Emergence: A Memoir of Boyhood, Computation, and the Mysteries of Mind

by David Sussillo

David Sussillo has made a career at the cutting edge of neuroscience and technology—yet his path there was anything but a straight line. Born to drug-addicted parents in New Mexico, he navigated a childhood marked by violence and neglect. But a seed was planted at the unlikeliest of places—the local arcade.

What follows is a remarkable journey of resilience and transformation, from the chaotic corridors of group homes to the halls of Columbia and Stanford. Along the way, Sussillo takes readers on an illuminating tour of the century-long dance between neuroscience, physics, and computation that has laid the groundwork for neural networks—the technology that drives modern artificial intelligence. As he advances in the field, working to demystify these networks, he also begins to pursue an answer to a more personal why, and how, did he succeed against all odds?

Emergence radiates heartbreak, humor, and scientific wonder, inviting readers on an unforgettable journey that bridges the personal and the profound, revealing how intricate complexities arise from simple beginnings.

Genres: Nonfiction, Neuroscience

384 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2026

Reviews

[Dorian Dunne · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Prologue until the last page I was utterly blown away. This memoir is unlike anything I have ever read and told in such a genuine, clear and courageous voice. I felt as if I were experiencing many of the heartaches and successes myself as I journeyed along with the author on his incredible and seemingly impossible path. I would have to put the book down at times simply because it was such a heartwrenching story, but then I had to quickly pick it up again because I had to know what happened next and how the author got through to the other side.
The author managed to connect his brilliant scientific mind with the emotional spirit using analogies and connections that tied together in a way even a non-scientist (like me) could comprehend.
When I finished the book I went right back to the Prologue and wanted to read the book all over again. This is a work that doesn't leave you once you close the book. This took me to places that I had never even glimpsed.
Reading this book is a powerful favor to yourself.

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Sussillo is a neuroscientist currently working at Meta; his academic career includes a PhD from Columbia, a Fulbright fellowship, and many high profile publications. His 2026 memoir Emergence focuses on how he overcame his difficult and turbulent childhood and adolescence to become a successful scientist. Sussillo and his older sister did not have stable parents, so they largely grew up in a religious foster care establishment in New Mexico, with Sussillo later being partially rescued by extended family who decided he was too troubled and shipped him off to a boarding school (the Milton Hershey school in Pennsylvania -- owned by the Hershey chocolate company, and the school also profiled through a different child's experience in Andrea Elliott's excellent work of investigative nonfiction Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City). Unfortunately, none of these experiences went well for Sussillo; still, he managed to persevere, get accepted into Carnegie Mellon University, work in tech after undergrad, eventually go back to graduate school and earn his PhD, get married, and become a functioning adult.

This was an interesting memoir, though a bit long-winded for my taste; sometimes it felt like Sussillo was humble-bragging by going into detail on every excellent grade he got in school or every coursework assignment he nailed despite his adverse circumstances. I do think he had much better self-awareness than Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez in her memoir of overcoming an adverse childhood in My Side of the River, but then again Sussillo is in his 50s vs. Gutierrez being around 30 when she wrote her memoir.

The part I resonated with most was Sussillo's difficult PhD experience. His advisor basically kicked him out of his research group after about four years of full-time work, right as Sussillo was leaving for his overseas Fulbright experience. I can relate to the precarity of this experience, as I saw this happen to many other grad students in my PhD program as well. I wish more people would be open about these experiences, as they are more relatable that people realize. I also appreciated Sussillo being open about how hard it was to find his path after college, as well as the struggles he faced later in his life as he realized how many of the children he'd grown up with (as well as his older sister) had had very different adulthoods.

Further reading: memoirs that focus on overcoming difficult childhoods:
Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class by Rob Henderson
Educated by Tara Westover
North of Normal: A Memoir of My Wilderness Childhood, My Unusual Family, and How I Survived Both by Cea Sunrise Person
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Fei-Fei Li

My statistics:
Book 64 for 2026
Book 2370 cumulatively

[Ann Margolis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Truly amazing biography of an unloved boy overcoming tremendous obstacles to become the great educated man he would become.The author,David Sussillo, was ,born to parents who were constantly addicted to drugs for years and especially his mom who was also mentally ill and was in and out of mental hospitals. David, at age eight, with his slightly older sister were placed in a Christian children’s orphanage for many years …abused by both other kids and their house parents, not sexually but by unwarranted physical punishment. As David grew older he was accepted by the Milton Hershey Boarding School where, once again, he was abused by other students and and received undeserved punishment for breaking minor school rules. David was accepted by many fine universities for his intelligence and self-education on the basis of his computer knowledge obtained initially from his love of playing computer games in arcades/malls from the age of eight.. He majored in neuroscience for years with the help of a wonderful psychoanalyst who helped him to overcome problems related to his upbringing or lack thereof. This bio was compelling, but to be honest, I had to skip many sections that described scientific explanations which were way above my educational level. Thank you NetGalley,author,David Sussillo,and Grand Central Publishing for the arc ebook,Emergence.
On Sale,March 17,2026

[J Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emergence by David Sussillo is an engaging look at both his rise from troubled beginnings and the role of important people and circumstance in overcoming obstacles. Plus some interesting science and technology discussions.

While his personal story is a fascinating one, my biggest takeaway had more to do with generally how someone overcomes a difficult start to life. So many mistake such stories as "pulling oneself up by their bootstraps." As if that alone is sufficient. It certainly takes a lot of effort and goal-driven action. But the system is stacked against the vast majority of people under such circumstances and it is usually the coincidences of key mentors (or simply people who let you know you have the ability) and things to pique the curiosity and start the drive. In this case there were some key people and arcade games that combined with his innate curiosity and inquisitiveness that propelled him. He made it in spite of the systems in this country, not because of them.

Like I mentioned, his personal story is both a wonderful read and offers the reader some ways in which to help make a difference. How to spark the curiosity in a young mind and encourage them to go for it. Where might a positive comment or some subtle guidance set someone onto a similar path? Not everyone has the ability Sussillo has, so not everyone will respond the same way. But at the least we can encourage our young people to confidently reach for those things that seem to be only for those with a head start in life.

Recommended for those who enjoy positive memoirs as well as those who like to learn from other lives how they can contribute to more such stories.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a powerful memoir. There were so many times in David's life where things could have taken a different route but there happened to be the right person in his life that helped guide or support him to, eventually, get a PhD in neuroscience.
David overcame both parents being neglectful via being addicted to drugs or mental instability, being put into an orphanage, acting out and breaking rules; but yet his teachers tried to push him to stay in school and use his brain. They could tell he had potential but he just had to fight the odds.
This was a great story of how you can have the cards stacked against you but you can rise above it and succeed.

Most memoirs I read are of figures I know, but David was unknown to me. What drew me into wanting to read it was that I have a background in chemistry. While reading it I was reminded of a teacher pulling me from a math class to take an extra test. I remember sitting in the hall all by myself and finishing that test, next thing I knew I was sent to a higher math class. Later on I had just finished a physics final in college and the professor followed me out. He told me that I could do better if I just tried. I think I told him thanks but I didn't care, but in reality it wasn't him it was an outside factor. I wish I could apologize for that.

[Stephanie Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sussillo writes with raw, approachable honesty as he recaps his early years and invites us to contemplate the different fates that can emerge from related life circumstances. This memoir is both heartbreaking and heartwarming as he narrates his trials alongside the critical breadcrumbs of care from others that guide his journey.

I was deeply compelled by every page and emerge from the text with new, meaningful thoughts on the human experience.

[Marika · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I read an advance copy and was not compensated.

[Leah Greenly · Rating 5 out of 5]

David writes about his resilience coming from a broken home filled with violence and drugs. He found his way out of an orphanage into college and earned a Fulbright Scholarship.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good read for me. He overcame so much in his early life against everything else.