Unconscious

A neurocritical care physician’s revelatory exploration of coma, consciousness, and the fragile border between life and death

What happens when consciousness disappears?

A healthy bride collapses on the dance floor at her wedding. A father of two suffers a cardiac arrest at home. A young man found on the street is declared brain dead. In hospitals every day, families are suddenly confronted with an enormous but urgent question: What is happening inside the mind of someone who cannot respond?

In this pressing and deeply humane book, neurocritical care physician Dr. David Fischer draws on cutting-edge science and unforgettable patient stories to explore one of medicine’s greatest mysteries: unconsciousness. From fainting and anesthesia to coma and severe brain injury, he reveals how consciousness is created, how it can be disrupted, and how, sometimes, it can return.

Guided by real cases, Dr. Fischer takes readers inside the ICU and the laboratory, showing how doctors assess awareness in unresponsive patients, why predictions about recovery are often wrong, and how new technologies are transforming our understanding of the injured brain, giving us new insights into what patients can experience and even forcing us to reconsider the boundaries between life and death.

He also confronts the most wrenching questions families and clinicians face:

• When is someone still “in there”?
  

• How should decisions about life support be made?
  

• What does brain death really mean?
  

• And what makes life worth living after catastrophic injury?
  

At once gripping, compassionate, and revelatory, this book is both a scientific journey into the nature of consciousness and a practical, profoundly moving guide for anyone who may one day face a loss of consciousness in themselves or someone they love.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs