Book - Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon is a fantastic book. You start thinking it’s a story about science, and end up staring at a mirror, questioning what it really means to be human.

The story is told through a series of progress reports written by Charlie Gordon, a man with an intellectual disability who undergoes a scientific experiment to increase his intelligence. In the beginning, his writings are full of spelling and grammar mistakes, which immediately connects us to his purity and innocence. But as the procedure begins to take effect, the texts start to change, the sentences gain structure, the vocabulary expands, and we can clearly see Charlie’s mind growing and evolving.

What first seems like a story about success quickly becomes one of self-discovery and loss. Charlie becomes brilliant, but at the same time starts to see the cruelty of the world he once couldn’t perceive. He realizes the prejudice he suffered, how he was used, and how intelligence itself can become a form of isolation.

Daniel Keyes builds this story with rare sensitivity. There are no villains, only human beings dealing with their fears, limitations, and egos. The contrast between Charlie’s initial innocence and his later lucidity is devastating. It’s impossible not to feel empathy, anger, and sadness all at once.

This book goes far beyond science fiction, it’s a deep portrait of human judgment, loneliness, and the search for acceptance. It reminds us that knowledge without compassion can make us colder and more distant, and that true wisdom may lie in the simplicity and empathy we lose when trying to be “superior”.

A touching, profound, and unforgettable novel. Highly recommended!