The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

Sacks notes that the favorite word of neurology is “deficit,” yet he breaks his book into four parts: “Losses,” “Excesses,” “Transports,” and “The World of the Simple.” Compare the neurological phenomena of the cases in Parts 2–4 with the cases presented in Part 1. Why might neurology be so focused on “deficits” as opposed to the other conditions?

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.