Lisa Genova
Born: November 22, 1970 – Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Lisa Genova is an American neuroscientist and novelist whose work explores Alzheimer’s disease, autism, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological conditions. She is best known for Still Alice, a New York Times bestseller later adapted into an Oscar-winning film, and for novels including Left Neglected, Inside the O’Briens, and Every Note Played.
Biography & Author's Journey
Lisa Genova built her writing life on a scientific foundation. She graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a degree in biopsychology and earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard in 1998. The decisive turn came when her grandmother developed Alzheimer’s disease. Genova could explain the biology, but she has said that scientific knowledge did not tell her how to understand the lived experience of the person in front of her. That gap led her from laboratory training toward fiction, with empathy becoming the bridge between neuroscience and narrative. ((https://www.lisagenova.com/))
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Community Voices
"Quite simply, there is no one like Lisa Genova"
— Jodi Picoult
"Lisa Genova’s discerning, scientific mind and remarkable gifts as a novelist are at their finest"
— Ann Leary
"With grace and compassion, Lisa Genova writes about the enormous white emptiness created by Alzheimer’s"
— The Improper Bostonian
"Lisa Genova has essentially created her own genre"
— Laura Lippman
"Lisa Genova’s subtle, finely tuned prose gains momentum until you don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or give thanks"
— Vanessa Diffenbaugh
"Still Alice, written by the neuroscientist Lisa Genova, offers a crisp, straightforward, and wrenching depiction"
— The New Yorker
"Lisa Genova’s deep empathy for her characters shines through"
— Barbara Shapiro
"Lisa Genova's novels ring true"
— USA Today
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
