An Anthropologist On Mars Summary

An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks introduces seven neurological cases that happens to people around the world. Sacks deals with different aspects of the brain, such as, the lobes of the brain, perception, and neurological disorders. One of the cases Sacks mentions is “The Case of the Colorblind Painter”. The case involves an artist who can’t see color due to an accident he encountered. His colorblindness affects his daily life, including his dreams; he doesn’t see a wide range of colors in his life, only what he describes it as “a black and white tv screen”. When I was reading his case, I found it intriguing that one can develop colorblindness from an accident. I always thought that colorblindness was a genetic thing, but the fact that at any given moment, it can activate shows that the brain has more mysterious than intended. The powerful emotional aspect of the case makes it more powerful and shows a deep theme. It makes me realize that I shouldn't take anything for granted because at any given moment, something can be taken away.

The next case is “The Last Hippie” that deals with a similar situation as “The Case of the Colorblind Painter”. Greg joins the East Village drug culture where the people’s spirituality increases and has a “higher consciousness”. Later, he developed symptoms

The case deals with the five senses and how one can adapt to his or her life without that one sense. I felt like this case showcases how the brain can adapt to any changes due to the stimulus adding to the surroundings. The thing that strikes interesting to me is the fact that something permanent like being blind can come back because for 45 years, the patient was blind and through surgery, he was able to gain it back for a little while and it gives the people the idea that the brain has more mysteries than