Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 133
 Explores the beauty of imperfection. August 10, 2010
Tony Lee
This is not only an informative work on neurological disorders, but a humbling meditation on the beauty of imperfection. Through entering the worlds of a number of "limited" individuals, Sacks reveals the brain's (and therefore the individual's) remarkable ability to overcompensate for cognitive deficiencies. As a result of these heightened states of perception, the often frightening and infinitely compelling worlds of each individual are manifested in the means with which they organize and engage with the ordinary, whether it be through mathematics, dance, music, or the visual arts. In simply dealing, they manage to transcend. Sacks explores the varying cognitive expressions of his patients without coming across as cold, sterile, or objectifying. Rather, he devotes a chapter to each individual case, creating in the reader a sense that they are engrossed in a series of fictional character studies, rather than a dry psychological manual or the surface-level observations and blind assumptions of a pompous intellectual. This would be a perfect starting point for anyone interested in learning a bit more about abnormal psychology.
 Good Introduction to Dr. Sacks' Work August 2, 2010
Olga Werby
Dr. Sacks wrote more than one book about perception and cognition. I would strongly recommend "A Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat." It is a collection of essays on unusual manifestations of neurological conditions and is a good starting point into Dr. Sacks books. Each essay is relatively short and provides both the pathology as well as humanistic aspect of the problem.
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Oliver Sacks knows how to write July 23, 2010
L. Lin
The mind and the diseases that afflict it are not understood very well, even today. Oliver Sacks writes about a variety of these different afflictions and each one is unique, interesting, and very personal. He delves into the neuroscience of the disease, but also portrays the patients in a human light. The story of "The Lost Mariner" is no longer simply a case study of anterograde amnesia, but a tragic story of a former Navy serviceman who can not create new memories after a certain point in his life. The world ages around him, but he is forever young in his own mind.
Each story is an excellent example of some sort of mental disease or problem, but more importantly is a narrative on a person's life in dealing with these maladies. The author adds his own musings and seems like he is telling the story directly to the reader. Their stories are encapsulated in each chapter and are very clear and enjoyable to read. For those interested in neuroscience, I can not recommend this book enough.
Interesting read July 21, 2010
Starborn
A co worker gave this book to me as a present. He had heard of this book a long time ago. After looking it up online, I realized that the author also wrote Awakenings. I had seen the movie version of Awakenings years ago and remembered how much the patient's recovery touched me. This book did the same thing. It is full of stories of mentally ill patients. The author, a neurologist, looks at things in a way that the average person would not and genuinely cares for the patients. This is a fascinating read.
The man who mistook his wife fo a hat May 25, 2010
Uriel Jimenez Sanchez (Seattle, WA USA)
This product arrived to my house as described, in good conditions, and in a timely manner! Thanks!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 133
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