A Molecule away from Madness, Sara Manning Peskin
A Molecule away from Madness, Sara Manning Peskin
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A Molecule away from Madness
Tales of the Hijacked Brain

Author: Sara Manning Peskin

Narrator: Ann Richardson

Unabridged: 5 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/09/2022

Synopsis

A neurologist regales readers with extraordinary stories of the brain under siege.Our brains are the most complex machines known to humankind, but they have an Achilles heel: the very molecules that allow us to exist can also sabotage our minds. Here are true accounts of unruly molecules and the diseases that form in their wake, from total loss of inhibitions to florid psychosis to compulsive lying. Cognitive neurologist Sara Manning Peskin demystifies the most curious neurological phenomena through the perspective of patients, researchers, and science. She introduces us to a woman stuck in the Walking Dead, a family wracked with Alzheimer’s disease, and an entire region gripped by a baffling epidemic. By tracing the molecular causes for neurologic diseases, Peskin highlights cutting-edge developments in cognitive research, making the case that these are the stories that will one day teach us how to cure dementia and other diseases of the brain. A Molecule Away from Madness offers a captivating, singular view of the human brain.

About Sara Manning Peskin

Sara Manning Peskin is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

About Ann Richardson

Ann Richardson is an Earphones-winning narrator who studied broadcast journalism and Spanish at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Years later, the desire to take up a creative yet productive career lead her to narrating audiobooks and founding Great Plains Audiobooks, an audiobook publishing company focusing on bringing Midwestern literature to audio.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Leah on February 05, 2022

Captivating in the most nerve-wracking way possible, A Molecule Away from Madness leads the reader on a journey showcasing the havoc that the tiniest culprits can wreak on the biology that most fundamentally makes us who we are. Covering diseases that remain terrifyingly deadly today like Creutzfeld......more

Goodreads review by Jenbebookish on September 06, 2024

This was interesting. I thought it was going to be more focused on mental illness as a whole, but what it wound up being was stories of people who “lost their minds” bc of some random sickness that messed with their brains. Hence the “One molecule away from madness.” As in all it takes is one illnes......more

Goodreads review by Joseph on December 02, 2021

A fascinating journey into neurology, science and medicine through gripping stories and incredible history. It begins with an overview of the brain, how it develops and the types of threats that it's susceptible to. The author is great at explaining the science in ways that I could understand. She t......more

Goodreads review by Emily on November 16, 2021

This book is an incredible dive into how our DNA can impact diseases, especially as they relate to our brain. The author does an excellent job teaching readers about the discovery of genetic mutations that can lead to diseases like Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s through a series of stories. I found e......more

Goodreads review by Bonnie on April 11, 2022

Of course I knew that much mental illness is biological, even if it can be triggered by events or experiences, such as abuse. And I knew that environmental toxins like lead and mercury can play havoc with the brain. But I had no idea of the role molecules play. In one case, a tumor in a woman's body......more

Quotes

“Gripping accounts…scaffolded in clear explanations of their causes and neuroscientific opportunities towards possible cures.” Harvard Magazine

“An acute and evocative demonstration of the fragility and interchangeability of mental, emotional, and behavioral states.” Wall Street Journal

“Captivating and convincing…Should bring hope and confidence to general readers…and to the millions living with neurodegenerative illness and their families. An exemplary work." Library Journal (starred review)

“Impressive…There’s much to savor in this powerful survey.” Publishers Weekly

“The most current research being done in this field, with added appeal for anyone with a loved one suffering from brain disease. Fascinating popular science.” Kirkus Reviews

“Peskin’s elegant, empathic portrait of the vulnerable brain is both absolutely terrifying and wonderfully optimistic.” Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind

Awards

  • New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice
  • PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award
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