Part One, Losses: Introduction and Chapter One, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat Summary and Analysis

The introduction to this section discusses the science behind neurological losses and presents some of the history regarding the discovery of diseases. Sacks notes that for a long time popular thought held that the right hemisphere of the brain was regarded as less complex. Thus most disorders of the brain were caused by defects or damage to the left hemisphere. Sacks continues to review his correspondence with several prominent neuropsychologists, including A. R. Luria who advises Sacks to present case histories as stories even if they are just sketches because they prove much more interesting and useful than strict clinical studies. Sacks admits he has become preeminently preoccupied with the representation...