I can see why this one caused a stir. It punched me in the gut. The somber, contemplative piano music fit well, too.

This portrait of a man who got a lobotomy when he was 12 years old is disturbing and fascinating. Usually lobotomies are referred to in historical terms, "This is what happened, this is why they stopped performing them" and the story stops there. However, this piece looks at the lasting effects of this horrible practice to see what now, what has happened to the survivors? I love the contemporary view that this piece takes, as the man in the story reconstructs what happened to him and why. It's a terribly moving piece, culminating in a gorgeous song that encapsulates the mood expertly.

My Lobotomy left me as numb as if I'd just had one. This piece is told with truthful honesty. The man in the story, Howard, must be a very brave person. The music running underneath the piece adds an element of experiencing a horror flick come to life and then moves toward a reflective mood. A very well rounded piece. Even Howard helps us laugh as he jokes about how affordable his lobotomy cost. Also the flow in and out of scenes is smooth and clear.

Very interesting story. I didn't know that much about the lobotomy movement other than it happened. The narrator seems well adjusted enough despite never knowing what was taken from him. I'd recommend this story for anyone with a free half hour who's interested in mental health. This piece serves as a careful reminder than while science has brought us many good things, if you don't use it responsibly it can be harmful as well. The idea of lobotomies being used to modify personality and behavior seems barbaric nowadays, but it's important to learn about our recent past. It reminded me of the eugenics movement that happened in America at the turn of the last century. Already, it seems, that memory has fallen out of the collective consciousness, but less than 100 years ago, thousands of people were sterilized against their will to protect the gene pool from further contamination from "imbeciles" and "undesirables". So, if for nothing else, I would also recommend this piece so that people do not forget what happened. Take this story as a warning that new and more radical treatments should always be used cautiously.

A chilling program. I like the use of a lobotomy patient to host the program. It probably opened doors to fellow lobotomy patients and their families. It certainly brought an intimacy to a story about a sterile medical procedure. Many of us know the term "lobotomy"; this makes it all so terribly real.