Struck by Genius: How a Brain Injury Made Me a Mathematical Marvel
In a tale worthy of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Padgett tells how a traumatic brain injury inflicted by muggers at a karaoke bar turned him into a “mathematical marvel.” At 31, the former math-averse underachiever  turns into a hermit fascinated by pi. He gradually finds out that he is not like the other 1.7 million or so Americans each year who suffer from traumatic brain injuries. Instead, he learns that, while healing, he has become an “accidental genius” with sudden-onset savant syndrome, or acquired savant syndrome. He also finds out that he has acquired synesthesia—a blending of the senses that lets him see the world in beautiful geometric patterns. Padgett struggles with setbacks, including dependence on pain medication. But overall, he stays positive as he tells his tale with the help of coauthor Seaberg: “Cases like mine prove a far greater plasticity of the brain in its ability to heal itself than was previously thought.” This memoir sends a hopeful message to families touched by brain injury, autism, or neurological damage from strokes. --Karen Springen