Memoir: Brave New Medicine

Li's writing is so intimate -- and so exacting -- that it cuts like a knife. She raises fundamental questions about the future of medicine, her own future, and about being a doctor and a patient at the same time. The result is a beautiful book that will be read and remembered for years to come. —Siddhartha Mukherjee, doctor and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies

In this intimate memoir, Doctor Cynthia Li shares the truth about her disabling autoimmune illness, the limitations of Western medicine, and her hard-won lessons on healing—mind, body, and spirit. 

Brave New Medicine details the physical and existential crisis that forces a young doctor to question her own medical training. She dives into the root causes of her illness, learning to unlock her body's innate intelligence and wholeness. Li relates her story with the insight of a scientist, and the humility and candor of a patient, exploring the emotional and spiritual shifts beyond the physical body.

Millions of people worldwide are affected by autoimmune disease. While complex conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are gaining attention, patients struggling with these mysterious ailments remain largely dismissed by their doctors, families, and friends. This is the harsh reality that doctor-turned-"difficult patient" Li faced firsthand.

Drawing on cutting-edge science, ancient healing arts, and the power of intuition, this memoir offers support, validation, and a new perspective for doctors and patients alike. Through her story, you can find the wisdom and heart to start your own healing journey, too.

What People Are Saying...

"I love this book -- a harrowing and somehow also charming account by a brilliant doctor of how she healed her body, mind, spirit, and soul from a debilitating autoimmune disease. This beautifully written, prescriptive book is going to change -- and even save -- people's lives." - Anne Lamott, activist and NYT bestselling author of Bird by Bird

"Eat, Pray Love meets Anatomy of an Illness in this engaging, exquisitely written doctor-as-patient memoir. With raw transparency, Brave New Medicine charts a new terrain, bridging conventional medicine with functional medicine, nutrition, environmental health, intuition, and spirituality -- all in a highly entertaining, hard-earned miracle story." - Lissa Rankin, MD, NYT bestselling author of Mind Over Medicine, and founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute

"Each year brings a new stack of 'how-to' health manuals, but Cynthia Li's book is different. It's a moving, personal -- and sometimes unsettling -- investigation into the deepest questions surrounding chronic illness. Her book is full of wisdom for both health care practitioners and those suffering from chronic illness." - Chris Kresser, MS, LAc, NYT bestselling author of Unconventional Medicine

"It is a major concession to admit how much Li's book inspired me, given how deeply skeptical I am about alternative medicine. Emotionally, she rises from a crouch of defeat tot eh confident stride of an explorer -- and you will find yourself rising with her." - Barbara Ehrenreich, activist, journalist, and bestselling author of Natural Causes and Nickel and Dimed

"Cynthia Li is an extraordinary physician with a comprehensive understanding of autoimmune disease as a practitioner and a patient. This is a must-read for anyone suffering from autoimmunity." - Datis Kharrazian, PhD, DC, award-winning researcher, clinician, and bestselling author of Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal?

Discover the Story For Yourself