The story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In diary entries, Charlie Gordon, the first human subject for the surgery tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The story is told by a series of progress reports written by Charlie, and it touches on ethical and moral themes such as the treatment of the mentally disabled. Although it is a science fiction book, it focusses more on the softer, more humanity-focused side of things. The focus is not on the technology, but rather how people react to him, both before and afterwards, as his perceptions of the world change. Heartbreaking and beautifully written – this book will most likely bring you to tears. Flowers for Algernon has been adapted many times for different media including stage, screen, and radio, including the 1968 academy award winning film – Charly. From the Book... “That's the thing about human life--there is no control group, no way to ever know how any of us would have turned out if any variables had been changed.” “Its easy to make frends if you let pepul laff at you.” “I don’t know what’s worse: to not know what you are and be happy, or to become what you’ve always wanted to be, and feel alone.” “Intelligence is one of the greatest human gifts. But all too often a search for knowledge drives out the search for love. This is something else I've discovered for myself very recently. I present it to you as a hypothesis: Intelligence without the ability to give and receive affection leads to mental and moral breakdown, to neurosis, and possibly even psychosis. And I say that the mind absorbed in and involved in itself as a self-centered end, to the exclusion of human relationships, can only lead to violence and pain.” | 
