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My Father's Brain: Life in the Shadow of Alzheimer's Kindle Edition

4.6 out of 5 stars 319 ratings

Named a best book of the year by The New Yorker | A Smithsonian top ten science book of 2023 | One of AARP magazine's favorite books of 2023

“Blending the humor, compassion, and absorbing family drama of first-rate memoir with expert science writing, [Sandeep Jauhar] has composed a can’t-miss introduction to what has been called the Age of Alzheimer’s.” —Sanjay Gupta, author of
Keep Sharp and World War C

A deeply affecting memoir of a father’s descent into dementia, and a revelatory inquiry into why the human brain degenerates with age and what we can do about it.

Almost six million Americans—about one in every ten people over the age of sixty-five—have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, and this number is projected to more than double by 2050. What is it like to live with and amid this increasingly prevalent condition, an affliction that some fear more than death? In My Father’s Brain, the distinguished physician and author Sandeep Jauhar sets his father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s alongside his own journey toward understanding this disease and how it might best be coped with, if not cured.

In an intimate memoir rich with humor and heartbreak, Jauhar relates how his immigrant father and extended family felt, quarreled, and found their way through the dissolution of a cherished life. Along the way, he lucidly exposes what happens in the brain as we age and our memory falters, and explores everything from ancient conceptions of the mind to the most cutting-edge neurological—and bioethical—research. Throughout,
My Father’s Brain confronts the moral and psychological concerns that arise when family members must become caregivers, when children’s and parents’ roles reverse, and when we must accept unforeseen turns in our closest relationships—and in our understanding of what it is to have a self. The result is a work of essential insight into dementia, and into how scientists, caregivers, and all of us in an aging society are reckoning with the fallout.


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From the Publisher

Praise for My Father's Brain: Life in the Shadow of Alzheimer's by Sandeep Jauhar

My Father's Brain Sandeep Jauhar Sanjay Gupta quote

My Father's Brain Sandeep Jauhar Cody Keenan quote

My Father's Brain Sandeep Jauhar Amitav Ghosh quote

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[My Father’s Brain] excels in its clear scientific explanations of what happens in the brain as dementia progresses and in its authentic descriptions of the sheer hell of it for all concerned . . . deeply moving, especially when [Sandeep] Jauhar describes his own sense of confusion about how to do the right thing as his father declines.” ―Bee Wilson, Financial Times

"A fascinating mixture of the medical and the personal . . . [Full of] transcendent moments."
―Alexandra Jacobs, The New York Times

“Poignant and illuminating . . . piercingly honest.”
―Laurie Hertzel, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Anyone who’s been a family caregiver, or has a loved one with the disease, will relate to [Jauhar], who describes his family’s long, difficult journey with tenderness and candor."
AARP magazine

"[An] intimate medical memoir . . . [Jauhar's] honest writing makes this a painful but important read for anyone who has lost a friend or relative to Alzheimer’s."
―Sophie McBain, The New Statesman

"[An] incisive memoir."
The New Yorker

"Jauhar sincerely and personally details the transformation of his father’s and his family’s life after the diagnosis, detailing the messy realities of such a diagnosis and what it entails for a family . . . This moving book instills empathy, understanding, and curiosity in its reader, and I could not recommend it more."
Katherine Schoeffler, World Literature Today

"[
My Father's Brain] has to be one of the best memoirs on illness by doctors . . . The force of the inevitability of life, and its end, as seen through his experience, is nothing short of enlightening, gutting and humbling." ―Kinshuk Gupta, Mint

"In this propulsive memoir, [Jauhar] delivers an aching account of 'the hardest journey [he has] ever taken' as he witnessed his father, Prem’s, health, personality, and cognition get subsumed by Alzheimer’s . . . The author’s brutal honesty―about his father’s decline and his own inability to fully reckon with it―is expertly complemented by his medical rigor. Every family who’s ever faced an Alzheimer’s diagnosis will see themselves in this exceptional work."
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Painful yet affecting . . . difficult to put down."
Kirkus Reviews

"With
Heart: A History and other books, Sandeep Jauhar established himself as one of our most insightful, readable, and humane physician-authors. With My Father’s Brain, his work becomes still more essential. Blending the humor, compassion, and absorbing family drama of first-rate memoir with expert science writing, he has composed a can’t-miss introduction to what has been called The Age of Alzheimer’s." ―Sanjay Gupta, author of Keep Sharp and World War C

“These pages will be a blessing to families dealing with Alzheimer’s. Jauhar’s prose is insightful, honest and moving about a condition that most of us will inevitably encounter in our lifetimes."
―Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone

"
My Father's Brain is at once a deeply affecting memoir and a profoundly instructive primer about a malady that now affects many millions of people." ―Amitav Ghosh, author of Flood of Fire and The Nutmeg's Curse

"My Father's Brain is honest and compelling, combining the professional and the personal in a story that is both gripping and desperately sad. Anyone who has loved and cared for someone with dementia will recognize their own creeping realization that something is wrong: the attempts to explain away bizarre behaviors, the moments of frustration and shame, the 'traitorous eye rolls' made by Jauhar as he tried to convey to strangers that his father 'was no longer himself and it was not my fault.' Sandeep Jauhar is unsparing in his analysis of his own response to his father's illness, and does not offer trite solutions, but he describes what happened―there are sharply observed scenes of family discord about the care of his father in his final days―and his honesty makes this a book that will give others what we sometimes need most: the knowledge that we are not alone." ―Lucy Pollock, author of The Book About Getting Older

"From the unflinchingly honest perspective of a compassionate doctor and loving son,
My Father's Brain offers an unprecedented portrait of the insidious ravages of dementia and the terrifying vicissitudes of chronic neurologic disease. It delivers a page-turning narrative as haunting as it is inspiring and as devastating as it is deeply moving. Essential reading for every child of a mother or father in the twilight of life." ―Cody Keenan, former Chief Speechwriter for President Barack Obama and author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America

About the Author

Sandeep Jauhar is the bestselling author of several acclaimed books on medical topics: Intern, Doctored, and Heart: A History, which was named a best book of 2018 by The Mail on Sunday, Science Friday, and the Los Angeles Public Library, and was a PBS NewsHour/New York Times book club pick; it was also a finalist for the 2019 Wellcome Book Prize. A practicing physician, Jauhar writes regularly for the opinion section of The New York Times. His TED Talk on the emotional heart was one of the ten most-watched TED Talks of 2019.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09Y46NCS5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 11, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 8.2 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0374605858
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #488,756 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 319 ratings

About the author

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Sandeep Jauhar
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Sandeep Jauhar has written several bestselling books, all published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

MY FATHER'S BRAIN, his latest book, is a memoir of his relationship with his father as he succumbed to dementia. In the book, Jauhar sets his father’s descent into Alzheimer’s alongside his own journey toward understanding his father’s disease. It was named a best book of 2023 by The New Yorker, and was a Smithsonian top ten science book of 2023.

Jauhar's first book, INTERN, was an international bestseller and was optioned by NBC for a dramatic TV series.

His second book, DOCTORED, was a NYT bestseller and was named a NY Post Best Book of 2014.

HEART: A HISTORY, his last book, was named a best book of 2018 by Science Friday, UK's The Mail on Sunday, and the Los Angeles Public Library, and was the PBS NewsHour/NYT book club pick for January 2019; it was also a finalist for the Wellcome Book Prize.

A practicing physician, Jauhar writes regularly for the opinion section of the NY Times. His TED Talk on the emotional heart was one of the ten most-watched of 2019. To learn more about his work, visit his website or follow him on social media.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
319 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find this book provides valuable insights into Alzheimer's disease and its treatment, with one review noting its medical explanations of brain functions. Moreover, they describe it as a profoundly emotional read that realistically portrays a family's journey, and one customer mentions how the author seamlessly combines medical aspects with personal narrative. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its readability, writing style, and pacing, with one review highlighting how it helps caretakers understand the disease process better.

23 customers mention "Insight"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides valuable insights, particularly about Alzheimer's disease and its treatment, while maintaining the right balance of scientific content.

"...ago and can't remember details well, but I remember it gave a good description of how siblings deal with elderly parents..." Read more

"This is one of the most sincere, poignant, informative and beautifully written books I have come across...." Read more

"...The book explains the progression of Alzheimer's on his Father starting at 72...." Read more

"...He has a unique perspective as a neurologist, dealing with his mother who has Parkinson’s disease and a father with Alzheimer’s disease...." Read more

19 customers mention "Emotional content"16 positive3 negative

Customers describe this book as a profoundly emotional read, with one customer noting how realistically it portrays a family's journey through illness.

"This is one of the most sincere, poignant, informative and beautifully written books I have come across...." Read more

"...It was touching and easy to read. Most of the books I read I donate, but not my Alzheimer books. I have friends who I loan these out to." Read more

"...The journey is the story! Read it and read it again! Jim Stevralia, President Max International" Read more

"...The author takes you on an enjoyable and riveting personal journey, deftly combining his own personal experiences with approachable explanations of..." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a must-read that is well worth the time. One customer mentions it's a great addition to their Alzheimer's book collection.

"...struggle with coming to terms with his father's disease. Well worth the read and stimulating...." Read more

"...Known as dementia. A must read for every individual since we ourselves or our family member may become the victim...." Read more

"A must read for anyone dealing with the tribulations of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's / Dementia...." Read more

"...I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book...." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one describing it as a beautifully written narrative.

"This is one of the most sincere, poignant, informative and beautifully written books I have come across...." Read more

"Well written...." Read more

"This is a beautifully written narrative about caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s disease...." Read more

"This book is well written, profound, and emotional...." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, with one customer noting how the author seamlessly combines medical aspects of dementia, while another mentions how it helps caretakers understand the disease process better.

"...experience validated and shared, and will help caretakers understand the disease process better." Read more

"...He combines history, medicine, science and most importantly personal experience in life's jouney...." Read more

"...This book has you smiling and nearly crying at times...." Read more

"...who are struggling with her parents with Alzheimer’s, and this book is encouraging and humerus and very insightful" Read more

6 customers mention "Enjoyment"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, with one describing it as riveting.

"...to terms with his father's disease. Well worth the read and stimulating.Makes you think about the fragility of your own brain...." Read more

"...The author takes you on an enjoyable and riveting personal journey, deftly combining his own personal experiences with approachable explanations of..." Read more

"...I found this book fascinating to read and would highly recommend." Read more

"...book it’s a wonderful honest story about living with dementia it’s interesting and also has good information" Read more

4 customers mention "Honesty"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the honesty of the book.

"...aging of his intellegent, educated father with compassion and with total honesty...." Read more

"This book was written carefully and honestly...." Read more

"...My Father's Brain" is a honest insight into the challenges of a family dealing with the heartbreak of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's...." Read more

"Thoughtful. Honest. Good detail from someone who would know shared with compassionate and personal insight. A good book." Read more

Amazing book. Captivating!
5 out of 5 stars
Amazing book. Captivating!
This is a deeply moving book that had me in tears a few times. It’a so captivating that it had me wanting to stay up late hours to finish it. It’s good for people wanting to understand more about dementia, but also for people already going through the struggles of dementia with a loved one. Don’t hesitate, get the book!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2023
    This book is a heartbreaking, beautiful portrait of how dementia care unfolds for families in America, such that even a family of accomplished doctors suffer without appropriate care. Dr. Jauhar does not shield the reader from all the ugly feelings of anger, fear and despair caretakers experience--it was exceptionally brave of him to show us exactly what it is like to care for a person with dementia. Writing as a neuropsychologist who trained in a rehab hospital, what made me the most upset as I read was that, though this family had access to brilliant MDs, they never had a basic care team that included mental health providers, rehab therapists, and nurses. A brain scan (as he noted) does not tell you much about a person's functioning. Scans and mental status exams alone can't inform critical care issues such as when to take the car keys away, how to prevent wandering, or when start paying your father's bills. Seeing a neurologist every 4 years? That's not good care. If you are caring for a person with dementia, you need YOUR OWN care so you can PROVIDE care. No one should have to go it alone like this family and their parents. That's where neuropsychology, psychology, social work, speech pathologists, and nurse educators come in--we are vital members of the team (and it must be a team!) who provide the practical day to day psychoeducation to families to mitigate suffering. I was so sad for Dr. Jauhar that he only learned about critical aspects of cognitive changes in dementia after a neurologist at a conference happened to show him a training video for residents. That's a shocking lack of coordinated care which clearly led to needless suffering for the siblings and parents alike. This book is a classic example of how even an intelligent, accomplished family can be in free fall with no safety net in this country. The good news is that those of us in mental health, speech, and Occupational Therapy, while in short supply, are cheaper than physicians. this means we have more time to talk with you, listen and provide psychoeducation, but you don't get that if you don't know to ask for it. If you are in this position of being a caretaker, do yourself a favor and advocate for a multidisciplinary treatment team that includes mental health (esp a great social workers!) and nurses. Having psychoeducation about what to expect and really practical, nitty gritty advice will save you and your loved one a ton of needless suffering. I highly recommend this beautiful book for caretakers though--it does mean a lot have the overwhelming experience validated and shared, and will help caretakers understand the disease process better.
    36 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I bought at least eight memoirs on Alzheimer's. I read this several months ago and can't remember details well, but I remember it gave a good description of how siblings deal with elderly parents (one with Alzheimer's and the other with other health problems). It was touching and easy to read. Most of the books I read I donate, but not my Alzheimer books. I have friends who I loan these out to.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2023
    Sandeep Jauhar's memoir of his parents' especially his father's declining years is one that would inform, move to emotion many of us who have a parent, and who will one day grow old and pass on.
    i liked the author's references to classical philosophers - from Pythagoras of Samos (yes, he seems to have done a theorem on the side) to Cicero to modern physicians like Alzheimer who studied how dementia is differentiated from the common decline of mental faculties and memory that all of feel ( after all, my 12 year old forgets which online video she watched earlier in the day, when onto the next one;) - but is able to explain to me exactly which episode Walter White becomes 'Heisenberg' in Breaking Bad.
    And so I appreciated the author's explanation of how the hippocampus (after the amygdala) is responsible for short term memories (where is the bathroom?) vs. the entire brain cortex responsible for memories that persist from decades earlier.
    I liked his reminiscences of how his childhood in 1970s-80s America, as an immigrant from India to Kentucky [as it happens, there may be some threads similar to my own life - although a native of Santa Monica, calif, my father - also an science academic - moved back to India where I grew up until college in Berkeley (also like the author). yes, the life in India was materially bleak - the concrete floors, the bare fluorescent lights, going for milk in the morning, collecting drinking water from two flights downstairs every day - yes, been there, for 17 years - and, yes, as Jauhar explains, we all tend to romanticize, or simply 'misremember' aspects of the past to fit our present situation.
    one thing I feel like pointing out : the author considers PM Indira Gandhi's declaration of state of 'Emergency' in 1975 , loss of support for 'scientific research' as trigger for his family's departure from Delhi. Having lived through it, I dont know if I agree - Indira Gandhi may be maligned for a lot of things, but it was that dimunitive woman who exploded India's atomic bomb and launched her first satellite, (after standing up to Nixon, Kissinger and Mao to liberate Bangladesh - she had more vision and cojones than most Indian leaders, in my view)_
    There are parts of the book that read less well - the author could have devoted less pages to just-so reciting of his back-forth texts with his siblings on his father's state, and perhaps more to the backstory of Harwinder - the Punjabi lady who really seemed to have pulled more than her share of the burden, with her own family far away. indeed, i thought the book may be dedicated to her.
    But no matter, a personal memoir is exactly that, and I think Sandeep Jauhar has managed as honest an effort as anyone can make of such deeply personal circumstances - situations which will confront us all in, paraphrasing Tolstoy, i would say that young families are all like, but every family grows old in its own unhappy way.
    Back in India i had a Jesuit father - Juan Jose Morondo - who had , as child during the Spain's civil war (involuntarily?) committed to the Society of Jesus - as science (and history) teacher. he filled his lectures with misremembered facts, even outright bs, but easily one of the most inspiring great teachers i have ever had. but among other things he taught me that the brain is covered by layers - Mater - the Pia Mater. (Pia is the author's daughter, who his father keeps asking for)
    an alternate title for his book might be : Mind over (Pia) Mater
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2025
    A devastating disease. Bought one for each of our adult sons
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2023
    This is one of the most sincere, poignant, informative and beautifully written books I have come across. I started reading this book in order to better understand how to help my own mother who is suffering from Alzheimer's as well as early Parkinson's. What started being a simple quest to be better informed, turned into a revelation of human emotions and endeavors that will stay with me for life. I was so touched by Dr. Sandeep Jauhar and his siblings' tough and heart wrenching journey with their father as they navigated through those dark, troubled times. Their story teaches you about illness and the challenges of aging, but also a lot about patience, tenacity and love. It is written with such clarity and feeling, that the angst is almost palpable. It at times made me smile, cry but most of all it left me with a deep respect for the human spirit. It reinforces your faith in the goodness of people. I would give this book the highest recommendation. It teaches you about life. Everyone should read it at least once.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Dr. Shelton Nethisinghe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very readable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2024
    Interesting how the family managed the care of their father suffering from dementia
  • Darma Elena
    5.0 out of 5 stars Molto bene. Di grande aiuto.
    Reviewed in Italy on June 13, 2023
    Bene organizzato. Pieno di affetto, competenza senza freddezza.
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  • Yiannis CHRYSOSTOMIDIS
    5.0 out of 5 stars heartfelt
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2023
    An excellent and heartfelt book about dementia. My father is also suffering from early stage dementia and it was terrifyingly eye opening about what might await me.

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