The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Dr. Oliver Sacks

Summary from Goodreads:

 Neurologist Sacks, author of "Awakenings" and "A Leg To Stand On", presents a series of clinical tales drawn from fascinating and unusual cases encountered during his years of medical practice. Dividing his text into four parts -- "losses" of neurological function; "excesses"; "transports" involving reminiscence, altered perception, and imagination; and "the simple," Sacks introduces the reader to real people who suffer from a variety of neurological syndromes which include symptoms such as amnesia, uncontrolled movements, and musical hallucinations. Sacks recounts their stories in a riveting, compassionate, and thoughtful manner. --Library Journal

 Although I am not quite well-versed in case studies, I have a feeling that it is more structured and scholarly than the manner in which Dr. Sacks presented his. This is not a complaint on my part because he made his clinical studies more accessible, not only format-wise but language-wise as well. Dr. Sacks writes in a manner that is moving and philosophical and poetic. He eloquently conveys the emotions not only of his subjects but of his own. While the book contains a myriad of fascinating neurological conditions that I have never heard of before, I realized that what this book aims for is for normal folks to gain some empathy for the afflicted. It is written in a way for us to have a deeper understanding, of the maladies, yes, but most importantly of the individual suffering from those neurological conditions tackled.  How they live. How they feel. How they are. Their struggles and joys. Their skills and talents and weaknesses. And the stories / case studies are equal parts interesting and mind-boggling and heartbreaking and terrifying and stirring.

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