Ship of Fools: May book group - "The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat" by Oliver Sacks

Thread: May book group - "The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat" by Oliver Sacks Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

This month's book group book is a foray into non-fiction. Dr Sacks is the neurologist made famous by the film version of his book "Awakenings". "The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat" is a series of case studies of patients with various neurological disorders. From the back of my copy of the book:

quote:
In his most extraordinary book, Oliver Sacks recounts the stories of patients lost in the bizarre, apparently inescapable world of neurological disorders. These are case studies of people who have lost their memories and with them the greater part of their pasts; who are no longer able to recognize people or common objects; whose limbs have become alien; who are afflicted and yet are gifted with uncanny artistic or mathematical talents. In Dr Sacks's splendid and sympathetic telling, each tale is a unique and deeply human study of life struggling against incredible adversity.

I'll post up some questions for discussions around the 20th May.

Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :

I have a library copy ready for me to read.

Sorry I spelled Mr Sacks' name incorrectly on the book group thread.

Posted by Gussie (# 12271) on :

I hvae a copy on a bookshelf somewhere. I've read it twice, but the last time was rather a while ago. I'll dig it out and join in.

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

Nyman made this into a mini opera. Was very effective.

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
Nyman made this into a mini opera. Was very effective.

Wow, I'd love to see that.

Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :

Ooh, Oliver Sachs! Ace. I'll hunt for my copy.

Cattyish, fan of the great Dr.

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

I'd like to join in with this one.

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :

Might have to dig out my old copy, it's a fascinating book.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

I bought a copy years ago and still have it. Fascinating stuff. Will look forward to the discussion.

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

I'm so pleased that people are enthusiastic about reading this book - I know it's a bit of a golden oldie, and also so very different from our usual fare, so I was a bit worried that people would be put off. Just going to be organised and formulate some questions now [Smile]

(will post them up on the 20th).

Posted by Jonah the Whale (# 1244) on :

I've never joined in before, but I listened to the audio book a couple of years ago. I'll dig it up and dust it off and see if it triggers an urge to participate. It is weird and fascinating stuff.

Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :

I've read this book, and several others by Oliver Sacks. I find them interesting, so I look forward to reading the discussion and joining in if I have anything to say.

Posted by The Weeder (# 11321) on :

I can only find 'The Anthropoligist from Mars' on my bookshelves. I will check out the rest of the house. I KNOW I have it. I would not have lent it out. I only loan books I can bear to lose.

Wonder if it is on Kindle?

Posted by Gussie (# 12271) on :

Yes it is on Kindle. Although I've a hard copy I downloaded it to my Kindle as it was easier to read in that format the way my eyes are at the moment.

I've now downloaded 'Awakenings', which I've never read, as well.

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

Here are my questions for this book – feel free of course to add other observations not covered by the questions.

1. What did you think of the use of clinical case studies here? Was it helpful in thinking about the various neurological conditions, or did you feel uncomfortable about the use of personal stories?

2. How successful do you think Dr Sacks was in presenting complex medical conditions to a lay/non-medical audience?

3. Were there any of the patients/stories which particularly moved you? Why?

4. Did any of these case study presentations of neurological conditions make you question/muse on life in general, and what about the role of the mind in how we might relate to and experience God?

Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :

<snip>

quote:
1. What did you think of the use of clinical case studies here? Was it helpful in thinking about the various neurological conditions, or did you feel uncomfortable about the use of personal stories?

From my original perspective as a medical student some years ago the case studies were entirely relevant. As I understand it, it was the individuals whom Dr Sachs met in his career who inspired his writing, rather than the writing being an aim in itself.

I can see why some people would be uncomfortable with the idea of patients being identifiable from these stories. These days it would take lots of ethical approval to get to publish these case studies, but it can be done as can be seen in the British Medical Journal on a fairly regular basis.

quote:
4. Did any of these case study presentations of neurological conditions make you question/muse on life in general, and what about the role of the mind in how we might relate to and experience God?

Oh yes, but even more made me think carefully about why an individual might be showing certain traits. I suppose it has a more immediate relevance than philosophical musings when one is meeting ill people all day and some nights.

Cattyish, outing herself as a medic.

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

quote:
2. How successful do you think Dr Sacks was in presenting complex medical conditions to a lay/non-medical audience?

It's clear that in many cases he has had to present a complex medical condition to the patients themselves, in a way that they will understand. ISTM that he has simply extended this ability to explain to a wider audience.

His presentation to us, the reader, often includes his presentation to the patient, and their understanding of it.

I think he does this very successfully.

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

1. What did you think of the use of clinical case studies here? Was it helpful in thinking about the various neurological conditions, or did you feel uncomfortable about the use of personal stories?

I found them all very moving, and felt I learnt a lot. I am not sure he would be able to write this book today though, given the more litigious culture we live in now. Someone upthread mentioned the Philip Glass opera based on the opening (eponymous) case study; I looked it up on wikipedia and it turns out Dr P's wife was reluctant for some time to give permission for his case to be used in this way as she feared it would be sensationalised.

2. How successful do you think Dr Sacks was in presenting complex medical conditions to a lay/non-medical audience?

It worked well for me, but I wasn't sure if that was because as a student nurse I had a long placement on a neuromedical ward so wasn't entirely unfamiliar (although very very far from being an expert). That's why I asked the question really, as I wasn't sure if it was accessible because it was accessible, or because I wasn't starting from a point of zero knowledge.

3. Were there any of the patients/stories which particularly moved you? Why?

Lots of them did, particularly in the first section, but also the woman in "A Passage to India" who was transported back to the happiness of her childhood - there was such a sense of peace and tranquility there.

4. Did any of these case study presentations of neurological conditions make you question/muse on life in general, and what about the role of the mind in how we might relate to and experience God?

Yes, all of them to a greater or lesser extent - I found myself wondering "why" a lot, although I was moved by the fact that in several of the case studies it was clear that attendance at church services/singing in the choir/etc was a really meaningful and calming experience in the midst of all the neurological deficit or overload.

Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :

Still reading as I'm enjoying it in short chunks.
Briefly though, I did skip some of the science bit as I found it too dense and I didn't understand it.
I was moved particularly by the cases of musical hallucination. I recall an item on the local news I think of a woman who could hear one song over and over, one she didn't like.
Looking for it online I found this .
And I couldn't read the chapter about the visions of Hildegard as it described migraine aura too vividly for comfort.

Posted by Gussie (# 12271) on :

I read this book when it first came out, then again a few years later. I think it must have been at least twenty years ago since I’d last read it, so I found how I interacted with it interesting. I read it this time on my Kindle, which I found a bit annoying, as it is harder to skip the complex medical bits, which must have gone over my head last time, but I don’t remember them being so prominent as they seemed to be this time. I read the case studies very much as short stories, I assumed that most of the details were sufficiently vague (apart from perhaps the title story) that identifying individual patients would be difficult.
As I read them as stories I wasn’t as interested in what was causing the conditions as to the effects the condition had on the patients, how they coped (or otherwise) and what it must feel like to have such conditions.
I found the story of the woman rescued from a brothel as a young woman now suffering in her eighties from ‘Cupid’s Disease’ interesting, partly because I wanted to know about the rescue but also because I liked the way it challenged assumptions about elderly people. I also thought the story of the twins, separated for their ‘own good’ which meant they lost the one thing that gave them pleasure and made them feel special, was moving and a challenge
The story of Jimmie, the man who was stuck in the past, and how he reacted when at Mass gave insight into how we might experience God. He was stuck very much in the moment without thought for the past or future. My mind tends to wander onto trivialities when at church, so this was a good reminder about focusing on what is happening now rather than on shopping lists or the programme I watched the night before.

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