International Media Coverage
Corriere della Sera Highlights Awake Ahead of Its Rome Presentation
Dr. Christian Brogna and Claudia Zanella present Awake in Rome, a story of awake brain surgery, science and humanity.
Corriere della Sera has featured Awake , the acclaimed book by neurosurgeon Dr. Christian Brogna and writer and actress Claudia Zanella, ahead of its presentation at Palazzo Firenze in Rome.
6:00 p.m.
Rome
The presentation brings together the book’s authors, Dr. Christian Brogna and Claudia Zanella, with Alessandro Masi, Secretary General of the Società Dante Alighieri. Published by Rizzoli in 2025, Awake has already reached its third edition.
The Brain Told Through Awake Surgery
The book recounts ten hours inside a Rome operating room on October 10, 2022. During the procedure, a man played Love Story on the saxophone while Dr. Brogna and his team removed a brain tumor that had previously been considered inoperable.
In awake brain surgery, the patient remains conscious and interacts with the surgical team by speaking, counting, drawing or playing an instrument. These responses help the surgeon map neural connections with exceptional precision and reduce the risk of affecting the cognitive, emotional and relational functions that shape each person’s identity.
Through scientific insight and narrative storytelling, Awake also explores the concentration, preparation and humanity required in such delicate procedures. Claudia Zanella followed Dr. Brogna in the operating room for a year, later transforming those experiences into a true story with the narrative depth of a novel.
Dr. Christian Brogna is Vice President and Medical and Scientific Director of Brains Get Famous. His work reflects BGF’s commitment to increasing understanding of brain tumors and giving visibility to the people affected by them.
Source: Corriere della Sera , November 9, 2026. This article is linked for informational and press-coverage purposes.








