"Written by one of the great clinical writers of the twentieth century, Migraine . . . should be read as much
for its brilliant insights into the nature of our mental functioning as for its discussion of the migraine."
--The New York Times Book Review
"I am sure . . . that any layman who is interested in the relation between the body and mind . . . will
find the book as fascinating as I have."
--W. H. Auden, The New York Review of Books
Random House Inc. Web Site, August, 2002
Summary
The many manifestations of migraine can vary dramatically from one patient to another, even within the same
patient at different times. Among the most compelling and perplexing of these symptoms are the strange visual hallucinations
and distortions of space, time, and body image which migraineurs sometimes experience. Portrayals of these uncanny
states have found their way into many works of art, from the heavenly visions of Hildegard von Bingen to Alice
in Wonderland. Dr. Oliver Sacks argues that migraine cannot be understood simply as an illness, but must be viewed
as a complex condition with a unique role to play in each individual's life.
