Summary
As the book opens, Sacks reflects on why he feels driven to tell stories about his patients, rather than publish traditional case studies about their conditions. He writes that, having dedicated his work and his life to the sick, he is often driven to questions about the fundamental nature of medicine, disease, and human consciousness. The human beings behind neurological case studies are too often sidelined and even erased entirely, replaced with raw, dismembered facts. In order to restore the humanity of these patients, we have to deepen their case histories into narratives and tales.
The author then provides a brief note of historical context, further explaining what the book sets out to accomplish. Clinical “tales” were common in the 19th century as a way to engage with the public and present scientific findings. A.R. Luria, one of the last living forefathers of modern neuroscience, laments that this practice has faded almost entirely. Sacks writes that he wants to restore this practice, bringing together the romantic and the scientific. For this reason, and also to maintain the privacy of his patients, the stories in this book lie at the intersection of fact and fable. His ultimate intention is to mythologize and dramatize the experiences of his patients so that their humanity can resonate with a wider audience.
Finally, Sacks thanks the many editors and fellow neurologists who helped him with the book, and also the patients who permitted and encouraged him to write about their lives. Of the twenty-four essays featured in the book, twelve had been previously published in various magazines and journals. The other twelve were written in the latter half of 1984, and are entirely new to this publication.
Analysis
The author immediately makes it clear that he is more aligned with Western literature and philosophy than he his with his peers in modern neuroscience. Within the first four pages, he draws from a staggering breadth of disciplines and time periods, from the ancient philosopher Hippocrates to Blaise Pascal to Friedrich Nietzsche to Arabian Nights, the translated collection of Middle Eastern folk tales that dates as far back as the 9th century. He also touches on the role of archetype in myths, an idea developed by Carl Jung and later Joseph Campbell. This broad alignment with Western writers and philosophers of the past tells us that Sacks considers his work to be a branch out of the Western canon that engages with modern neuroscience, and not the other way around.
