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70 voters
“The ‘secret’ of Shostakovich, it was suggested—by a Chinese neurologist, Dr Dajue Wang—was the presence of a metallic splinter, a mobile shell-fragment, in his brain, in the temporal horn of the left ventricle. Shostakovich was very reluctant, apparently, to have this removed:
Since the fragment had been there, he said, each time he leaned his head to one side he could hear music. His head was filled with melodies—different each time—which he then made use of when composing.
X-rays allegedly showed the fragment moving around when Shostakovich moved his head, pressing against his ‘musical’ temporal lobe, when he tilted, producing an infinity of melodies which his genius could use.”
― The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales
Since the fragment had been there, he said, each time he leaned his head to one side he could hear music. His head was filled with melodies—different each time—which he then made use of when composing.
X-rays allegedly showed the fragment moving around when Shostakovich moved his head, pressing against his ‘musical’ temporal lobe, when he tilted, producing an infinity of melodies which his genius could use.”
― The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales
“The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty: not knowing what comes next.”
― The Left Hand of Darkness
― The Left Hand of Darkness
“Pigmentation was a quick and convenient way of judging a person. One of us, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once proposed we instead judge people by the content of their character. He was shot.”
― Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race
― Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race
“For decades, computers have been helping us to remember, but now it's time for them to help us to ignore.”
― Content: Selected Essays on Technology, Creativity, Copyright, and the Future of the Future
― Content: Selected Essays on Technology, Creativity, Copyright, and the Future of the Future
Andy’s 2025 Year in Books
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