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Brain in a Jar: A Daughter's Journey Through Her Father's Memory
"Promise me something, Gal, he said."
"Anything, I answered."
"Swear that you will put a gun to my head if I wind up like my father." Nancy Stearns Bercaw crossed her fingers the day she promised to kill her father. Instead she promised herself to one day tell his story, and in this unflinchingly honest memoir she recounts her life with Dr. Beauregard Lee Bercaw, or "Beau," who became a neurologist in response to watching his own father deteriorate and die of Alzheimer's. For many years Beau kept an autopsied brain in a jar on the desk in his office as a constant reminder of the struggle that he waged against the disease first with his patients, and ultimately for himself as he succumbed to its effects. This is also the story of the author's own struggle to establish her identity and to navigate the treacherous and ever-changing emotional terrain of her relationship with her father, as she literally traveled the world in her quest to make sense of both of their lives. It would be reason enough to read this book as a gripping account of a family dealing with a tragic disease that continues to ravage the lives of countless victims and their survivors. But to say that this is an important book on a crucial subject is to understate its merits, for in a larger sense, this book is not about Alzheimer's, but rather a more universal subject, family , and how this one family and this one daughter in particular managed to live in the deep shadow of Beau's obsession. Surprisingly, given these dark themes, this is often a very funny book, tragicomic in the manner of real life that fiction can never equal. Beau is such a vivid, complex and often infuriating character that if you were to encounter him in a novel you might dismiss him as too unlikely to be real; while the author's own travels and adventures can seem almost too much to have been crammed into a single, still very much ongoing life. It is a gift that this talented and engaging writer should have lived or perhaps better, survived such an incredible life, and that she has chosen to share her memoir and mission with us. This is a rollicking roller-coaster of a read, and it ends in the best possible way, filled with life and hope. "Brain in a Jar is an American Gothic tale of love, grief, genetics, obsession, adventure, fear and courage. The Bercaws might break your heart, but they ll also remind you why Alzheimer's disease must take center stage in politics, medicine, and art." Bob Kerrey and Newt Gingrich, from the Introduction "This is a wonderful, powerful memoir of a father by his daughter, at once heartfelt and artful, very moving and very honest, very well written and beautifully constructed. A classic of its kind." William Boyd, author of eleven novels including A Good Man in Africa. . "My friend, classmate and colleague, neurologist Beauregard Bercaw MD, watched his father deteriorate with Alzheimer's disease and thus knew what might be in store for him. Whereas the stoic philosopher Seneca wrote, 'Fore-knowledge is fore-sorrow,' this knowledge about his father's demise helped motivate Beau to spend his life helping other people with neurological diseases, and when he developed the symptoms of Alzheimer's himself he did not succumb without a valiant battle. This wonderful book written by his daughter describes her relationship with her adoring father, his work as a neurologist, and his fight with this terrible disease.
When we reach our eighties, fifty percent of us will have this or another dementing disease, and this book will help open peoples' eyes so that we can prepare and find a means of ending this terrible plague." Kenneth M. Heilman MD, FAAN
University of Florida College of Medicine
"Anything, I answered."
"Swear that you will put a gun to my head if I wind up like my father." Nancy Stearns Bercaw crossed her fingers the day she promised to kill her father. Instead she promised herself to one day tell his story, and in this unflinchingly honest memoir she recounts her life with Dr. Beauregard Lee Bercaw, or "Beau," who became a neurologist in response to watching his own father deteriorate and die of Alzheimer's. For many years Beau kept an autopsied brain in a jar on the desk in his office as a constant reminder of the struggle that he waged against the disease first with his patients, and ultimately for himself as he succumbed to its effects. This is also the story of the author's own struggle to establish her identity and to navigate the treacherous and ever-changing emotional terrain of her relationship with her father, as she literally traveled the world in her quest to make sense of both of their lives. It would be reason enough to read this book as a gripping account of a family dealing with a tragic disease that continues to ravage the lives of countless victims and their survivors. But to say that this is an important book on a crucial subject is to understate its merits, for in a larger sense, this book is not about Alzheimer's, but rather a more universal subject, family , and how this one family and this one daughter in particular managed to live in the deep shadow of Beau's obsession. Surprisingly, given these dark themes, this is often a very funny book, tragicomic in the manner of real life that fiction can never equal. Beau is such a vivid, complex and often infuriating character that if you were to encounter him in a novel you might dismiss him as too unlikely to be real; while the author's own travels and adventures can seem almost too much to have been crammed into a single, still very much ongoing life. It is a gift that this talented and engaging writer should have lived or perhaps better, survived such an incredible life, and that she has chosen to share her memoir and mission with us. This is a rollicking roller-coaster of a read, and it ends in the best possible way, filled with life and hope. "Brain in a Jar is an American Gothic tale of love, grief, genetics, obsession, adventure, fear and courage. The Bercaws might break your heart, but they ll also remind you why Alzheimer's disease must take center stage in politics, medicine, and art." Bob Kerrey and Newt Gingrich, from the Introduction "This is a wonderful, powerful memoir of a father by his daughter, at once heartfelt and artful, very moving and very honest, very well written and beautifully constructed. A classic of its kind." William Boyd, author of eleven novels including A Good Man in Africa. . "My friend, classmate and colleague, neurologist Beauregard Bercaw MD, watched his father deteriorate with Alzheimer's disease and thus knew what might be in store for him. Whereas the stoic philosopher Seneca wrote, 'Fore-knowledge is fore-sorrow,' this knowledge about his father's demise helped motivate Beau to spend his life helping other people with neurological diseases, and when he developed the symptoms of Alzheimer's himself he did not succumb without a valiant battle. This wonderful book written by his daughter describes her relationship with her adoring father, his work as a neurologist, and his fight with this terrible disease.
When we reach our eighties, fifty percent of us will have this or another dementing disease, and this book will help open peoples' eyes so that we can prepare and find a means of ending this terrible plague." Kenneth M. Heilman MD, FAAN
University of Florida College of Medicine
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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17 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Stearns Bercaw
3 books9 followersNancy Stearns Bercaw is an NCAA All-American swimmer and national champion. Her writing has appeared in such publications as the New York Times, the Huffington Post, and U.S. News & World Report. She lives in Vermont with her husband and son.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 15, 2020
Nancy Stearns Bercaw tells her experience with a neurosurgeon father who became less and less of himself due to the horrifying grip of Alzheimer's disease. Bercaw recollects her childhood, being born in the Philippines, her pubesant years in Florida, her extended family and the odd parenting style of her father who showed his love and affection in ways let's just say would not concur nostalgia.
The memoir does not throw medical jargons to cement the autrocity of Alzheimer's however reads out as a beautiful story about a family and how imperfect every family is. It is inspirational to read the father and daughter duo bonding over their adventures in Africa and Bercaw's appreciation of her father's train of thought while she traverses Nepal, Vietnam, India and the Philippines.
Both father and daughter are afraid to turn into their respective fathers and both try to outmanouvre their inevitable in practical yet sometimes outlandish trajectory, this makes it a delightful read at times but considering the topic at hand it should also be a constant reminder of how imperative a cure for the disease is.
The memoir does not throw medical jargons to cement the autrocity of Alzheimer's however reads out as a beautiful story about a family and how imperfect every family is. It is inspirational to read the father and daughter duo bonding over their adventures in Africa and Bercaw's appreciation of her father's train of thought while she traverses Nepal, Vietnam, India and the Philippines.
Both father and daughter are afraid to turn into their respective fathers and both try to outmanouvre their inevitable in practical yet sometimes outlandish trajectory, this makes it a delightful read at times but considering the topic at hand it should also be a constant reminder of how imperative a cure for the disease is.
December 1, 2020
An absolutely amazing book. This book really explores the relation between a dad and his daughter, it is sure to take you on a ride of emotions as it is a very heart warming book that everyone can read and love.
September 13, 2013
I adore the quirkiness of this book and the fact that it's not sad! The author does an amazing job of putting the reader in her shoes. Her dad was simply a character and the humor, love and understanding you get from this book makes it all worth it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews