Graubart's book centers on a young man, Dave Rosen, and his self-destructive, downward spiral of drug addiction and anger set against the backdrop of the fight for gay rights in the 1970s. As Rosen reaches self-actualization and other victories, readers are whisked away to actual LGBT historical events that triggered a movement. The book's main character, Rosen, is based on the author, Graubart. According to Graubart, writing the book was "painful and haunting" because it took him back to darker places of his life—but it was also therapeutic.

"It was so haunting to write this book because it was about my life, and I was trying to make sense of it. I had to write this to get it all off my chest and be free," said Graubart.

Graubart was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1993 for his community activism and dedication. During the 1970s, Graubart spearheaded and participated in demonstrations for same-sex marriages, which also served as an inspiration for him to write the book. Graubart hopes that readers will take on a broader view of problems and its solutions from The Quest For Brain and in particular finds the book valuable to younger LGBT people.

"I want people to realize that there are many different ways of viewing a problem. There are many different solutions. There is no way that we can really know which method that can take us to a victory."