Left Neglected

From neuroscientist and bestselling author Lisa Genova comes a story of resilience in the face of a devastating diagnosis. After a car crash leaves a vibrant mother in her thirties with a traumatic brain disorder called “left neglect,” she learns what truly matters most in life.

Sarah Nickerson, like any other working mom, is busy trying to have it all. One morning while racing to work and distracted by her cell phone, she looks away from the road for one second too long. In that blink of an eye, all the rapidly moving parts of her over-scheduled life come to a screeching halt. After a brain injury steals her awareness of everything on her left side, Sarah must retrain her mind to perceive the world as a whole. In so doing, she also learns how to pay attention to the people and parts of her life that matter most.

In this powerful and poignant New York Times bestseller, Lisa Genova explores what can happen when we are forced to change our perception of everything around us. Left Neglected is an unforgettable story about finding abundance in the most difficult of circumstances, learning to pay attention to the details, and nourishing what truly matters.

BUY THE BOOK

Published Jul 26, 2011

352 pages

Average rating: 7.35

55 RATINGS

|

These clubs recently read this book...

Tackle Box Brewing Book Club

This book club was founded in 2021 for those who love a good read and a good brew! We meet the first Thursday of the month at 6pm at Tackle Box Brewing in Marlborough, MA and our members enjoy lively conversations around group chosen books.

Community Reviews

anne ducastel
Jan 08, 2026
6/10 stars
I needed a lot more information about this condition to fully understand Sarah's plight. Sadly I could not find any sympathy for Sarah whose ego obstructed even her condition. I wished the mother and husband's characters had been more developed, and that Sarah's epiphany had been more obvious...
Harrietaspy
May 04, 2025
6/10 stars
Never knew or thought about this kind of disability. Well written but not as good as Still Alice.
Norman
Aug 08, 2023
5/10 stars
Good book. A little flue in the middle but picked up.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.