Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath by Michael Paul Mason

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Interested in having the author of Head Cases speak to your book club? For groups of ten or more, you can arrange a complimentary call-in discussion with Michael, who will answer questions and offer your reading group "behind-the-scenes" information about the writing of Head Cases. Offer is subject to author's availability.

Please contact Anne Garrett at jfitzagency.com to make arrangements.

Questions for Discussion

1. Throughout the book, the author depicts survivors who have experienced a range of impairments following a brain injury. What are some of the most common problems that many of the survivors experienced?

2. In America, brain injury was initially often referred to as "head injury." What are some reasons why the term might have changed?

3. The author chose to include the comments and stories of family members and friends in many chapters. How does this change the way you understand brain injury?

4. Why do you think the book's title includes the word "aftermath?"

5. Can you identify some of the images the author used to convey his own sense of helplessness when dealing survivors of brain injury?

6. In describing people with disabilities, it is politically correct to use "person-centered" language, e.g. "person with a brain injury" instead of "brain-injured person." Why do you think the author chose not to use person-centered language?

7. The author writes that "brain injury is the most spiritual injury." In which chapters did you sense the spiritual struggles of survivors the most?