Bestselling author John Grisham calls it “the most important book I’ve ever written,” and now his short book The Tumor is available as an audiobook – with an introduction read by the author himself.
The Tumor follows the experience of the fictional patient Paul, an otherwise healthy 35-year-old father who is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Despite receiving current state-of-the-art treatment of invasive brain surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, he passes away nine months after his diagnosis.
Grisham then takes readers to an alternate future, where Paul is diagnosed with the same brain tumor at 35 years old in the year 2025. In this future, doctors utilize focused ultrasound to treat the tumor and transform a fatal condition into one that is chronic, but manageable.
Originally released in 2016 and updated the following year, the book has always been available for free with the intention of reaching the widest audience possible.
Grisham debuted the book onstage at TEDxCharlottesville, joined by Foundation Chairman Dr. Neal Kassell. Grisham explained why he became involved in focused ultrasound and the Foundation – having joined the Board of Directors in 2008 – and his role as a storyteller in helping to raise awareness. He then introduced a Parkinson’s patient, Kimberly, who had been disabled with uncontrollable shaking. Kimberly ran onstage and shared how her participation in a focused ultrasound clinical trial transformed her life.
The newly released audiobook is available from Barnes & Noble, as well as on YouTube and the Foundation’s website.
Although hard copies of The Tumor are no longer available, readers can download the free ebook from a number of leading retailers – Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and GooglePlay – or via the Foundation’s website.
The Tumor has garnered media coverage from CBS, STAT News, Forbes, Mashable, People, The Washington Post, and The New Scientist, among others.