The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat - by Oliver Sacks

I'm not sure about this book. It is supposed to be a series of pieces about specific cases, where patients have a brain disorder, written for the non-specialist. Although the author does spend a lot of time looking at the implications and meaning of his patients' conditions, he seems to be unable to stay away from medical jargon. I am challenged by phraseology like this: "Similar hyperosmia, sometimes paroxysmal, may occur in encephalitics on L-Dopa, and some patients with Tourette's syndrome." Having to look up 3-4 words just to get through once sentence is too much.

Although many of the stories were interesting, my concentration would lapse as the author rambled on about the higher significance of the patient's condition.

I didn't find it that hard to read, but I'm glad I got it finished and can move on.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat by Oliver Sacks

I had heard of this book, but knew nothing about that. This would have continued, except it is the next Bookclub selection. The book is a series of essays - case studies - about people with neurological problems. They are mainly right-brain malfunction, which have interesting effects. Doesn't sound like a bundle of laughs, but what I have read so far is interesting.

How to be Good - by Nick Hornby

The story is told from the viewpoint of a middle-aged woman doctor. Her husband is having a kind of mid-life crisis. He is adjusting his lifestyle to become a better person and "do good". The book is about the development of their relationship. She begins to question how good a person she is.

It is not a comic book, but it has its moments. I had long since given up on any notion of absolute good and evil, but this story was food for thought.

What I'm reading ...

I have started How to be Good by Nick Hornby.

I have had this book on my shelf for some time, having read High Fidelity and About a Boy a while back. I guess that I feel like some light-hearted reading.

How To Build A Time Machine - by Paul Davies

This book proved to be a surprisingly easy read. It has a good pace and isn't full of mathematics - none actually. I guess it has given me just a tiny bit more insight into modern physics and cosmology. But I remain stuck with some of the fundamentals ...

Take the time dilation experiment with the twins. One stays on Earth, the other flies off somewhere at near light speed. When the travelling twin comes home, they are younger than the one that stayed behind. I am happy with that and can even handle the equations. But it's the relativity bit that I struggle with. Who was moving at high speed? They are simply moving apart from one another - why is the one in the rocket "special"? There isn't supposed to be an absolute frame of reference, so surely their relative speed is what counts.

Guess I don't get it...

Radio programme broadcast

On Sunday [5th] the Bookclub programme, that Emmeline and I went to the recording of, will be broadcast at 16:00 on BBC Radio 4 [repeated at the same time the following Thursday and available thereafter on Listen Again at bbc.com].

I have exchanged email with the producer and I am assured that Emmeline's [opening] question will be included. I don't know if my contributions got used. We will find out on Sunday.