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The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales  By  cover art

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales

By: Oliver Sacks
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Oliver Sacks - introduction
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Editorial reviews

Groundbreaking neurologist Oliver Sacks has written a number of best-selling books on his experiences in the field, some of which have been adapted into film and even opera. Often criticized by fellow scientists for his writerly and anecdotal approach to cases, he is nevertheless beloved by the general public precisely for his willingness to exercise compassion toward his unusual subjects. In his introduction to this audiobook, Sacks himself explains that much of the content is now quite outdated, but he hopes, proudly in his soft British lisp, that The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat still resonates for its positive attitude and openness toward the neurological conditions described therein.

Audible featured narrator Jonathan Davis is more than up to the task of bringing these case studies to life. He adopts a tone that is both sympathetic and authoritative. In fact, he sounds very much like the actor William Daniels, who voiced the car in the television show Knight Rider, or for a younger generation, played Principal Feeny in the television show Boy Meets World. The stories in this book concern matters of science, to be sure, but they also contain quite as much adventure into uncharted territory as either of those television shows.

The cases are divided into four sections: losses, excesses, transports, and the world of the simple. "Losses" involves people who lack certain abilities, for example, the ability of facial recognition. "Excesses" deals with people who have extra abilities, for example, the tics associated with Tourette's Syndrome. "Transports" involves people who hallucinate, for example, a landscape or music from childhood. "The world of the simple" deals with autism and mental retardation. Though this last section is perhaps the most obviously scientifically outdated section of the book, it also best demonstrates Sacks' deep feeling for the unique gifts of his subjects. Indeed, Davis anchors his delivery of the facts in these admirable empathies, demonstrating that in terms of the cultural perception of neurological conditions, Sacks' early work still has much to teach us. — Megan Volpert

Publisher's summary

In his most extraordinary book, "one of the great clinical writers of the 20th century" (The New York Times) recounts the case histories of patients lost in the bizarre, apparently inescapable world of neurological disorders. Oliver Sacks' The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat tells the stories of individuals afflicted with fantastic perceptual and intellectual aberrations: patients who have lost their memories and with them the greater part of their pasts; who are no longer able to recognize people and common objects; who are stricken with violent tics and grimaces or who shout involuntary obscenities; whose limbs have become alien; who have been dismissed as retarded yet are gifted with uncanny artistic or mathematical talents.

If inconceivably strange, these brilliant tales remain, in Dr. Sacks' splendid and sympathetic telling, deeply human. They are studies of life struggling against incredible adversity, and they enable us to enter the world of the neurologically impaired, to imagine with our hearts what it must be to live and feel as they do. A great healer, Sacks never loses sight of medicine's ultimate responsibility: "the suffering, afflicted, fighting human subject".

PLEASE NOTE: Some changes have been made to the original manuscript with the permission of Oliver Sacks.

©1970, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985 Oliver Sacks (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Dr. Sacks's best book.... One sees a wise, compassionate and very literate mind at work in these 20 stories, nearly all remarkable, and many the kind that restore one's faith in humanity." ( Chicago Sun-Times)
"Dr. Sacks's most absorbing book.... His tales are so compelling that many of them serve as eerie metaphors not only for the condition of modern medicine but of modern man." ( New York magazine)

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What listeners say about The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A bit tedious in parts

What did you like best about The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales? What did you like least?

The case histories are fascinating. The extent of medical, psychiatric & theoretical detail, not so much, at least for me. But for someone interested in neurological science & its development, this is the book for them.

Were the concepts of this book easy to follow, or were they too technical?

The book was easy enough to follow, although I tuned out some of the details regarding different theorists & their writings on the brain & mind from centuries past. I appreciated Oliver Sacks's perspective that what the world in general sees as "deficits" can have positive aspects as well.

Did The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales inspire you to do anything?

The case histories have caused me to look at mentally challenged as well as mentally ill people in a different, more accepting & less timid way.

Any additional comments?

It was definitely worth a credit.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Creme de la Creme

I read this eighteen years ago. It was the most intriguing book I ever read to that date, as I was previously a fiction fan. This is a case by case story of Dr. Sacks most interesting patients, as well as other doctors patients that he met and found intriguing. I shared these stories with others years ago after first reading this, and you will, as I plan on doing again, have a blast sharing the idiosyncrasies of these marvelous humans, explored by a renowned neuropsychologist yourselves. The vernacular is heavy, and if you are not comfortable referencing a dictionary, google every once in awhile, or are a medical doctor it may be a minor disappointment for you, however I would guess context is enough for a layman to march through this still greatly satisfied.
Don't pass this by because of its publication date either. I listen to many psychology and science audio here, and this is not going to give you that out of the loop feeling some books do. Enjoy this new and updated gem!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Loved it

Would you listen to The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales again? Why?

Yes. It was interesting and moving and well narrated. Made me laugh out loud espite its seriousness.

What other book might you compare The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales to and why?

Musicophelia, Awakenings, similar subject matter and same author.

Which scene was your favorite?

The man who mistook his wife for a hat

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Alright.....

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Update of the book.

Any additional comments?

I wish I would have realized how long ago this book was written.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great clinical case studies!

Where does The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Great author and narrator

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales?

Great book

Which scene was your favorite?

All of them

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me smile and chuckle. Made me appreciate life

Any additional comments?

Recommend it

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you are reading this review it is because you are interested in the topic. It wont disappoint. The mind is amazing and these stories are as well.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The lady who had been "babied" her whole life that she didn't even know she could do things like feed herself.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis and Oliver Sacks (Introduction) ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

n/a

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The lady mentioned above.

Any additional comments?

The stories of these people are so interesting, you will be discussing them with your friends.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Loved it

Even though this book is dated, actually BECAUSE this book is dated it becomes even more interesting! Really worth the read if you are interested in the way our brain's work!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A tad too much rambling for my taste

Although the stories were unique and interesting, I found this audiobook tedious. On many occasions I was left thinking, "Get to the point already." I would have been a little happier with it had he gone a more scientific route when sharing the stories.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Interesting, but disconnected

Interesting, eye-opening, slightly scary and pointless. I kept waiting for some solution to people’s problems or a unifying theme for his clinical portraits, but there is none. At best this is a fascinating window into how very wrong the human brain can go and sometimes still function well in other areas and even excel in some. At worst it’s a useless collection of clinical essays meant to communicate to his peers how wise, insightful and caring the author is. I’m not sure, but I do hope nothing like this ever happens to me although if it does I think I’d much rather be one of those who has lost part of herself, but never realizes it.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Not a great listen!

This book was too clinical and not engaging. It did not seem to hold my attention!

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