The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

Written by a the famous neurologist and award winning author Oliver Sacks, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is a compilation of his clinical tales. Dr Sacks relates the stories of certain patients he has taken care of and what he did to help them. Ranging from a man who could only see geometric shapes around him to a woman who had no concept of left, from twins who "see" prime numbers, to a man who still believes he is living in the post World War II era, this book is a fascinating and intellectual read.

Yet despite the stories of extremely unique (and occasionally frightening) patients, Dr Sacks runs an underlying theme throughout his book. Dr Sacks continually emphasizes that though all his patients had some form of mental retardation or some problem with their brain, every single one of his patients has a unique tale to tell. And every one of his patients, despite their mental flaws, have found a way to do something they love, be it singing, gardening, drawing, number crunching, etc.

This book is highly recommendable. It is an easy read with true and remarkable stories. By the end of the book, one feels greatly thankful to be alive and running. So read this book, laugh, cry, and be glad you are human.