Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat cover art

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

By: Oliver Sacks
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Oliver Sacks
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $19.75

Buy Now for $19.75

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

A classic work of psychology, this international best seller provides a groundbreaking insight into the human mind. With an introduction by Will Self.

If a man has lost a leg or an eye, he knows he has lost a leg or an eye; but if he has lost a self - himself - he cannot know it, because he is no longer there to know it.

In this extraordinary audiobook, Dr. Oliver Sacks recounts the stories of patients struggling to adapt to often bizarre worlds of neurological disorder. Here are people who can no longer recognise everyday objects or those they love; who are stricken with violent tics or shout involuntary obscenities, and yet are gifted with uncanny artistic or mathematical talents. If inconceivably strange, these brilliant tales illuminate what it means to be human.

A provocative exploration of the mysteries of the human mind, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is a million-copy best seller by the 20th century's greatest neurologist.

©1985 Oliver Sacks (P)2011 Audible, Inc

What listeners say about The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    129
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    109
  • 4 Stars
    32
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    109
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Fascinating insight into the human mind

This was a really interesting collection of case histories involving patients with a collection of bizarre neurological disorders. I initially wanted to read it (or listen to the audiobook in this case) because the title case sounded so unlikely I needed to understand how it could happen.

It almost sounds like this is a Guinness World Record book. A man who mistook his wife for a hat, a man who woke up every morning thinking he was eighteen, a woman whose body feels completely alien to her. Something you'd flick through absentmindedly every once in awhile.

But Oliver Sacks wrote it with such heart, that it's more about the human ability to persevere and overcome these disabilities. The joy that can still be found in life for many of these people is quite inspiring. Of course it's not the case for all of the patients in this book, but I'm impressed by the determination by so many not to give up.

At times the book was too clinical for my tastes, a little dry and between chapters I had to listen to other audiobooks just to take a break from how intense it gets at times.

The audiobook was narrated by Jonathan Davis and I can't praise him enough. He talks in a fairly neutral American accent, I'd hazard a guess to say it's a transatlantic accent. It's neutral for the most part which helps in the clinical nature of this book but he gives each patient their own unique voice to help differentiate them from the author's voice.

It can be hard getting through such a medically focused book, but I Davis does it perfectly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Everything you want in a good book.

Simply brilliantly written regardless of the lens for critique. I can't wait to start Musicophilia.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

Jonathan Davis does a perfect performance and is very easy to listen to. The book itself is incredible do yourself a favour and have a listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating and so well narrated

whatever your interests, this book will not disappoint. I've actually listened to this twice. A+++

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A magical mystery tour of the human brain

Medicine can be patriarchal and deficit-focused but Dr Sacks relates the brain and its maladies back to a mediation of humanity full of wonder, curiosity, compassion and incredible insight. The old medical terminology is no longer politically correct & can be jarring but the observations speak of a beautiful soul. I learned so much from this book and was brought to tears.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

outdated but interesting

some outdated ways of thinking and terminology, overall interesting listen. people are odd. background listening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Fascinating topic - poorly delivered

Fascinating cases - long-winded story telling. Author is trying too hard to sound intellectual at the cost of being succinct and engaging.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.