Hikari Oe was born with a herniated brain, a condition so severe that the only treatment available was an operation that would save his life but leave him permanently brain-damaged. Now thirty-four, Hikari has an I.Q. of 65, limited language and motor skills, and an inability to express emotions clearly. But he can remember every piece of music he has ever heard, and has composed classical-style chamber music that has broken sales records and delighted hundreds of thousands of listeners around the world. Meanwhile, his father, Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kenzaburo Oe, has written novels with characters inspired by Hikari.
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Based on exclusive access to the Oe family, as well as interviews with brain specialists, music critics, and performers of Hikari's music, The Music of Light utilizes astute, original reporting and an exploration of Kenzaburo's writing to analyze the only known savant composer in history. It is a remarkable and inspiring tale that reminds us of the miraculous possibilities of the human brain -- and of a family's mutual devotion.
