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The Island of the Colour-blind
by Oliver Sacks

Oliver Sacks is a well known neurologist whose books usually feature the unusual effects neurological (brain) disorders may have on his patients. In this book, he not only looks at neurological disorders, he also gives his insights and thoughts on one of his favourite type of plants: cycads.

This book is made up two parts. In the first part, he looks at some inhabitants on the South Pacific islands of Pingelap and Pohnpei who are arcromats; people who are unable to see colour because the cone cells in their eyes (the cells responsible for colour reception) do not function at all. Along with other scientists (one of which is also an acromat), he goes to the island to study how they view the world as well as help their eyesight (acromats cannot stand bright light as they have to use their eyes's light sensitive rod cells to see). On the island also, he indulges in his passion for cycads.

Acromats view the world differently from the rest of us; without colour, their world is filled with texture and gray shades. But their world is 'richer' in other sensations (touch and smell) to make up for the loss in colour. They are also superb night-fisherman.

As for the cycads, Sacks gives very fascinating and illuminating words on one of the oldest types of plants still around. This is especially true in the second part of the book, where he now goes to the island of Guam, an island still relatively rich in cycads and in another type of neurological disease; lytico-bodig.

Lytico-bodig covers a whole spectrum of neurological diseases that includes motor-neuro disorders, parkinson-type symptoms and dementia. It is made more fascinating for Sacks since one theory on how the disease may be spread is by eating parts of a cycad plant. But as Sacks shows, the cause of lytico-bodig is not easy to find as its effects only become apparent many decades later, making cause and effect difficult to trace.

This book is a mixture is a real mixture for me. Not only are the neurological disorders suffered by the people Sacks sees told in fascinating detail, his love for cycads also comes through clearly. I've gained a new appreciation for this type of plant and now see them in a different light whenever I see them now.

Whether you are a plant lover or someone interested in finding out what can happen when the the brain does not fully function, this is a book to read.

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The Island of the Colour-blind by Oliver Sacks

The Island of the Colour-blind
by Oliver Sacks