Review by sr145 -- Memories of a Brain Doctor
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sr145
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- Latest Review: Memories of a Brain Doctor by Abraham Lieberman MD. NYU Bellevue 196
Review by sr145 -- Memories of a Brain Doctor
[Following is a volunteer review of "Memories of a Brain Doctor" by Abraham Lieberman MD. NYU Bellevue 196.]
Memories of a Brain Doctor by Abraham N. Lieberman is a memoir that spans genres and writing styles. What begins as a narrative retelling of Dr. Lieberman's family history and background becomes an informative piece flooded with ideas from the fields of medicine, history, philosophy, and sprinkles of pop culture. The book primarily follows Dr.Lieberman as he grows from a young man who beat Polio through his college experiences at Cornell and into his time as a medical professional at Bellevue hospital. The author has not only demystified Parkinson's disease (his research specialty,) but he has also provided an accessible look into European and American Jewry through the decades. In the memoir, his familial ties are present and often act as a catalyst in his path to engage with the intersection between neurology and history. Dr. Lieberman's unique interactions with important historical figures like Muhammad Ali and his investigations into Adolf Hitler have provided new insight and information that will engage historians and medical professionals alike.
Upon reflection, this memoir is truly one-of-its-kind. Dr.Lieberman's writing leaps through periods, switches from personal narrative to definitions of medical conditions akin to medical journals. It does it all without becoming overly confusing or challenging to follow. As a neurologist, the author has an expansive knowledge of diseases affecting the brain and nervous system. His colloquial definitions and explanations of diseases such as Parkinson's, Syphilis, and Alzheimer's help the reader contextualize and better understand the significance of the events being discussed. On the topic of accessibility, the author has written about his family's history and their Jewish identities with tenderness and evident love. Often humorous and sad, the Lieberman family's story from the Shtetls and Czars to life as Jewish-American Immigrants is similar to the accounts of many Ashkenazi Jews. The memoir does a great job of portraying this group's resilience justly.
As discussed above, this memoir's writing style cannot be accurately defined as fitting one genre. And while there is value in the variety of ways this memoir presents itself, there are negatives as well. The first few chapters of this book are somewhat choppy, and it appears to be what one may expect of a deeply scientific author trying to write a narrative retelling. It's not necessarily that the writing is incorrect; it just lacks complex sentences, creative diction, and other rhetorical elements that are often essential to an engaging narrative. Another potential drawback in this memoir was the speculation on historical events that are often shrouded in conspiracy. For example, Dr.Lieberman writes about his opinions on JFK's assassination, and while his theories may be true, they are presented more as fact than opinion. On the whole, these instances do not distract from the validity of his other claims and insights regarding disease and his interactions with historical figures, but it is something to keep in mind.
As far as ratings go, Memories of a Brain Doctor lies somewhere between great and just okay. There are some genuinely groundbreaking insights, specifically regarding Hitler and WW2, that are crucial to understanding one of the most psychologically baffling horrors in humans' history. That said, it takes a while for the reader to become engaged with the story Dr.Lieberman is telling, and the disjointed chronology that appears throughout the book can detract from the events and ideas put forth. All in all, this memoir earned 2 out of 4 stars for the reasons above, in addition to the subject matter being relatively niche.
Readers who are interested in neurology, neuroscience, and psychology would find pleasure in this memoir. The author's medical experience is present throughout, and his prominence in these fields through time lends him solitary acumen. Readers with Jewish backgrounds or interest in Jewish history may also enjoy this read and the abundance of Yiddish exclamations.
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Memories of a Brain Doctor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Memories of a Brain Doctor by Abraham N. Lieberman is a memoir that spans genres and writing styles. What begins as a narrative retelling of Dr. Lieberman's family history and background becomes an informative piece flooded with ideas from the fields of medicine, history, philosophy, and sprinkles of pop culture. The book primarily follows Dr.Lieberman as he grows from a young man who beat Polio through his college experiences at Cornell and into his time as a medical professional at Bellevue hospital. The author has not only demystified Parkinson's disease (his research specialty,) but he has also provided an accessible look into European and American Jewry through the decades. In the memoir, his familial ties are present and often act as a catalyst in his path to engage with the intersection between neurology and history. Dr. Lieberman's unique interactions with important historical figures like Muhammad Ali and his investigations into Adolf Hitler have provided new insight and information that will engage historians and medical professionals alike.
Upon reflection, this memoir is truly one-of-its-kind. Dr.Lieberman's writing leaps through periods, switches from personal narrative to definitions of medical conditions akin to medical journals. It does it all without becoming overly confusing or challenging to follow. As a neurologist, the author has an expansive knowledge of diseases affecting the brain and nervous system. His colloquial definitions and explanations of diseases such as Parkinson's, Syphilis, and Alzheimer's help the reader contextualize and better understand the significance of the events being discussed. On the topic of accessibility, the author has written about his family's history and their Jewish identities with tenderness and evident love. Often humorous and sad, the Lieberman family's story from the Shtetls and Czars to life as Jewish-American Immigrants is similar to the accounts of many Ashkenazi Jews. The memoir does a great job of portraying this group's resilience justly.
As discussed above, this memoir's writing style cannot be accurately defined as fitting one genre. And while there is value in the variety of ways this memoir presents itself, there are negatives as well. The first few chapters of this book are somewhat choppy, and it appears to be what one may expect of a deeply scientific author trying to write a narrative retelling. It's not necessarily that the writing is incorrect; it just lacks complex sentences, creative diction, and other rhetorical elements that are often essential to an engaging narrative. Another potential drawback in this memoir was the speculation on historical events that are often shrouded in conspiracy. For example, Dr.Lieberman writes about his opinions on JFK's assassination, and while his theories may be true, they are presented more as fact than opinion. On the whole, these instances do not distract from the validity of his other claims and insights regarding disease and his interactions with historical figures, but it is something to keep in mind.
As far as ratings go, Memories of a Brain Doctor lies somewhere between great and just okay. There are some genuinely groundbreaking insights, specifically regarding Hitler and WW2, that are crucial to understanding one of the most psychologically baffling horrors in humans' history. That said, it takes a while for the reader to become engaged with the story Dr.Lieberman is telling, and the disjointed chronology that appears throughout the book can detract from the events and ideas put forth. All in all, this memoir earned 2 out of 4 stars for the reasons above, in addition to the subject matter being relatively niche.
Readers who are interested in neurology, neuroscience, and psychology would find pleasure in this memoir. The author's medical experience is present throughout, and his prominence in these fields through time lends him solitary acumen. Readers with Jewish backgrounds or interest in Jewish history may also enjoy this read and the abundance of Yiddish exclamations.
******
Memories of a Brain Doctor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
