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The play of Daniel Keyes: Flowers for Algernon
Book by Coules, Bert, Keyes, Daniel
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
30 people are currently reading
2039 people want to read
About the author
Bert Coules
53 books12 followersBert Coules is an English writer, and dramatist, who has produced a number of adaptations and original works. He works mainly in radio drama but also writes for TV and the stage.
Coules specializes in mystery and science fiction audio and radio drama, and has written a number of adaptations, most notably as the head writer of the Sherlock Holmes radio series (1989–1998) starring Clive Merrison as Holmes and Michael Williams as Watson (the first time the entire canon had been adapted with the same two lead actors throughout). He also wrote original Sherlock Holmes scripts for the following BBC radio series The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, each based on a reference from the original stories. These were first broadcast between 2002 and 2010, and starred Merrison and Andrew Sachs as Watson, following Michael Williams' death in 2001.
He has also written adaptations of several of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels, and of works by Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Isaac Asimov and other best-selling genre authors.
[with thanks to Wikipedia]
Coules specializes in mystery and science fiction audio and radio drama, and has written a number of adaptations, most notably as the head writer of the Sherlock Holmes radio series (1989–1998) starring Clive Merrison as Holmes and Michael Williams as Watson (the first time the entire canon had been adapted with the same two lead actors throughout). He also wrote original Sherlock Holmes scripts for the following BBC radio series The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, each based on a reference from the original stories. These were first broadcast between 2002 and 2010, and starred Merrison and Andrew Sachs as Watson, following Michael Williams' death in 2001.
He has also written adaptations of several of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels, and of works by Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Isaac Asimov and other best-selling genre authors.
[with thanks to Wikipedia]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 10, 2015
I really, really loved this. The writing was brilliant as reflected by Charlie's progress reports, detailing his transition from a person of low intelligence to supreme intelligence coming back full circle to his original state of mind. His records of his mental deterioration were moving to say the least, he wanted so badly to be smart even though he knew it would be for a short time. The story was discussed in a book club discussion I was a part of and several questions arose: What is true intelligence? How can it be measured? Is it to be able to grasp concepts quickly, do complex mathematical equations, express oneself coherently etc.? Is our civilization limited in its definition of intelligence?
To me, Charlie may have had a low IQ but I think his motivation and drive to know more and improve himself is a mark of intelligence, as opposed to his colleagues, who may have been smarter in terms of their cognitive abilities but were shockingly ignorant and happy to stay that way.
A beautiful, highly recommended read.
To me, Charlie may have had a low IQ but I think his motivation and drive to know more and improve himself is a mark of intelligence, as opposed to his colleagues, who may have been smarter in terms of their cognitive abilities but were shockingly ignorant and happy to stay that way.
A beautiful, highly recommended read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2009
Somehow, it gives me clue on who I really am. For a book that is written long before my birth, the author imagination is quite amazing to me. The journey of one's intellectual growth that is not balanced with the emotional growth conflicted with his old time memories awes me. Charlie's family conflicts are touching especially his relationship with his mom. Not to mention his emotional state of mind that dwindles as his intellectual progress and regress. I love the part how his family in the bakery consider him as one of their member again and the most touching part to me is when he design and write his own future life while he can. You laugh, you giggle, you smile, you are in tears and you are touched while reading this.
June 27, 2025
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is included on The 1,000 Novels Everyone Must Read list, and it is ranked 951st on The Greatest Books of All Time site – hundreds of those books are reviewed on my blog, which I am plugging here, the best gid there might be https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20...
9 out of 10
The most important thing here is…
- The name- Algernon
This is what our company is called, and albeit I only have 14% in there, it is quintessential, sine qua non, life sustaining and in trouble, my partner told me that it has lost one hundred thousand euros in the first couple of months of this year, now we have that Orange Idiot and alleged expert in business throwing the world into chaos
If I have started off writing about Something Completely Different from the first line, this shows the fallacy of looking at amateurs for serious advice on reading, taking their notes up, instead of concentrating on the acclaimed masters – ‘the only way we can read good books is to avoid the bad ones’ Schopenhauer
Flowers for Algernon reminds me of Limitless https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... a wondrous film with Bradly Cooper and Robert De Niro, in which the hero is given the chance to exponentially increase his IQ, just like Charlie Gordon, although there are different ways
In the motion picture, the protagonist Stumbles On Happiness – incidentally, the title of a psychology classic by Harvard Professor Daniel Gilbert, one you should read, if you ask me, and learn about Hedonic Adaptation – by getting some pills which make him so intelligent he can learn languages, play the piano within hours
As opposed to Limitless, Flowers For Algernon has another path, and that is through an operation on the brain, which could be available in reality, soon enough, nevertheless, using a different solution – that of inserting technology, should we call it AI, that could help those who have a low IQ from birth, or due to some accident
There is also Awakenings https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... another film with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, based on something that has happened, an open minded doctor tried a new drug on patients that were vegetative – or almost there – and then they ‘woke up’, if just for some time
In our time, there are many tests, research on how to improve the health of people with mental health issues, disabled, and scientists have had tremendous success, people can now move things just by thinking…
- Well, not quite teleportation
But patients have had neural links cut, they could not transmit the message to limbs, or the latter have been missing, severed maybe, and with new technology, advancement in medicine, there are cases now where they think and somehow, the message is sent to an artificial implant, or there are some other means, magical ones
Not literally, evidently, but it seems like miracles, and they would have been in the past, now, if we are going to have Charlie Gordon transformed with the help of some hard drive, an AI assistant that we have seen in Her https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... I do not know, a tragedy can only occur for the highborn, because one could only have a tragic fall from a great height…’
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
9 out of 10
The most important thing here is…
- The name- Algernon
This is what our company is called, and albeit I only have 14% in there, it is quintessential, sine qua non, life sustaining and in trouble, my partner told me that it has lost one hundred thousand euros in the first couple of months of this year, now we have that Orange Idiot and alleged expert in business throwing the world into chaos
If I have started off writing about Something Completely Different from the first line, this shows the fallacy of looking at amateurs for serious advice on reading, taking their notes up, instead of concentrating on the acclaimed masters – ‘the only way we can read good books is to avoid the bad ones’ Schopenhauer
Flowers for Algernon reminds me of Limitless https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... a wondrous film with Bradly Cooper and Robert De Niro, in which the hero is given the chance to exponentially increase his IQ, just like Charlie Gordon, although there are different ways
In the motion picture, the protagonist Stumbles On Happiness – incidentally, the title of a psychology classic by Harvard Professor Daniel Gilbert, one you should read, if you ask me, and learn about Hedonic Adaptation – by getting some pills which make him so intelligent he can learn languages, play the piano within hours
As opposed to Limitless, Flowers For Algernon has another path, and that is through an operation on the brain, which could be available in reality, soon enough, nevertheless, using a different solution – that of inserting technology, should we call it AI, that could help those who have a low IQ from birth, or due to some accident
There is also Awakenings https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... another film with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, based on something that has happened, an open minded doctor tried a new drug on patients that were vegetative – or almost there – and then they ‘woke up’, if just for some time
In our time, there are many tests, research on how to improve the health of people with mental health issues, disabled, and scientists have had tremendous success, people can now move things just by thinking…
- Well, not quite teleportation
But patients have had neural links cut, they could not transmit the message to limbs, or the latter have been missing, severed maybe, and with new technology, advancement in medicine, there are cases now where they think and somehow, the message is sent to an artificial implant, or there are some other means, magical ones
Not literally, evidently, but it seems like miracles, and they would have been in the past, now, if we are going to have Charlie Gordon transformed with the help of some hard drive, an AI assistant that we have seen in Her https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... I do not know, a tragedy can only occur for the highborn, because one could only have a tragic fall from a great height…’
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
December 15, 2014
Pretty good, I read it with English class from our textbook.
August 3, 2020
Not bad, just felt like every aspect of it could have been done better in some way
November 11, 2023
A thought provoking read. Highlights the ethics involved in scientific research. Is knowing more, as individuals and as a society, always a positive thing?
April 2, 2008
I am a late-comer to this classic, not for any particular reason, just that no one in school ever made me read it. I picked it up on the paperback sale table in a bookstore, figuring it would make me look smart if someone saw it on my bookshelf.
The book contains moments of breath-taking insight into the nature of our self. I found myself wondering about the consciousness that we feel daily, to impress others, to demonstrate our worth, to compete. Charlie was an outside observer who never quite entered that world, even at his peak, because he remained a science experiment. I enjoyed this story very much, and I'm sure there was more to analyze, but I'll leave it at that.
The book contains moments of breath-taking insight into the nature of our self. I found myself wondering about the consciousness that we feel daily, to impress others, to demonstrate our worth, to compete. Charlie was an outside observer who never quite entered that world, even at his peak, because he remained a science experiment. I enjoyed this story very much, and I'm sure there was more to analyze, but I'll leave it at that.
March 21, 2008
Loved this tale of a 30ish mentally handicapped man who agrees to a new therapy that basically turns him into a genius and then back again. His journey to becoming self-aware and how it changes his relationships is really great reading, and pretty sad at times.
April 6, 2008
another book i really must read again; it's been more than 15 years since i last did. it had a huge impact on my life; it was one of the first quality classics i read, introduced at age 8 or 9 to the classics section at the library by a hip teenage girl. this book disturbed me for the better.
September 25, 2013
I read Flowers for Algernon in my 8th grade English class. I didn't expect to like it or find it as interesting as I did. I've never read anything like it before, so it was a good change from what I'm used to. I would recommend it.
February 29, 2016
This is a pretty good play. It shows how Charlie transitions from not very smart to smarter and even considered a genius. It gives you a glimpse into the life on Charlie and really explains how it was to live with his sickness.
July 27, 2017
Read this for eighth grade English class and it was pretty good. We could have done way more boring things, so I was not upset with this book. (My teacher always thought the books she chose were going to bring us to tears and they never did.)
March 19, 2008
A very touching book!
March 31, 2008
Well, I'm not sure this is the right picture, but I couldn't find a listing under Daniel Keyes. So. I give the short story 3 stars, but the full-length novel is fascinating, and heartbreaking.
May 7, 2008
This book should be read by everyone. It is a terrifying look at the innerworkings of the human brain and the unfortunate stereotypes that are placed upon people in our society.
April 5, 2008
This book gives you pause for thought.
May 1, 2008
lame!
June 27, 2008
Read during sophomore english in high school. Not sure if we read the entire thing, or just an excerpt. Remember being entirely saddened by the whole thing.
November 14, 2008
this book is very unique. not like any other. it is not very long. but so interesting. i say read it. its hard at first becuase he cant spell well at first but it gets better
Read
November 19, 2008haha.it was a little hard to read at first then it got easier.
March 7, 2009
This short story was absolutely wonderful! I love it!
April 29, 2009
I read this book in 8th grade and picked it up a few months ago and still loved it.
June 9, 2013
Brilliant book....so well written! Very deep and intriguing! A must read!
February 18, 2014
Absolutely amazing; I want to read the novel as well to get a better feel of the story.
June 2, 2014
Really good read. Really heartrending at the end though :-; I really want to read the book now...
June 9, 2014
Read this years ago as a teenager. ..... Loved it then and now.
May 23, 2015
An outstanding and powerful story about community and identity. Incredibly well paced for such a talk-y piece!
March 22, 2016
I think this book is beautifully written and the way the author writes is so detailed that you can tell how the character's mind evolves. The story broke my heart ....
April 16, 2017
the ending brought me to near tears
January 22, 2021
dobra e
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews