The World's Best Book Summaries
What is survivor’s guilt? How does it affect Susannah Cahalan in Brain on Fire? After her article about her illness was published, Susannah received a lot of emails from people who read it. One letter seemed resentful that she was able to get better. Read more about the question “what is survivor’s guilt” in Susannah’s situation.
What is autoimmune brain stem encephalitis? Why did the doctors think Susannah Cahalan might have it? Autoimmune brain stem encephalitis is a condition where the immune system attacks the brain stem. It is an inflammation or swelling condition that can cause serious impairments. Read more about why doctors thought Susannah may have had autoimmune brain stem encephalitis or another brain stem condition.
Who approves treaties after they’ve been negotiated by the President? How does the Senate check executive power? Senate treaty ratification power is an important check on the President. Unlike a monarchy, the President cannot unilaterally enter into international agreements. See who approves treaties and why.
What is Federalist 52 about? How does it discuss and defend the powers of the House of Representatives? Federalist 52 is about the structure of the House. It defends the requirements for Members as appropriate for the functions of the People’s Chamber. Read more about Federalist 52 and how the qualifications are suitable for the powers of the House of Representatives.
How did the Articles of Confederation power distribution affect the early United States? How did state powers under the Articles of Confederation evolve in the Constitution? In the Articles of Confederation, power is limited for the national government. Federalist 16 discusses the shift of power to the national government under the Constitution. Read more about the Articles of Confederation, power, and Federalist 16.
What was the purpose of The Federalist Papers? Why were they written and how did they help? The purpose of The Federalist Papers was to advocate for the new U.S. Constitution. The Constitution had created a stronger national government than the Articles of Confederation had done. Read more about the purpose of The Federalist Papers.
What is judicial authority? How does Federalist 81 discuss the powers of the judiciary? Judicial authority is the power of the judiciary to interpret laws or declare them invalid. Federalist 81 defends the powers of the judicial branch as described in the Constitution. Read more about Federalist 81 and judicial authority.
What are the different types of seizures? How does each seizure look different from others? Different types of seizures are indicative of different conditions. Susannah Cahalan experienced different seizures throughout her illness. Read more about the different types of seizures and how to tell them apart.
What does severe paranoia signal? Are there paranoia causes beyond mental illness? Severe paranoia is a recurring symptom in Brain on Fire. Susannah had paranoid thoughts about her family, her nurses, and her boyfriend. Read more about the severe paranoia exhibited by Susannah Cahalan.
What is Ekbom Syndrome? Why did it seem like Susannah Cahalan might have Ekbom Syndrome? Ekbom Syndrome is a condition where someone is obsessed with bugs. It can be a precursor to psychosis, and Susannah was believed to have this disease before being correctly diagnosed. Read more about Susannah’s symptoms that seemed like Ekbom Syndrome.