system hope she could be saved in time?
Consider the decision by Cahalan’s parents not to tell Cahalan’s brother about her illness until very late in the process. What do you think about this decision, and would you have done the same thing?
How does the form the book takes mimic Cahalan’s illness? Consider the multiple voices and forms of writing.
Unlock all 47 pages of this Study GuidePlus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features: