This invention relates to five specific N-hydroxybenzamide compounds for the inhibition of histone deacetylase: N-hydroxy-4-(5-(p-tolyl)-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl)benzamide; N-hydroxy-4-(5-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl)benzamide; N-hydroxy-4-(5-(4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl)-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl)benzamide; 4-(benzo[b]thieno[2,3-f][1,4]oxazepin-10-yl)-N-hydroxybenzamide; and 4-(10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepin-5-yl)-N-hydroxybenzamide.