How Ripe Bananas Can Shift Perspectives

What is “normal”? At what point does a society accept something as “normal”? What moments make us shift perspectives on something?

In an interview by Henry Tischler in 1998 for the radio show Cover to Cover, the famous researcher Oliver Sacks tells the fascinating story of a trip to an island in the Pacific ocean where his “normal” view of the world was turned on its head and his own perspectives on the world were broadened, all with bananas!

Why It Matters

Being “normal” is not a bad thing, but when we fall into the trap of seeing our way of life or our perspective on the world as the norm, we narrow our view on the world. Seeing our own blind spots is difficult. And as we become more interconnected, seeking ways to overcome them is vital.

We need to be willing to ask difficult questions, be vulnerable about what we don’t know, and hear the voices of people who live and see the world differently than we do. This will help us to grow and to accept and to have an open mind, leading to greater respect and peace with others.

Let's Talk About It

  1. Why is trying to see the world from someone else’s point of view important?
  2. What might cause someone to change their perspective about something?
  3. Can you think of a time when you changed your perspective about something?

Citations

“Oliver Sacks on Ripe Bananas.” YouTube. Blank on Blank, 24 Jan. 2017. Web. 09 Mar. 2017. < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbaazbdIR_g&t >.