Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief, and the Brain

Dr. Cindy Weinstein with Dr. Bruce Miller’s Finding the Right Words: A Story of Grief, Literature, and the Brain, presents Weinstein’s reflections on the loss of her father, Jerry, to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As Weinstein depicts the experience of watching someone lose their memories and self-control to a disease, Miller contextualizes this experience within the accompanying neuroscience.

While Weinstein’s goals are laudable, the execution of those multifaceted goals-to write a personal narrative, an academic text, and a scientific synopsis-is lacking. The personal narrative provided by Weinstein often comes across as impersonal. Passages with detailed memories concerning Jerry losing basic functions are often summarized as a thesis before they are shown to the reader.

Miller by contrast offers the readers a breath of fresh air. The scientific explanations are concise and easily interpretable. Miller’s writing is among the best scientific communication I have encountered. It would be worth reading this book, skipping Weinstein’s writing, only to gain insight into Alzheimer’s disease as described by Miller.