The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

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What is Memory? Are memories the creations of our inner self? Can it be that it is our memories and our experiences that define us as humans? In his book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks creates a collection of studies to share with his readers about what it is to be human and the meaning of life. This book is a collection of cases, that clearly demonstrates the importance of past experiences and memories, and how the human mind can serve as both a map and a compass that can lead one to find themselves regardless of how concrete or abstract the mind can be. This is a book about the lives of patients that have one thing in common, these patients have learned to overcome their disabilities by escaping to a world of their own creation, to a life that is full of memory whether short or long term. I will demonstrate with case examples from the book, and from personal experience, that it is indeed our memories, and our experiences, and the power of play: arts, crafts, music, song, and drama that defines and creates who we are and who we become. In his book, Oliver Sacks writes that it is the patient’s own gifted talents that help them to create their own unique sense of self. This book studies various persons/patients that have experienced both intellectual and perceptual disabilities: loss of memories, loss of the functions of life, loss of their pasts.In terms of content of the book, Sacks provides the reader with several memorable cases such as: the case of Dr. P, Martin, “Witty Ticcy Ray,” Mr. Thompson, Ms. K, Ms. O’C, and patients who despite their disabilities, they are able to find meaning of life if only to have first lost bits and pieces of themselves. As Hippocrates once said (400 B.C) “men ought to know that from nothing else but the brain comes joy, delights, laughter, and by this we acquire a sense of self ” (p.159). I believe that it
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