SKU: 59483818984

Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness, and Family Secrets

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Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness, and Family Secrets"Oliver Sacks meets Stephen King"* in this propulsive, haunting journey into the life of the most studied human research subject of all time, the amnesic known as Patient H. M. For readers of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks comes a story that has much to teach us about our relentless pursuit of knowledge. Winner of the PEN E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY

"Oliver Sacks meets Stephen King"* in this propulsive, haunting journey into the life of the most studied human research subject of all time, the amnesic known as Patient H.M. For readers of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks comes a story that has much to teach us about our relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award - Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
The Washington Post - New York Post - NPR - The Economist - New York - Wired - Kirkus Reviews - BookPage

In 1953, a twenty-seven-year-old factory worker named Henry Molaison--who suffered from severe epilepsy--received a radical new version of the then-common lobotomy, targeting the most mysterious structures in the brain. The operation failed to eliminate Henry's seizures, but it did have an unintended effect: Henry was left profoundly amnesic, unable to create long-term memories. Over the next sixty years, Patient H.M., as Henry was known, became the most studied individual in the history of neuroscience, a human guinea pig who would teach us much of what we know about memory today.

Patient H.M. is, at times, a deeply personal journey. Dittrich's grandfather was the brilliant, morally complex surgeon who operated on Molaison--and thousands of other patients. The author's investigation into the dark roots of modern memory science ultimately forces him to confront unsettling secrets in his own family history, and to reveal the tragedy that fueled his grandfather's relentless experimentation--experimentation that would revolutionize our understanding of ourselves.

Dittrich uses the case of Patient H.M. as a starting point for a kaleidoscopic journey, one that moves from the first recorded brain surgeries in ancient Egypt to the cutting-edge laboratories of MIT. He takes readers inside the old asylums and operating theaters where psychosurgeons, as they called themselves, conducted their human experiments, and behind the scenes of a bitter custody battle over the ownership of the most important brain in the world.

Patient H.M. combines the best of biography, memoir, and science journalism to create a haunting, endlessly fascinating story, one that reveals the wondrous and devastating things that can happen when hubris, ambition, and human imperfection collide.

"An exciting, artful blend of family and medical history."--The New York Times

*Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade
Published: 05/02/2017
ISBN: 9780812982527
Pages: 480
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.10w x 1.00d
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SKU: 59483818984

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dch
Waukegan, US
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Size: 10 Wide, Color: Tan Leather Burnished
I purchased these for a business trip to Italy and wore them daily for the two weeks that I was there, during which I walked extensively. For me, there was a break-in period of a few days; before it loosens up, it will bite your heel, so I recommend wearing bandages or heel pads initially. Following the break-in, it's a very comfortable shoe and has served me well. I purchased a wide, and for this shoe, I found the width agreeable; in my experience, Cole Haan wide widths tend to be hit or miss (i.e., a wide is sometimes not all that wide). In terms of durability, I would not expect these to remain in good condition for more than a year if you wear them daily. The leather is not of high quality, but it's acceptable for the price. Expect them to crease very quickly if not using shoe trees. That doesn't bother me, but I know some find it objectionable. All in all, I like them and would buy them again. It's a comfortable alternative to traditional dress shoes for the office and works equally well for casual wear. Most higher quality options cost at least two or three times as much, and many are unavailable in a wide.
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I’ve probably purchased like 40 pairs of these shoes or more. By far my favorite white sneaker. I have a large foot so the bigger sizes are appreciated. They’re versatile, literally go with anything and they are true to size. At a certain point they start to show wear and you can’t dress them up, but they last as a regular sneaker for a long time afterwards. I try to nab them on sale when they drop to $50-$70, absolute steal at that price point.
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Ryan Miles
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Size: 9.5, Color: White Leather
These sneakers are exactly what I was looking for—sleek, minimal, and incredibly comfortable right out of the box. The white leather looks sharp and pairs easily with everything from jeans to chinos, even dressed-down office wear. What surprised me most was the comfort. The sole is lightweight with just the right amount of cushioning, making them perfect for walking around all day. I’ve worn them on long city days and never felt sore or tired. They fit true to size (I’m a 9.5 and they’re spot on), and the quality feels premium. If you're after a versatile white sneaker that balances style and comfort, these are 100% worth it.
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