In Constructing a Nervous System, author Margo Jefferson’s memoir and literary critique explores how she become her closest self. Jefferson structures the book as separate, fragmented stories–stories that make up her identity. But Jefferson doesn’t only tell readers about the positive parts of her identity; she embraces her negative aspects and her warts and all.
In the first chapter of her memoir, Jefferson reflects on her past attempts to become the best version of herself. In the end, she realizes that she is a collection of her experiences and influences and sets out to represent this version of herself on the page. In subsequent chapters, she explores the lives and works of various cultural figures who influenced her tremendously, including Bud Powell, Ella Fitzgerald, and Josephine Baker. She talks about how and why those people have inspired and influenced her.
While some chapters focus on personal experiences and reflections, others delve into literary analysis. Jefferson interrogates works like Gone with the Wind and Uncle Tom's Cabin, as well as her own experiences reading and teaching Willa Cather's The Song of the Lark. Throughout the book, she offers insights into how cultural representations shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. She talks about some of the cultural works which shaped her personality and who she is.
