Seeing Voices

Author: Oliver Sacks
Genre: Non fiction, science, people

This is the first book by Oliver Sacks that I have read. It talks about one particular group of people that we seldom think about: the deaf. Many a times, we think that deafness is not a very big handicap whereas, the reality is completely opposite.

In this book, the writer has eloquently described the struggles of the deaf through history. How they were initially labeled as imbecile. Later on, with the gift of sign came in to unite them all and help them grow beyond the preconceived notions against them. The handicap that deaf people face is not mainly because of their ‘deafness’; it is due to a lack of medium to communicate. The writer, with interesting examples, shows how language is not only a means of communication but also the mind’s way to think of the abstract. It is important to generate thought and how, when taught to the deaf, they become normal in intelligence. The writer brings up an interesting point; that sign is not just a pantomime, but a complete language in itself. This has been proved through various scientific studies as well. Finally, he shows that the deaf are not just a group of handicapped people; theirs is an ethnic group, with a language and culture of its own.

Overall, I found the book a very interesting read. It has been very well written and the concepts have been explained beautifully. I would suggest anyone with a little curiosity to give it a try.