Part One: Chapter Seven, On the Level Summary and Analysis

This story is one of the few in the book that is full of personal emotion on Sacks' part. Mr. MacGregor is an extremely likable fellow who is coping exceptionally well with his disorder. In fact he puts his problem to use, in combination with his personal knowledge, and invents a remedy for himself that also helps out several other patients.

At the age of ninety-three Mr. MacGregor is living in St. Dunstan's, a old folks home where Dr. Sacks once worked. He comes to Sacks' office one day complaining that other patients say he tilts to one side when he walks. Sacks videotapes Mr. MacGregor walking and the old man discovers that he does indeed tilt significantly to one side. Mr. MacGregor contemplates what he has just witnessed...