Perspective

The book is told from Oliver Sacks's perspective as clinician but he is also a humanitarian seeking to depict his patients as more than just case studies. Sacks tells the stories of his patients in an attempt to bring a human element to the world of neurological disorders. Instead of presenting a series of clinical case studies, Sacks endeavors to present the stories of people living and coping with unusual mental afflictions. The idea behind the presentation of the book is admirable and entices the reader, who is promised a series of stories that will both delight and inform him on a relatively obscure topic.

Almost every story presents the reality of the patient's situation. The reader can understand what the patient suffers from and how the disorder has affected his or her life. In many cases the reader can also understand Sacks' frustration at his inability to...