The Night the Lights Went Out: A Memoir of Life After Brain Damage
“Drew Magary has produced a remarkable account of his journey, one that is filled with terror, tenderness, beauty, and grace.”—David Grann, bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon
Drew Magary, fan-favorite Defector and former Deadspin columnist, is known for his acerbic takes and his surprisingly nuanced chronicling of his own life. But in The Night the Lights Went Out, he finds himself far out of his depths. On the night of the 2018 Deadspin Awards, he suffered a mysterious fall that caused him to smash his head so hard on a cement floor that he cracked his skull in three places and suffered a catastrophic brain hemorrhage. For two weeks, he remained in a coma. The world was gone to him, and him to it.
In his long recovery from his injury, including understanding what his family and friends went through as he lay there dying, coming to terms with his now permanent disabilities, and trying to find some lesson in this cosmic accident, he leaned on the one sure thing that he knows and that didn't leave him—his writing.
Drew takes a deep dive into what it meant to be a bystander to his own death and figuring out who this new Drew is: a Drew that doesn't walk as well, doesn't taste or smell or see or hear as well, and a Drew that is often failing as a husband and a father as he bounces between grumpiness, irritability, and existential fury. But what's a good comeback story without heartbreak? Eager to get back what he lost, Drew experiences an awakening of a whole other kind in this incredibly funny, medically illuminating, and heartfelt memoir.
In the eye-opening and deeply moving memoir, "The Night the Lights Went Out: A Memoir of Life After Brain Damage," Drew Magary chronicles his harrowing journey through a life-altering brain injury and its profound impact on his life and relationships.
With raw honesty and unflinching detail, Magary transports readers back to the fateful night when a seemingly innocuous fall during a basketball game resulted in a traumatic brain injury that left him in a coma for weeks. As he slowly regains consciousness, Magary finds himself in a strange and unfamiliar world, grappling with memory loss, impaired speech, and a host of physical and cognitive challenges.
Through the eyes of Magary, readers gain a visceral understanding of the immense struggles and triumphs of navigating life after brain damage. With unwavering determination and the unwavering support of his family and friends, Magary embarks on an arduous journey of rehabilitation, relearning basic skills, and finding new ways to communicate and connect with the world around him.
Magary's poignant narrative delves into the complexities of identity, resilience, and the power of human connection. He explores the profound changes in his relationships, the challenges of returning to work and parenting, and the emotional toll of living with a disability in a world that often fails to understand.
As Magary navigates the labyrinth of recovery, he discovers hidden reserves of strength and resilience within himself and those around him. Through his candid and deeply personal account, he sheds light on the often-overlooked struggles of brain injury survivors and their families, advocating for greater awareness, empathy, and support.
"The Night the Lights Went Out" is a poignant and inspiring testament to the indomitable spirit of the human heart. Magary's powerful words remind us of the fragility of life, the enduring power of love and friendship, and the extraordinary capacity for healing and transformation even in the face of adversity.
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