“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.”
Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon is a Hugo and Nebula-award-winning science-fiction short story that has since been adapted into a novel, film and other media. The story centres on Charlie Gordon, a man born with an unusually low IQ but who is selected to become the subject of a remarkable procedure. The experiment has already worked exceptionally well on a lab mouse named Algernon and, when it is conducted on Charlie, his intelligence expands until it surpasses even those of the doctors who treated him. But then Algernon’s levels suddenly begin to deteriorate, upending this scientific breakthrough for Charlie. Captivating and heartbreaking, join us at What We Reading if you loved Keyes’ work as we run through the best books like Flowers for Algernon that explore intelligence, disadvantage, fulfilment and personal identity!
How To Stop Time – Matt Haig
First up on our list of books like Flowers of Algernon is Matt Haig’s 2017 fantasy read, How to Stop Time. Tom Hazard has just moved back to London to settle down and become a history teacher at a local high school. On his first day, he meets a charming French teacher who appears to be fascinated by him. But, Tom has a secret. He’s been alive for centuries.
And, unfortunately for him, the Albatross Society, the secret group established to protect individuals like Tom, has one rule: never fall in love. As painful memories of his past and the erratic behaviours of the Society’s leaders threaten to turn his new life and love upside down, Tom will have to decide whether he’s content with remaining in the past or risking it all to finally begin living in the present.
Understand – Ted Chiang
Ted Chiang’s Understand is another science fiction story similar to Flowers for Algernon. Leon is a former coma victim who has undergone an experimental medical treatment to repair the massive trauma his brain received when he was trapped under ice for over an hour.
The drug he receives is designed to regenerate damaged neurons, but once he has regained consciousness Leon finds he has all of his faculties and a whole lot more. Like with Keyes’ classic, this treatment has the side effect of continually improving his intellect and motor skills. As he gets smarter and smarter, he is pursued by several government agencies before finally catching the attention of another super-intelligent test subject.
Of Mice And Men – John Steinbeck
George and Lennie are an unlikely duo. George is cautious and observant, Lennis is a man of tremendous size but has the mind of a small child. Yet, they have formed a tight-knit bond, reliant on each other in the face of alienation and loneliness. In the dusty vegetables of California, they eke out a hand-to-mouth existence by hustling for work wherever they can. But, George and Lennie have a plan of one day owning a slice of land and possessing a shack they can call their own.
Set in the grips of 1930s America and the hardships of the Great Depression, Of Mice and Men is a timeless piece of classic literature that deals with an intimate portrait of two friends facing a world of misunderstanding, jealousy and callousness, perfect for any fans of Flowers of Algernon.
The Speed Of Dark – Elizabeth Moon
In Elizabeth Moon’s The Speed of Dark, disease is set to become a thing of the past. Most genetic defects will be removed at birth, and the remaining few over the span of infancy. Unfortunately, there will be a generation left behind. For members of this missed generation, small advances will be made. Programs are set up to teach these individuals how to function in the world, despite their differences.
Lou Arrendale is a member of this lost generation. Part of a small group of autistic adults, he has a job, a car, friends and a passion for fencing. Yet, his quiet life is upended when an unexpected treatment to reverse the effects of autism becomes available. Thought-provoking, poignant and provocative, The Speed of Dark explores what makes an individual, and follows the mind of an autistic person as he struggles with questions of humanity, his mind and his heart.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey
In another timeless book about psychology like Flowers for Algernon, Ken Kesey introduces readers to the tyrannical Nurse Ratched and her ward in an Oregon State mental hospital in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Ratched’s rule over the ward is unquestionable, her strict and unbending routine propped up by mind-numbing drugs and the threat of electric shock therapy.
However, her regime is disrupted by the arrival of McMurphy, the swaggering, fun-loving trickster who is determined to oppose her on behalf of his fellow inmates. His struggle is shown through the eyes of Chief Bromden, a mute half-Indian painter who recognises McMurphy’s efforts to thwart the powers keeping them imprisoned. One of the most striking commentaries on the boundaries between sanity and madness, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is the perfect follow-up for anyone who loved Charlie Gordon’s story.
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time – Mark Haddon
Christopher John Frances Boone knows all the countries in the world, all of their capital cities and every prime number up to 7,057. He understands and connects with animals, but struggles much more with human interaction. One night, Christopher discovers that his neighbour’s dog has been speared with a garden fork.
Determined to uncover the truth behind the dog’s death, he begins to investigate the locals, chronicling all the information in his trusty notebook. What follows is a charming and captivating tale of acceptance, identity and braving the unknown.
More Than Human – Theodore Sturgeon
One of the best science fiction books like Flowers for Algernon, More Than Human is a short story by Theodore Sturgeon first published back in 1953. The novel centres around a group of misfits with extraordinary abilities. Lone can read other people’s thoughts and make a man blow his brains out just by looking at him. Janie moves things without touching them. Baby invented an anti-gravity engine as a baby. Gerry has everything it takes to run the world, minus a conscience.
Individually, they are just talented freaks. But, together, they compose a single organism that might just represent the next stage in evolution and the final chapter in the history of humankind. Not only is More Than Human one of the most defining novels in sci-fi fiction, but it is a thrilling exploration of power, morality, identity and belonging that any fan of Flowers for Algernon is sure to recognise.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
