The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

Sacks refers to “romantic science” multiple times in the book. What does he mean by “romantic science,” and how does the term connect to “Romanticism”? How does Sacks himself use this “romantic” lens to understand his patients?

In Part 3, Sacks posits that in discussing “transports,” it is necessary to use the language not only of science but also of the poet and the painter. What advantages do the languages of the arts have over the language of medical science? Cite examples from the text.

Both the central figures in “The Lost Mariner” and “A Matter of Identity” experience forms of retrograde amnesia. However, Sacks presents the case of “The Lost Mariner” in “Losses” and “A Matter of Identity” in “Excesses.” Compare the two cases. Explain why one represents a loss and the other an excess. What can each case teach us about the way the mind works?

In the Preface, Sacks notes that neurologists must look at patients not as merely having lost certain capabilities, but also as compensating for those abilities to regain a sense of identity. How do the stories Sacks relates demonstrate his patients’ attempts to compensate? Are those compensations successful, or do some have other, unintended effects? What do these results teach us about what Kurt Goldstein calls “self-actualization”?

What is neurodiversity, and how has Sacks’s work led to its development? What do Sacks’s case studies teach us about neurodiversity?

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat was first published in 1985. Since then, neuroscience has advanced considerably. Pick a condition that Sacks covers in one of his case studies and do some independent research on that topic. In what way has neuroscience advanced our understanding of the condition?

A. R. Luria influenced how Sacks thought about his patients and about neuroscience in general. Do some research on Luria. How were his contributions important? How do we see his influence in the writings of Sacks?

Sacks mentions music several times in the book, often using it as a therapeutic tool to help patients or noting how patients use it to soothe themselves. According to Sacks, what are the beneficial qualities of music, and how does music affects the mind? Cite examples from the text.