The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is a book describing the case studies of some of Oliver Sacks' patients, the title describing the study of a man with visual agnosia.

The latter case study is also the subject of an opera by Michael Nyman.

Other cases included in this book include:

• The Ancient Mariner - the case of a man who had lost his memory from the time of his demobilization at the end of WWII until about two minutes ago
• The President's Speech - about a ward of aphasiacs and agnosiacs listening to a speech given by President Reagan. Each group saw flaws in the president's content and presentation respectively, flaws which escaped the notice of 'normal' people. This essay gives insight into techniques of propaganda

The book also contains cases involving autistic savants, which formed the basis of the main character in the film Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman.