by John Grisham
First published 2015
Paul is 35 years old, healthy by every measure except one. A malignant brain tumor has taken root in his brain, and he has a young family watching what comes next. Grisham walks through Paul's diagnosis, his treatment, and the experience his family endures alongside him. It does not go well. That is the first half of the book. Then Grisham resets the clock. Same man, same age, same tumor, but the year is 2025, and a technology called focused ultrasound exists. This time, doctors use sound waves to target the tumor directly. Paul's outcome changes. The book is short, and Grisham calls it the most important he has ever written. It carries a clear argument: focused ultrasound is a real technology with the potential to treat brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, and prostate, breast, and pancreatic cancer. Paul's story is fictional. The science behind it is not.
Genres: biography, medical, popular-science, adult, adult-fiction, non-fiction
Vibes: contemplative, emotional, hopeful, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: medical-journey, parallel-narratives, speculative-outcome
Period: 2025
48 pages · Paperback · Focused Ultrasound Foundation
Content warnings: death, medical-trauma, terminal-illness