The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
By Oliver Sacks
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales. Summit Books, 1985.
Summary of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat book by Oliver Sacks
A compilation of colorful tales from neurologist Oliver Sacks, charting the unique situations of those with brain conditions affecting everything from sight and hearing to memory and mathematical ability, often with profound implications.
Chapters in The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat book summary
What do you get from this book? A rich array of neurological tales exploring the fundamental nature of the brain
Oliver Sacks’ career as a neurologist brought him into contact with fascinating patients, and changed his views of brain disorders
Neurological disorders often deprive patients of functions such as memory and visual recognition
Damage to the memory-supporting parts of the brain can result in the loss of years of memories or even personality
Losing perceptions from neurological disorders can see patients unexpectedly compensated elsewhere, as in some agnosia cases
“Excesses” of function in the brain can lead to both difficulties and uniquely productive symptoms
Some excesses can disinhibit people, making them unusually energetic or turning them into nihilistic, joking shadows of themselves
Some forms of seizure can induce serious auditory hallucinations, though patients’ psychological responses can vary
“Visions” such as those of Hildegard of Bingen are among the most intense and mysterious of epileptic-reported experiences
Powers of sense can be hugely enhanced by some disorders, particularly those of smell and color perception
The “simple” can be as enriched by their conditions as those with epilepsy, sometimes demonstrating unique artistic or mathematical perspectives
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat book
- Amateur doctors
- philosophers
- lovers of a great tale
- those interested in art
- those interested in psychology
About the author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
Oliver Sacks
Oliver Sacks was a practicing British neurologist and writer who published several hundreds of articles on nature and the brain. He was an Oxford and UCLA graduate. His other books include Musicophilia and The Island of the Colorblind.
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