An Anthropologist on Mars
Seven Paradoxical Tales
by Oliver Sacks
A Surgeon's Life
Anatomy and biology are two subjects Dr. Carl Bennett is particularly fascinated about, and he seems to be completely dedicated and motivated to know more about them. Although studying for these subjects has always been an issue for him due to his lack of concentration. Although, Dr. Bennett can suppress his Tourette's by concentrating on a task which has a "flow" and a rhythm to it. For example, when trying to study for anatomy or biology, Dr. Bennett may ride a bike while reading to suppress the Tourette's and focus on the reading. The "flow" of riding a bike helps him concentrate on what he is studying. This method of studying is what he said got him through college. Similarly to riding a bike, surgery has the same "flow" to it. Dr. Bennett gets fully absorbed into the procedure and is constantly performing tasks with perfection. Although, if Dr. Bennett gets interrupted by an outside source (such as a nurse informing him of an urgent call), this concentration is broken and he begins to express his tics agian. That's why Dr. Bennett now has a rule to not interrupt him during surgery anymore. This is how the Tourettic surgeon can perfect his practice and gain trust from his future patients.
To See and Not See
Oliver Sacks
Text-to-World Connection
Citations
Sacks, Oliver. An Anthropologist on Mars. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 1995. Print.