This has some really interesting material and I love Sacks' friendly, conversational writing voice, but the arrangement of the book was frustrating. Nearly every page has a footnote, which would often take up a good chunk of the page and maybe even continue on into the next, which I wanted to read(!) but it was jarring to keep leaping back and forth between thoughts. These footnotes were substantial enough in their own right that they could have been included in the main body of the book; I wish Sacks had simply done that. It would have been a lot more cohesive and easier to read. But the content itself was good.

More like 3 1/2

Informative but somewhat dated and more history than case studies. Not that this is the authors fault as he made no claims for different but that's what I was hoping for based on the previous books I have read. That said I did enjoy and find it informative.

MAJOR PROBLEM FOR ME - I wish Mr Sacks did not use footnotes as he does, taking up significant probs at the bottom of nearly every page. Seems he should I either incorporate the content into the body of the text or reduce the size of the notes and move them to the back as I find they are tremendously disruptive to the flow of the book.

A book to change how you understand language and deafness, and how language shapes thought.

About 1/3 of every page is footnotes, so be forewarned. Not a breezy, light read, and it rewards thoughtful attention.