A 19-year-old student developed a searing headache and slowly lost her vision, so gradually that it took her several days to realise that she had been struck blind. Certain that the blindness was divine punishment for a secret sin, she told no one. It wasn’t until she walked into a wall that her grandmother intervened.
The student’s story is one of many patient stories that Pria Anand, a neurologist at Boston Medical Centre, uses to illustrate the myriad symptoms and deficits of neurological diseases.
Anand is a compelling narrator and vivid storyteller. Having studied literature and cognitive science before her medical career, she writes with striking precision and sensitivity. Her love of language shines through in the compassionate way she describes patients and the complex challenges they face when the nervous system fails to function as it should.
For Anand, hospitals are places of both heartache and wonder, and it is through stories we begin to make sense of the senseless.
This collection of stories honours scientific endeavour in pursuit of improved patient care. However, Anand is acutely aware of medicine’s historical and contemporary failings and strongly advocates for care that does not discriminate based on gender, race or socioeconomic status. Her passion for equitable patient care makes this a powerful, engaging and, at times, a tender read.
The title The Mind Electric might suggest an exploration of the intangible realms of thought, feeling and consciousness. In reality, Anand’s focus is more grounded in the physical brain and its observable functions. This focus does not disappoint. Stories of disrupted sight, speech, hearing, touch, movement, memory and pain are crafted with skill and insight.
The influence of Oliver Sacks is both clear and acknowledged, with rare and compelling neurological conditions taking centre stage. Such stories offer powerful insights into neuroanatomy and brain function. However, readers whose lives have been affected by conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis may find their experiences less reflected in this collection.
The Mind Electric is a valuable and welcome addition to the canon of medical writing. While medical students and doctors in training will find much to learn from Anand’s insights, the book also offers broader appeal. Anand’s keen observations and evocative storytelling make for compelling reading.
Des McMahon is a consultant in palliative medicine, St Vincent’s University Hospital and Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services.
