The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales
by Oliver Sacks (1985)
"Classical science has no use for the concrete - it is equated with the trivial in neurology and psychiatry. It needs a 'romantic' science to pay it its full due - to appreciate its extraordinary powers...and dangers…"
What Oliver Sacks has attempted to do in this collection of essays is not only present some of the oddest neurological cases he's seen in his lifetime, but also convey his patients' hidden skills and talents, prior adversity and trauma, and ultimately, their perseverance (if applicable). As alluded to in the quote above, many require more than just a medical exam, IQ test, or prescription to truly understand their disorders and their pain.
As someone with no background in medicine at all, I was able to enjoy and appreciate most of the stories, without knowing the corresponding neurological jargon. However, while those with the proper background might recognize and appreciate his frequent (yet sudden) references to publications/people I've personally never heard of, to me it came off a bit jarring. Despite this, though, I was intrigued throughout, and walked away with a slightly better idea of the inner workings of the human psyche.