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Everything in Its Place: First Loves and Last Tales
From the bestselling author of Gratitude and On the Move, a final volume of essays that showcase Sacks’s broad range of interests - from his passion for ferns, swimming, and horsetails, to his final case histories exploring schizophrenia, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.
Oliver Sacks, scientist and storyteller, is beloved by readers for his neurological case histories and his fascination and familiarity with human behavior at its most unexpected and unfamiliar. Everything in Its Place is a celebration of Sacks’s myriad interests.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2019
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About the author
Oliver Sacks
101 books9,697 followersOliver Wolf Sacks, CBE, was a British neurologist residing in the United States, who has written popular books about his patients, the most famous of which is Awakenings, which was adapted into a film of the same name starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro.
Sacks was the youngest of four children born to a prosperous North London Jewish couple: Sam, a physician, and Elsie, a surgeon. When he was six years old, he and his brother were evacuated from London to escape The Blitz, retreating to a boarding school in the Midlands, where he remained until 1943. During his youth, he was a keen amateur chemist, as recalled in his memoir Uncle Tungsten. He also learned to share his parents' enthusiasm for medicine and entered The Queen's College, Oxford University in 1951, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in physiology and biology in 1954. At the same institution, he went on to earn in 1958, a Master of Arts (MA) and an MB ChB in chemistry, thereby qualifying to practice medicine.
After converting his British qualifications to American recognition (i.e., an MD as opposed to MB ChB), Sacks moved to New York, where he has lived since 1965, and taken twice weekly therapy sessions since 1966.
Sacks began consulting at chronic care facility Beth Abraham Hospital (now Beth Abraham Health Service) in 1966. At Beth Abraham, Sacks worked with a group of survivors of the 1920s sleeping sickness, encephalitis lethargica, who had been unable to move on their own for decades. These patients and his treatment of them were the basis of Sacks' book Awakenings.
His work at Beth Abraham helped provide the foundation on which the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF), where Sacks is currently an honorary medical advisor, is built. In 2000, IMNF honored Sacks, its founder, with its first Music Has Power Award. The IMNF again bestowed a Music Has Power Award on Sacks in 2006 to commemorate "his 40 years at Beth Abraham and honor his outstanding contributions in support of music therapy and the effect of music on the human brain and mind".
Sacks was formerly employed as a clinical professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and at the New York University School of Medicine, serving the latter school for 42 years. On 1 July 2007, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons appointed Sacks to a position as professor of clinical neurology and clinical psychiatry, at the same time opening to him a new position as "artist", which the university hoped will help interconnect disciplines such as medicine, law, and economics. Sacks was a consultant neurologist to the Little Sisters of the Poor, and maintained a practice in New York City.
Since 1996, Sacks was a member of The American Academy of Arts and Letters (Literature). In 1999, Sacks became a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences. Also in 1999, he became an Honorary Fellow at The Queen's College, Oxford. In 2002, he became Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (Class IV—Humanities and Arts, Section 4—Literature).[38] and he was awarded the 2001 Lewis Thomas Prize by Rockefeller University. Sacks was awarded honorary doctorates from the College of Staten Island (1991), Tufts University (1991), New York Medical College (1991), Georgetown University (1992), Medical College of Pennsylvania (1992), Bard College (1992), Queen's University (Ontario) (2001), Gallaudet University (2005), University of Oxford (2005), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (2006). He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours. Asteroid 84928 Oliversacks, discovered in 2003 and 2 miles (3.2 km) in diameter, has been named in his honor.
Sacks was the youngest of four children born to a prosperous North London Jewish couple: Sam, a physician, and Elsie, a surgeon. When he was six years old, he and his brother were evacuated from London to escape The Blitz, retreating to a boarding school in the Midlands, where he remained until 1943. During his youth, he was a keen amateur chemist, as recalled in his memoir Uncle Tungsten. He also learned to share his parents' enthusiasm for medicine and entered The Queen's College, Oxford University in 1951, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in physiology and biology in 1954. At the same institution, he went on to earn in 1958, a Master of Arts (MA) and an MB ChB in chemistry, thereby qualifying to practice medicine.
After converting his British qualifications to American recognition (i.e., an MD as opposed to MB ChB), Sacks moved to New York, where he has lived since 1965, and taken twice weekly therapy sessions since 1966.
Sacks began consulting at chronic care facility Beth Abraham Hospital (now Beth Abraham Health Service) in 1966. At Beth Abraham, Sacks worked with a group of survivors of the 1920s sleeping sickness, encephalitis lethargica, who had been unable to move on their own for decades. These patients and his treatment of them were the basis of Sacks' book Awakenings.
His work at Beth Abraham helped provide the foundation on which the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF), where Sacks is currently an honorary medical advisor, is built. In 2000, IMNF honored Sacks, its founder, with its first Music Has Power Award. The IMNF again bestowed a Music Has Power Award on Sacks in 2006 to commemorate "his 40 years at Beth Abraham and honor his outstanding contributions in support of music therapy and the effect of music on the human brain and mind".
Sacks was formerly employed as a clinical professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and at the New York University School of Medicine, serving the latter school for 42 years. On 1 July 2007, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons appointed Sacks to a position as professor of clinical neurology and clinical psychiatry, at the same time opening to him a new position as "artist", which the university hoped will help interconnect disciplines such as medicine, law, and economics. Sacks was a consultant neurologist to the Little Sisters of the Poor, and maintained a practice in New York City.
Since 1996, Sacks was a member of The American Academy of Arts and Letters (Literature). In 1999, Sacks became a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences. Also in 1999, he became an Honorary Fellow at The Queen's College, Oxford. In 2002, he became Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (Class IV—Humanities and Arts, Section 4—Literature).[38] and he was awarded the 2001 Lewis Thomas Prize by Rockefeller University. Sacks was awarded honorary doctorates from the College of Staten Island (1991), Tufts University (1991), New York Medical College (1991), Georgetown University (1992), Medical College of Pennsylvania (1992), Bard College (1992), Queen's University (Ontario) (2001), Gallaudet University (2005), University of Oxford (2005), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (2006). He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours. Asteroid 84928 Oliversacks, discovered in 2003 and 2 miles (3.2 km) in diameter, has been named in his honor.
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March 9, 2022Update "[V]isual imagery may vanish completely from dreams. I have encountered this, on occasion, as a presenting symptom of Alzheimer's disease. So now I'm trying to remember did I see visuals last night in my dreams? I remember dreaming but even the fragments of what I dreamed about are gone.
__________
I'm so pleased to find a book by the late Oliver Sacks I haven't read and want to read. I am a bit worried that since the book was produced posthumously, it will be the rejected essays and stories from other books that the publishers have cobbled together in order to Make Money. But I might be being too cynical. Maybe the book was put together out of reverence for the great man, as good a writer as a neurologist and even, in his private life a try-any-drug, bike riding muscle man? (See On the Move: A Life I hope so anyway.
__________
I'm so pleased to find a book by the late Oliver Sacks I haven't read and want to read. I am a bit worried that since the book was produced posthumously, it will be the rejected essays and stories from other books that the publishers have cobbled together in order to Make Money. But I might be being too cynical. Maybe the book was put together out of reverence for the great man, as good a writer as a neurologist and even, in his private life a try-any-drug, bike riding muscle man? (See On the Move: A Life I hope so anyway.
May 4, 2019
It's with tears in my eyes that I turn the last page on this book.
Oliver Sacks was for me the benchmark; the medical and scientific writer by which all others were judged and largely found wanting.
I remember watching a series of programmes he made for UK television when I was a teenager and being amazed by the vastness of his knowledge, his enthusiasm and his humanity. A few years later having watched and read Awakenings his writing became a permanent fixture in my reading. As each new book came out it instantly went to the top of my 'to read list'. This though will be his last new book and what a book it was.
Sometimes these kind of books, collections of essays and monographs can be a little hit and miss, they tend to collate things the writer never intended to go into a book as they don't fit or weren't right. This though is a gem. Every article has been thought about and curated perfectly to show the breadth of Sacks' work and interests. If I'm honest this isn't his best book (nothing could top either Awakenings or On The Move) but as it's his last it gets *****.
Beautiful from cover to cover.
Oliver Sacks was for me the benchmark; the medical and scientific writer by which all others were judged and largely found wanting.
I remember watching a series of programmes he made for UK television when I was a teenager and being amazed by the vastness of his knowledge, his enthusiasm and his humanity. A few years later having watched and read Awakenings his writing became a permanent fixture in my reading. As each new book came out it instantly went to the top of my 'to read list'. This though will be his last new book and what a book it was.
Sometimes these kind of books, collections of essays and monographs can be a little hit and miss, they tend to collate things the writer never intended to go into a book as they don't fit or weren't right. This though is a gem. Every article has been thought about and curated perfectly to show the breadth of Sacks' work and interests. If I'm honest this isn't his best book (nothing could top either Awakenings or On The Move) but as it's his last it gets *****.
Beautiful from cover to cover.
May 29, 2019
Any time spent with Dr Sacks is time well spent.
August 26, 2019
Full review and conversation with Sacks' lover, Bill Hayes on Book Nation by Jen.
Oliver Sacks, the bestselling author and professor of neurology wrote many books about his patients, his own disorders and nature, including the notable, Awakenings. In his final compilation of essays, Everything In Its Place, he talked about a myriad of topics, from his love of libraries, to how cold temperatures stop the growth of cancer, from dreams and near death experiences to medical case studies and a town where everyone has Tourette’s Syndrome. He was a true, deep thinker and scientist who studied the past.
Oliver swam every day, was severely shy and suffered from prosopagnosia (was unable to recognize faces). He was celibate for 40 years and was private regarding his sexuality. He passed away in 2015 at 82 years old from cancer. Everything In Its Place consists of his essays that were configured into this book and released post mortem.
Sacks lived alone, focusing on his work most of his life, but in his seventies he fell in love...to see full review go to https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/08/2...
Oliver Sacks, the bestselling author and professor of neurology wrote many books about his patients, his own disorders and nature, including the notable, Awakenings. In his final compilation of essays, Everything In Its Place, he talked about a myriad of topics, from his love of libraries, to how cold temperatures stop the growth of cancer, from dreams and near death experiences to medical case studies and a town where everyone has Tourette’s Syndrome. He was a true, deep thinker and scientist who studied the past.
Oliver swam every day, was severely shy and suffered from prosopagnosia (was unable to recognize faces). He was celibate for 40 years and was private regarding his sexuality. He passed away in 2015 at 82 years old from cancer. Everything In Its Place consists of his essays that were configured into this book and released post mortem.
Sacks lived alone, focusing on his work most of his life, but in his seventies he fell in love...to see full review go to https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/08/2...
August 27, 2020
Sacks was a terrific prose stylist, and when he's writing about general subjects, his essays remind me of the great pieces by Lewis Thomas. For example, his opening essay about the importance of swimming in his life, then later essays about the annual herring festival, and his final essay in the collection about what we sacrifice as a result of our addiction to social media–all of these are gems.
His more medical and scientific explorations lose me frequently, however, and roughly the middle half of all the essays fall into this category. But the poignancy of his final pieces, when he knew he only had weeks to live, is quite touching.
His more medical and scientific explorations lose me frequently, however, and roughly the middle half of all the essays fall into this category. But the poignancy of his final pieces, when he knew he only had weeks to live, is quite touching.
December 31, 2020
¡Cómo me alegra que ésta sea mi última lectura del año! Termino el año con buen sabor de boca porque me encantan los libros escritos por personas tan curiosas, inteligentes y apasionadas como el doctor Sacks.
Este último libro no sólo son historias clínicas, sino también observaciones y recuerdos de infancia y juventud, pequeñas pasiones y deseos para el fin de una vida que también se podrían extrapolar al fin de este año eterno que ha sido 2020. ¡Feliz año, compañeros lectores de Goodreads!
Aunque venero la buena literatura, el arte y la música, me parece que solo la ciencia, ayudada por la decencia humana, el sentido común, la amplitud de miras y la atención a los desfavorecidos y los pobres, supone una esperanza para un mundo sumido en el marasmo moral. Entre todos podemos sacar al mundo de sus crisis actuales y guiarlo hacia una época más feliz. Ahora que me enfrento a mi inminente marcha de ese mundo, tengo que creer en ello.
Este último libro no sólo son historias clínicas, sino también observaciones y recuerdos de infancia y juventud, pequeñas pasiones y deseos para el fin de una vida que también se podrían extrapolar al fin de este año eterno que ha sido 2020. ¡Feliz año, compañeros lectores de Goodreads!
Aunque venero la buena literatura, el arte y la música, me parece que solo la ciencia, ayudada por la decencia humana, el sentido común, la amplitud de miras y la atención a los desfavorecidos y los pobres, supone una esperanza para un mundo sumido en el marasmo moral. Entre todos podemos sacar al mundo de sus crisis actuales y guiarlo hacia una época más feliz. Ahora que me enfrento a mi inminente marcha de ese mundo, tengo que creer en ello.
May 11, 2019
This book of short essays by Oliver Sachs is beautiful. They are gathered from different years of his life and show the scope of his humanity and vast knowledge on many varied topics from bipolar disorder to the invention of cinematography. But underneath is his vast knowledge of neurology and how it affects our humanity. His loss will always be felt.
November 27, 2020
È sempre piacevole leggere Sacks per la sua umanità e dedizione verso il suo lavoro, ma anche verso i suoi stessi pazienti.
In questa opera si percepisce che tutto ciò è mosso dalla passione e dall'amore sin dalla più tenera età. Una passione che nutre, sin da bambino, verso il nuoto che gli ha trasmesso il padre, per passare ai giardini che diventano luoghi di cura e terapia, all'amore per la scienza e la medicina che lo hanno portato a essere il neurologo di oggi.
Una storia in cui Sacks racconta le vicende dei vari pazienti e le patologie di cui sono affetti. Come già accaduto ne "L'uomo che scambiò sua moglie per un cappello", anche qui la sua umanità, il suo modo di valutare la persona nella sua interezza, al di là della patologia, emergono con la consapevolezza di un uomo e uno scrittore completo in tutte le sue sfaccettature.
In questa opera si percepisce che tutto ciò è mosso dalla passione e dall'amore sin dalla più tenera età. Una passione che nutre, sin da bambino, verso il nuoto che gli ha trasmesso il padre, per passare ai giardini che diventano luoghi di cura e terapia, all'amore per la scienza e la medicina che lo hanno portato a essere il neurologo di oggi.
Una storia in cui Sacks racconta le vicende dei vari pazienti e le patologie di cui sono affetti. Come già accaduto ne "L'uomo che scambiò sua moglie per un cappello", anche qui la sua umanità, il suo modo di valutare la persona nella sua interezza, al di là della patologia, emergono con la consapevolezza di un uomo e uno scrittore completo in tutte le sue sfaccettature.
August 22, 2023
Oliver Sacks'ı ve yazdıklarını çok seviyorum. Ne zaman bir kitabını okusam hem bilimsel durumları bu kadar edebi anlatabilmesine hem de beynimizin olağanüstü garipliğine ve mükemmelliğine hayran kalıyorum. Kitap üç bölümden oluşuyor. Hastalıklar bölümü yine çok ilginç vakalarla dolu. Son bölümdeki yazılar ise dünyadan ayrılmaya yaklaştığını hisseden bir bilgenin sözleri adeta. Çok severek, keyifle okudum. Herkes de okusun isterim. Hem kalp, hem beyin açan nadir kitaplardan. Hâlâ okumadığım bir sürü kitabı var yazarın, ne şanslıyım.
July 17, 2019
Before you read: Familiarize yourself with the word "[post]encephalitic". This is one word I noticed showed up several times throughout.
As a science major, I greatly appreciate Sacks' attention to the minute, biochemical details when it comes to medical curiosities. I'm amazed at his ability to be so technical, yet still write without sounding pompous.
He truly presents himself as a polymath, which can either be inspiring or intimidating. It bordered sometimes for me, but overall he inspires me to learn more, instead of intimidating me into thinking "ugh, I could never know this much!"
With my own ventures in mind, the Clinical Tales then was thus my favorite section overall, with the Humphry Davy essay getting an honorable mention. Shame, I've never heard of his story before! So interesting. Sacks did a fantastic job depicting, through Davy's life, how science can have passion and be romanticized and poetic (though, Sacks' writing itself presents this).
Island of Stability was also very good. I think I, personally, possess a curiosity for what already exists. This is a mindset I wish I didn't possess... my tendency to say "Why? What's the point?" So, while interesting to read of the INVENTION (not discovery) of new elements, I kept thinking "Why all the effort? For what?" Coincidentally, Sacks commented toward the end "One can never tell in advance what the practical use... of anything new might be". I'll have to keep this in mind as I go on myself.
Several times he touched on the nature of books/reading: Libraries, Reading the Fine Print, Life Continues. So these are my next favorites. I appreciate being encouraged to pick up that dusty, esoteric book way in the back of the library. Sacks did this, and he obviously found ways to use it in his life, even if just to mention the books' titles in his essays. I'll never have such use for the dusty books I read. Me, I'll read a book and forget everything about it the next week. But I still desire to read it for joy it brings in the moment. I believe Sacks understood this and encouraged this. Reading just to read.
I must admit, even as a bibliophile and someone who personally forbids herself to post too much [of my life] online, I felt he was a little gripe-y about the rise of technology and ebooks. He said he didn't want an ereader, even though it could have benefited him. As with everything, it requires using it purposefully and with good intention. But this may be an argument that someone will run away with, unless they already have a partial stance against it to begin with. Maybe that's why Sacks' was staunch in his complaints.
Some other essays/comments:
That dreams can be a suggestion for diagnosis ("Neurological Dreams"). Amazing idea, that I wouldn't mind to be true, but I find fantastical.
Not that I've read much on it, but I was a vague believer in NDE's and OBE's. He pretty much obliterated the authenticity of those ("Seeing God in the Third Millennium"). But again, the details were amazing, about how the brain can create what you perceive as a Godly experience.
"Urge" was... uncomfortable. A sticky topic: pedophilia being the cause of a damaged rewards center in the brain. Sacks' obviously possessed an unbiased nature to introduce this idea and explain how it works, and I can respect that unbiased-ness.
He broke down the complexity of life and the possibility of alien life somewhere out there ("Anybody Out There?"). Another idea I vaguely believed in, and I felt he annihilated! Arguments here even more convincing than the NDE/OBE annihilation. Life really is too insanely complex, maybe the biggest freak accident to ever be imagined and it's unlikely such a big accident could happen twice. But I feel he ended the essay with considerable skepticism and ideas for why alien life may still be an idea to consider (if not a possibility).
"Kuru" kinda made me want to become vegan. Infected animal tissue that causes a spongy-holed brain?! The horror!
Several times he touched on the psychology. He talked about the deinstitutionalization of mentally ill from insane asylums ("The Lost Virtues of the Asylum"). As well as talking about mania and depression (or both) in some neurological disorders (several essays).
A huge variety of topics as you see! Without ever feeling scrambled. I can say only one or two bored me. Everything else, even if not my cup of tea, was fascinating/interesting (ex. "Clupeophilia"... now I want to try herring!). A really great book.
As a science major, I greatly appreciate Sacks' attention to the minute, biochemical details when it comes to medical curiosities. I'm amazed at his ability to be so technical, yet still write without sounding pompous.
He truly presents himself as a polymath, which can either be inspiring or intimidating. It bordered sometimes for me, but overall he inspires me to learn more, instead of intimidating me into thinking "ugh, I could never know this much!"
With my own ventures in mind, the Clinical Tales then was thus my favorite section overall, with the Humphry Davy essay getting an honorable mention. Shame, I've never heard of his story before! So interesting. Sacks did a fantastic job depicting, through Davy's life, how science can have passion and be romanticized and poetic (though, Sacks' writing itself presents this).
Island of Stability was also very good. I think I, personally, possess a curiosity for what already exists. This is a mindset I wish I didn't possess... my tendency to say "Why? What's the point?" So, while interesting to read of the INVENTION (not discovery) of new elements, I kept thinking "Why all the effort? For what?" Coincidentally, Sacks commented toward the end "One can never tell in advance what the practical use... of anything new might be". I'll have to keep this in mind as I go on myself.
Several times he touched on the nature of books/reading: Libraries, Reading the Fine Print, Life Continues. So these are my next favorites. I appreciate being encouraged to pick up that dusty, esoteric book way in the back of the library. Sacks did this, and he obviously found ways to use it in his life, even if just to mention the books' titles in his essays. I'll never have such use for the dusty books I read. Me, I'll read a book and forget everything about it the next week. But I still desire to read it for joy it brings in the moment. I believe Sacks understood this and encouraged this. Reading just to read.
I must admit, even as a bibliophile and someone who personally forbids herself to post too much [of my life] online, I felt he was a little gripe-y about the rise of technology and ebooks. He said he didn't want an ereader, even though it could have benefited him. As with everything, it requires using it purposefully and with good intention. But this may be an argument that someone will run away with, unless they already have a partial stance against it to begin with. Maybe that's why Sacks' was staunch in his complaints.
Some other essays/comments:
That dreams can be a suggestion for diagnosis ("Neurological Dreams"). Amazing idea, that I wouldn't mind to be true, but I find fantastical.
Not that I've read much on it, but I was a vague believer in NDE's and OBE's. He pretty much obliterated the authenticity of those ("Seeing God in the Third Millennium"). But again, the details were amazing, about how the brain can create what you perceive as a Godly experience.
"Urge" was... uncomfortable. A sticky topic: pedophilia being the cause of a damaged rewards center in the brain. Sacks' obviously possessed an unbiased nature to introduce this idea and explain how it works, and I can respect that unbiased-ness.
He broke down the complexity of life and the possibility of alien life somewhere out there ("Anybody Out There?"). Another idea I vaguely believed in, and I felt he annihilated! Arguments here even more convincing than the NDE/OBE annihilation. Life really is too insanely complex, maybe the biggest freak accident to ever be imagined and it's unlikely such a big accident could happen twice. But I feel he ended the essay with considerable skepticism and ideas for why alien life may still be an idea to consider (if not a possibility).
"Kuru" kinda made me want to become vegan. Infected animal tissue that causes a spongy-holed brain?! The horror!
Several times he touched on the psychology. He talked about the deinstitutionalization of mentally ill from insane asylums ("The Lost Virtues of the Asylum"). As well as talking about mania and depression (or both) in some neurological disorders (several essays).
A huge variety of topics as you see! Without ever feeling scrambled. I can say only one or two bored me. Everything else, even if not my cup of tea, was fascinating/interesting (ex. "Clupeophilia"... now I want to try herring!). A really great book.
October 24, 2025
3 stele poate cã par puține, dar unele idei mi le-am amintit din cartea de memorii a domnului Sacks, "În mișcare: o viațã" ṣi din "Unchiul Tungsten". În a doua jumãtate a lecturii a dominat latura ṣtiințificã, ceea ce a necesitat efort și chiar obosealã din partea mea ca sã
înțeleg teoriile expuse. Nu credeam cã am ales o carte de niṣã, dedicatã specialiṣtilor în fizicã, chimie sau biologie, de exemplu.
înțeleg teoriile expuse. Nu credeam cã am ales o carte de niṣã, dedicatã specialiṣtilor în fizicã, chimie sau biologie, de exemplu.
October 17, 2024
Most of these 33 essays have been published previously, but about a third are new and very short. There’s a huge range, from early memories to clinical cases to fern-hunting in New York to nostalgia.
Those written near the end of his life, like his frustration with people’s cell phone absorption, have a bit of a melancholic edge to them, and I think his four final essays (published as Gratitude) form a much better farewell.
Those written near the end of his life, like his frustration with people’s cell phone absorption, have a bit of a melancholic edge to them, and I think his four final essays (published as Gratitude) form a much better farewell.
August 5, 2021
S Oliverom Sacksom som sa prvýkrát stretla pri Halucináciách. Prekvapil ma i nadchol nielen svojou spisovateľskou zdatnosťou, ale najmä svojou úprimnosťou. Neváhal sa popriznávať k svojim experimentom s halucinogénmi, pri ktorých sa ocitol aj nebezpecne blízko závislosti. Keď som neskôr začala čítať útlučkú knižku s nádhernou obálkou a názvom Vďačnosť, nečakala som, že ma pán Sacks dostane až na kolená. Je to jedna z najkrajších kníh, čo som doteraz prečítala a ja som sa do jej autora zamilovala ako do múdreho, láskavého, vnímavého a skromného človeka, ktorého Vďačnosť si budem naveky opatrovať v knižnici a srdci.
Všetko na svojom mieste je teda moja tretia (a istotne nie posledná) Sacksovka a tentoraz som dostala trošku z oboch svetov. Oliver Sacks sa mi predstavil ako vášnivý plavec, priblížil mi svoju lásku k periodickej tabuľke, knihám, papradiam či sleďom, pričom je opäť čarovne úprimný:
“Práve mi vyšla nová kniha, ale nemôžem si ju prečítať, pretože tak ako milióny dalších ľudí mám slabý zrak…. Zišlo by sa mi vydanie s veľkými písmenami, ktoré si môžem čítať (v posteli alebo vo vani, kde väčšinou čítam) ako každú inú knihu.”
Zároveň ale prináša príbehy zo svojej dlhoročnej praxe, niektoré poriadne fascinujúce. Všetko podfarbené jeho zamysleniami a príjemným filozofovaním. Niekedy rozoberá tému, ktorej nerozumiem a ktorej som sa nikdy nevenovala, inokedy si pri ňom spokojne prikyvujem. Oliver Sacks ma touto knihou zase raz vzdelal, zabavil a prehĺbil môj obdiv k nemu. Bol to naozaj výnimočný človek, ktorý sa neprestal zaujímať o to, ako môže byť iným ľudom lepšie.
“Príroda nás očividne hlboko zasahuje. Biofília, láska k prírode a živým bytostiam, je nevyhnutnou súčasťou ľudskej prirodzenosti. Hortofília, túžba po kontakte, obhospodarovaní a starostlivosti o prírodu, je v nás hlboko zakorenená. Úloha prirody pri zdraví a uzdravovaní je ešte dôležitejšia pre ľudí, ktorí dlhé hodiny pracujú v kanceláriách bez okien, pre ľudí žijúcich v mestských štvrtiach bez zelených plôch, pre deti v mestských školách alebo ľudí v ústavných zariadeniach, ako sú opatrovateľské zariadenia.”
Všetko na svojom mieste je teda moja tretia (a istotne nie posledná) Sacksovka a tentoraz som dostala trošku z oboch svetov. Oliver Sacks sa mi predstavil ako vášnivý plavec, priblížil mi svoju lásku k periodickej tabuľke, knihám, papradiam či sleďom, pričom je opäť čarovne úprimný:
“Práve mi vyšla nová kniha, ale nemôžem si ju prečítať, pretože tak ako milióny dalších ľudí mám slabý zrak…. Zišlo by sa mi vydanie s veľkými písmenami, ktoré si môžem čítať (v posteli alebo vo vani, kde väčšinou čítam) ako každú inú knihu.”
Zároveň ale prináša príbehy zo svojej dlhoročnej praxe, niektoré poriadne fascinujúce. Všetko podfarbené jeho zamysleniami a príjemným filozofovaním. Niekedy rozoberá tému, ktorej nerozumiem a ktorej som sa nikdy nevenovala, inokedy si pri ňom spokojne prikyvujem. Oliver Sacks ma touto knihou zase raz vzdelal, zabavil a prehĺbil môj obdiv k nemu. Bol to naozaj výnimočný človek, ktorý sa neprestal zaujímať o to, ako môže byť iným ľudom lepšie.
“Príroda nás očividne hlboko zasahuje. Biofília, láska k prírode a živým bytostiam, je nevyhnutnou súčasťou ľudskej prirodzenosti. Hortofília, túžba po kontakte, obhospodarovaní a starostlivosti o prírodu, je v nás hlboko zakorenená. Úloha prirody pri zdraví a uzdravovaní je ešte dôležitejšia pre ľudí, ktorí dlhé hodiny pracujú v kanceláriách bez okien, pre ľudí žijúcich v mestských štvrtiach bez zelených plôch, pre deti v mestských školách alebo ľudí v ústavných zariadeniach, ako sú opatrovateľské zariadenia.”
October 11, 2022
Reading Sacks is a form of intellectual and spiritual self-care. Enough said
February 21, 2020
Oliver Sacks' posthumous essay collection Everything in Its Place is definitely a grab-bag—this is a scattershot collection of essays on all sorts of topics, from swimming to herring, with no real unifying theme other than Sacks' own considerable enthusiam.
Which turns out to be enough, at least for me. I've been an admirer of Dr. Sacks' work for decades, after all, and Everything in Its Place exposes facets of his personality that surprised me—possibly more than they should have. In the 1960s, for example, Sacks was a motorcyclist—a free spirit, who bought a BMW with borrowed money and took that bike east from San Francisco, touring the U.S., eventually putting in more than 100,000 miles on two wheels before relinquishing that part of his life.
I'm just saying that, while this is decidedly not the best Oliver Sacks book, Everything in Its Place still contains much of interest to me—like Sacks' story of his disastrous teenaged attempt to preserve some cuttlefish for dissection:
There are plenty of more serious moments in Everything in Its Place, of course. As ever, Sacks' clinical analyses are the strongest and most fascinating part of the book. For example, I think Sacks' essay on sensory deprivation and its effects on personality ("Nothingness," on pp.71-73) contains significant implications for our attempts to create artificial intelligences—especially to create entities which might be capable of empathy with their human creators. Although Sacks does not make this precise point, it seems to me that giving AIs more human-like sensory apparatus would be essential to such attempts.
Then there are Sacks' ruminations on "The Aging Brain"—which seem even more poignant, heartfelt and topical since a close friend of ours is currently in a memory-care ward.
And Sacks was profoundly affected—as was I—by E.M. Forster's classic short SF story "The Machine Stops" (1909), with its devastating portrayal of a decadent civilization whose citizens exist in lifelong isolation, interacting with each other only through screens and automated delivery systems. Utter fantasy, of course...
I'm not sure whether the title is anything other than aspirational—there's no grand summation here, no real sense that everything has been put into place—but if you've read and enjoyed Oliver Sacks' previous books, I think you'll find something to please you in Everything in Its Place as well.
Some information for this review was gleaned from Wikipedia—thanks!
Which turns out to be enough, at least for me. I've been an admirer of Dr. Sacks' work for decades, after all, and Everything in Its Place exposes facets of his personality that surprised me—possibly more than they should have. In the 1960s, for example, Sacks was a motorcyclist—a free spirit, who bought a BMW with borrowed money and took that bike east from San Francisco, touring the U.S., eventually putting in more than 100,000 miles on two wheels before relinquishing that part of his life.
We formed a sort of romantic, classless society within society at large.Somehow, also, I hadn't realized that Sacks was British—perhaps because his prose is so thoroughly Americanized.
—p.217
I'm just saying that, while this is decidedly not the best Oliver Sacks book, Everything in Its Place still contains much of interest to me—like Sacks' story of his disastrous teenaged attempt to preserve some cuttlefish for dissection:
A few days later, the day Jonathan's parents were due to return, we heard dull thuds emanating from the basement, and going down to investigate, we encountered a grotesque scene: the cuttlefish, insufficiently preserved, had putrefied and fermented, and the gases produced had exploded the jars and blown great lumps of cuttlefish all over the walls and floor; there were even shreds of cuttlefish stuck to the ceiling. The intense smell of putrefaction was awful beyond imagination.My own son brought a squid home from the beach in a jar, once. Once. Although it did not explode in our refrigerator, the smell upon opening the jar a few weeks later was still memorable...
—p.16
There are plenty of more serious moments in Everything in Its Place, of course. As ever, Sacks' clinical analyses are the strongest and most fascinating part of the book. For example, I think Sacks' essay on sensory deprivation and its effects on personality ("Nothingness," on pp.71-73) contains significant implications for our attempts to create artificial intelligences—especially to create entities which might be capable of empathy with their human creators. Although Sacks does not make this precise point, it seems to me that giving AIs more human-like sensory apparatus would be essential to such attempts.
Then there are Sacks' ruminations on "The Aging Brain"—which seem even more poignant, heartfelt and topical since a close friend of ours is currently in a memory-care ward.
And Sacks was profoundly affected—as was I—by E.M. Forster's classic short SF story "The Machine Stops" (1909), with its devastating portrayal of a decadent civilization whose citizens exist in lifelong isolation, interacting with each other only through screens and automated delivery systems. Utter fantasy, of course...
I am most alarmed by such distraction and inattention when I see young parents staring at their cell phones and ignoring their own babies as they walk or wheel them along. Such children, unable to attract their parents' attention, must feel neglected, and they will surely show the effects of this in the years to come.
—p.254
I'm not sure whether the title is anything other than aspirational—there's no grand summation here, no real sense that everything has been put into place—but if you've read and enjoyed Oliver Sacks' previous books, I think you'll find something to please you in Everything in Its Place as well.
Some information for this review was gleaned from Wikipedia—thanks!
October 27, 2021
Efectul cărților lui Sacks pt mine e un fel de "acasă", anul asta mă declar îndrăgostită de el😊
September 27, 2019
A seguir a "Gratidão" este foi o segundo livro que li de Oliver Sacks. Ensaios, crónicas, contos e poesia não são das minhas leituras favoritas, nem sequer me aventuro muito por esses caminhos, mas depois de ler Gratidão, um belíssimo conjunto de quatro ensaios escritos de forma tão simples e acessível, quis conhecer mais da obra do autor. E ainda bem que o fiz!
Este livro é um conjunto de vários ensaios, alguns e na minha opinião poucos, pois gosto de saber coisas sobre a vida das pessoas, focam-se em certas ocasiões marcantes da vida do autor e outros são sobre casos clínicos que observou/tratou enquanto neurologista.
Os meus preferidos são os que tratam da sua vida para além da ciência, apesar de que a ciência sempre esteve presente em tudo o que fez durante a sua existência, até mesmo antes de nascer. Mas mesmo os que tratam de casos clínicos ou aquele em que fala de forma mais extensa sobre o químico Humphry Davy, que são mais científicos não deixam de ser de fácil leitura e compreensão, o que para alguém que como eu não tenha queda para as coisas da ciência é interessante. Não me faz perder a vontade de continuar e acho que isso é um dom, dom esse que Sacks de facto possuía.
"Ao encarar a minha própria partida iminente deste mundo, tenho de acreditar nisso - que a espécie humana e o nosso planeta irão sobreviver, que a vida irá continuar e que esta não será a nossa hora final."
Este livro é um conjunto de vários ensaios, alguns e na minha opinião poucos, pois gosto de saber coisas sobre a vida das pessoas, focam-se em certas ocasiões marcantes da vida do autor e outros são sobre casos clínicos que observou/tratou enquanto neurologista.
Os meus preferidos são os que tratam da sua vida para além da ciência, apesar de que a ciência sempre esteve presente em tudo o que fez durante a sua existência, até mesmo antes de nascer. Mas mesmo os que tratam de casos clínicos ou aquele em que fala de forma mais extensa sobre o químico Humphry Davy, que são mais científicos não deixam de ser de fácil leitura e compreensão, o que para alguém que como eu não tenha queda para as coisas da ciência é interessante. Não me faz perder a vontade de continuar e acho que isso é um dom, dom esse que Sacks de facto possuía.
"Ao encarar a minha própria partida iminente deste mundo, tenho de acreditar nisso - que a espécie humana e o nosso planeta irão sobreviver, que a vida irá continuar e que esta não será a nossa hora final."
Read
August 27, 2019Oliver Sacks swam every day, was severely shy, and suffered from prosopagnosia (was unable to recognize faces). He was celibate for 40 years and was private regarding his sexuality. A physician, professor of neurology and bestselling author, he wrote many books about his patients, his own disorders and nature, including the notable Awakenings.
In his final compilation of essays released earlier this year, Everything In Its Place, Sacks, who died of cancer in 2015 at 82, talked about a myriad of topics, from his love of libraries, to how cold temperatures stop the growth of cancer, from dreams and near-death experiences to medical case studies and a town where everyone has Tourette’s Syndrome. He was a true, deep thinker and scientist who studied the past.
Sacks lived alone, focusing on his work most of his life, but in his seventies he fell in love –and enjoyed a wonderful eight years– with author and photographer, Bill Hayes. Hayes wrote the must-read memoir, Insomniac City: New York, Oliver and Me, along with three other non-fiction books, and a book of photography called How New York Breaks Your Heart.
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Bill Hayes, who shared more about Sacks’s life and their unsurpassable relationship.
The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/08/in-conve...
In his final compilation of essays released earlier this year, Everything In Its Place, Sacks, who died of cancer in 2015 at 82, talked about a myriad of topics, from his love of libraries, to how cold temperatures stop the growth of cancer, from dreams and near-death experiences to medical case studies and a town where everyone has Tourette’s Syndrome. He was a true, deep thinker and scientist who studied the past.
Sacks lived alone, focusing on his work most of his life, but in his seventies he fell in love –and enjoyed a wonderful eight years– with author and photographer, Bill Hayes. Hayes wrote the must-read memoir, Insomniac City: New York, Oliver and Me, along with three other non-fiction books, and a book of photography called How New York Breaks Your Heart.
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Bill Hayes, who shared more about Sacks’s life and their unsurpassable relationship.
The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/08/in-conve...
February 20, 2024
Oliver Sack okumanın farklı bir ritmi var.
Her türlü seviyorsunuz.
Kitap üç bölüm altında şekillenmiş denemelerden oluşuyor. İlk Aşk/Hastalıklar/Hayat Devam Ediyor bölümlerinin özellikle Hayat Devam Ediyor kısmı altındaki yazılarını okuyun isterim.
Kitap geneline hakim sıradan konulardan, klinik vakalardan bahsederken değindiği konularla farklı bir kapı, bilgi, eser kazandırmadan bırakmıyor oluşuna kitap boyunca bayıldım.
Her türlü seviyorsunuz.
Kitap üç bölüm altında şekillenmiş denemelerden oluşuyor. İlk Aşk/Hastalıklar/Hayat Devam Ediyor bölümlerinin özellikle Hayat Devam Ediyor kısmı altındaki yazılarını okuyun isterim.
Kitap geneline hakim sıradan konulardan, klinik vakalardan bahsederken değindiği konularla farklı bir kapı, bilgi, eser kazandırmadan bırakmıyor oluşuna kitap boyunca bayıldım.
January 5, 2022
Oliver Sacks was ridiculously good at writing. This book is a collection of shorter writings, compiled after his death, on everything from ferns to astrobiology, as well as his more traditional clinical tales. It's divided into three parts (which I don't think need to be read in order) so it seems logical to review each bit separately.
The first section, 'First Loves', is a beautiful recounting of Sacks' childhood memories, told in such a interesting and witty way that one story (which involved exploding fish in his friend's basement) genuinely made me laugh out loud. His passion for science and for the natural world really comes through, and the asides about the history of scientific discovery are really well researched and articulately told.
The middle part of the book is a collection of clinical tales, similar to Sacks' other work. As always, each chapter is written in such a warming way, achieving the perfect balance of scientific interest and a truly human recounting of the truly human experiences of his patients.
The final section, 'Life Goes On', is a somewhat random selection of the author's musings on various topics. It is a testament to Sacks' skill with words that I read an entire chapter on pickled herring and enjoyed it! His excitement about the natural world evidently continued for the whole of his life and the way he spoke of every topic made me feel excited and hopeful about all the wonderful variety that the world has to offer.
I will definitely be returning to this book again and cannot fault it.
The first section, 'First Loves', is a beautiful recounting of Sacks' childhood memories, told in such a interesting and witty way that one story (which involved exploding fish in his friend's basement) genuinely made me laugh out loud. His passion for science and for the natural world really comes through, and the asides about the history of scientific discovery are really well researched and articulately told.
The middle part of the book is a collection of clinical tales, similar to Sacks' other work. As always, each chapter is written in such a warming way, achieving the perfect balance of scientific interest and a truly human recounting of the truly human experiences of his patients.
The final section, 'Life Goes On', is a somewhat random selection of the author's musings on various topics. It is a testament to Sacks' skill with words that I read an entire chapter on pickled herring and enjoyed it! His excitement about the natural world evidently continued for the whole of his life and the way he spoke of every topic made me feel excited and hopeful about all the wonderful variety that the world has to offer.
I will definitely be returning to this book again and cannot fault it.
July 2, 2019
The best part about reading a book by Oliver Sacks is being inside the mind of a genius. This one was published after his death and so contains varied writings on many subjects. He includes cases of all types of mental illness, some very rare types, and also the aging brain and dementia. The breadth of his interests and his enthusiasm for them is amazing. He tells of the herring festival, the fern society, the possibility of life on other planets, and the discovery of new elements on the periodic table. His work is always written in a way that makes even difficult subjects exciting and easy to understand.
June 9, 2019
Short, easy, touching essays. I bought this because of his short essay on gardens that was published online as an excerpt but stayed for the stories about his patients and essays about things like mental asylums, old scientists, ferns, etc. Worth a read, worth reading again as well.
January 3, 2021
Five stars because it makes me terribly sad to know that the final pages I read are also the final pages written by this giant.
May 26, 2023
oliver sacks is so fucking cool + the seeing god chapter made me question my religious beliefs so there’s that (i think it’s time we consider the possibility that i might not be atheist)
February 10, 2025
Una bellísima despedida de Oliver Sacks. De los libros del autor que he leído es el más divertido y emotivo.
February 28, 2025
I love you Oliver Sacks 👩🔬 LONG REVIEW BEWARE
This is my first time reading Oliver Sacks! I picked this up blindly in a bookstore in London last August in an attempt to learn some neuroscience and read a British author. (I wanted the Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat but they didn’t have it stocked.) Published posthumously, it is a non-fiction collection of 33 case studies that fall into three sections: “First Loves, Clinical Tales, and Life Continues.”
First of all, I loved the structure. The first section is dedicated to his first loves: swimming, libraries, the South Kensington museum district, cephalopods, and scientist Humphrey Davy. While I was anticipating neuroscience, this was actually quite lovely. I really enjoyed the (lengthy) article about Humphrey Davy and his discoveries. Sacks writes with such detail and adoration that his passions become contagious! It also made me think, if I had to write 6 articles about things I loved, barring any friends or family, what would I choose? (Bonus points, this makes a great icebreaker)
Next, clinical tales. These were also very interesting, but the one that haunts me the most is the “refrigeration” study (called Cold Storage, also available to read online on Granta). Crossing many disciplines of science, I learned so much about so many random things. The Kuru chapter and my dictionary app went hard. (Just don’t ask me much about transmissible spongiform encephalopathy). The last two sections of clinical tales, an anecdote of mania and the history of Asylums, are both worth a reread and expanded my TBR for further learning.
“What a narrow ridge of normality we all inhabit, with the abysses of mania and depression yawning to either side.” It’s WILD to think how our brains are so delicate and how quickly we can slip into these altered states of mind.
The last section, Life Continues, features writings from later in his life. He writes about the American Fern Society and exploring Park Avenue, starting at 91st, in pursuit of botany education. This is literally blocks away from me…time to retrace his steps and see if I can find those xerophytes! (Again, my dictionary app got a lot of use during this book). The second to last article about gefilte fish and his reflections on living (and dying) brought tears to my eyes. A truly remarkable man.
This was such a wonderful read for me. Yes it took me 5 months to finish this. Yes some parts were boring, but 33 articles can do that to you. I cannot wait to read more Oliver Sacks.
This is my first time reading Oliver Sacks! I picked this up blindly in a bookstore in London last August in an attempt to learn some neuroscience and read a British author. (I wanted the Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat but they didn’t have it stocked.) Published posthumously, it is a non-fiction collection of 33 case studies that fall into three sections: “First Loves, Clinical Tales, and Life Continues.”
First of all, I loved the structure. The first section is dedicated to his first loves: swimming, libraries, the South Kensington museum district, cephalopods, and scientist Humphrey Davy. While I was anticipating neuroscience, this was actually quite lovely. I really enjoyed the (lengthy) article about Humphrey Davy and his discoveries. Sacks writes with such detail and adoration that his passions become contagious! It also made me think, if I had to write 6 articles about things I loved, barring any friends or family, what would I choose? (Bonus points, this makes a great icebreaker)
Next, clinical tales. These were also very interesting, but the one that haunts me the most is the “refrigeration” study (called Cold Storage, also available to read online on Granta). Crossing many disciplines of science, I learned so much about so many random things. The Kuru chapter and my dictionary app went hard. (Just don’t ask me much about transmissible spongiform encephalopathy). The last two sections of clinical tales, an anecdote of mania and the history of Asylums, are both worth a reread and expanded my TBR for further learning.
“What a narrow ridge of normality we all inhabit, with the abysses of mania and depression yawning to either side.” It’s WILD to think how our brains are so delicate and how quickly we can slip into these altered states of mind.
The last section, Life Continues, features writings from later in his life. He writes about the American Fern Society and exploring Park Avenue, starting at 91st, in pursuit of botany education. This is literally blocks away from me…time to retrace his steps and see if I can find those xerophytes! (Again, my dictionary app got a lot of use during this book). The second to last article about gefilte fish and his reflections on living (and dying) brought tears to my eyes. A truly remarkable man.
This was such a wonderful read for me. Yes it took me 5 months to finish this. Yes some parts were boring, but 33 articles can do that to you. I cannot wait to read more Oliver Sacks.
May 30, 2024
This is a collection of essays that meander in their topics. Oliver Sacks has many experiences to share. From his loves (swimming, museums, libraries) to his forte of science/biology. This is a mini-autobiography of what makes Oliver Sacks tick.
I like how this began with his love for swimming. While on a long open water swim, he stopped at a house along the shoreline, and bought it since it was for sale!
His admiration of Humphry Davy (renown scientist from late 1700's/early 1800's) got me so interested in reading more about Davy that I diverged from this book to go find some Davy material. Sadly, hard to find. But since Davy used Michael Faraday (known for electromagnetism works), I looked in my physics collections and read more about Davy and his personality. (Wiki is just to 'dry' to get real biography info).
The meat of this book is the 140 central pages of 15 essays of "Clinical Tales". Neurological dreams, seeing God, Hiccups, Tourette's Syndrome, aging brain, all were interesting, but also a little disturbing to read. His description of getting uncontrollable hiccups got me worried this could happen to me. All of these essays are NOT healthy for a hypochondriac to read!
The last 50 pages of 12 essays under the master heading of "Life Continues" are more upbeat. They oscillate in topics that uniquely define Oliver Sacks.
e.g. "Orangutan" is a 2-page story of how Oliver approached the window at a zoo and had the Orangutan come up close. They matched hands. Then the Orangutan returned to her baby. Oliver simply reflects on the remarkable feeling of similarity between himself and the Orangutan.
It is healthy to hear someone "thinking" like Oliver is doing here. This can vindicate our own "thinking" on anything that interests us. Oliver probably got picked-on in school for being a weird kid. But aren't these 'weird kids' the ones that amaze you if/when you go to a high school class reunion?
4.25*
I like how this began with his love for swimming. While on a long open water swim, he stopped at a house along the shoreline, and bought it since it was for sale!
His admiration of Humphry Davy (renown scientist from late 1700's/early 1800's) got me so interested in reading more about Davy that I diverged from this book to go find some Davy material. Sadly, hard to find. But since Davy used Michael Faraday (known for electromagnetism works), I looked in my physics collections and read more about Davy and his personality. (Wiki is just to 'dry' to get real biography info).
The meat of this book is the 140 central pages of 15 essays of "Clinical Tales". Neurological dreams, seeing God, Hiccups, Tourette's Syndrome, aging brain, all were interesting, but also a little disturbing to read. His description of getting uncontrollable hiccups got me worried this could happen to me. All of these essays are NOT healthy for a hypochondriac to read!
The last 50 pages of 12 essays under the master heading of "Life Continues" are more upbeat. They oscillate in topics that uniquely define Oliver Sacks.
e.g. "Orangutan" is a 2-page story of how Oliver approached the window at a zoo and had the Orangutan come up close. They matched hands. Then the Orangutan returned to her baby. Oliver simply reflects on the remarkable feeling of similarity between himself and the Orangutan.
It is healthy to hear someone "thinking" like Oliver is doing here. This can vindicate our own "thinking" on anything that interests us. Oliver probably got picked-on in school for being a weird kid. But aren't these 'weird kids' the ones that amaze you if/when you go to a high school class reunion?
4.25*
January 30, 2022
I really enjoyed this. I read one of his books long ago and found it fascinating, but only now did I pick up another. Although many of the essays have appeared before elsewhere, I had never read them. And this collection includes a number of previously unpublished work as well.
Oliver Sacks strikes me as someone you would love to have as a friend. Erudite. Quirky. A good storyteller. Someone, like Asimov or Vonnegut, you would enjoy meeting and talking over dinner or taking a walk with. He doesn’t dumb down his writing, and I found myself circling many words to look up later. But he did so without a trace of condescension, and that made me lean in all the more.
The story of him looking for ferns in uptown NYC, together with a small group of other fern-atics, gives you a good sense of the man I think. His recounting of the history of asylums was illuminating. (I had no idea how large and critically important these places were, and the impact of their closure is obvious now.) His casual references to his cancer and having weeks to live took my breath away.
Most of all, what shines through in his stories is his compassion and caring. I’m looking forward to reading more, and getting to know him even better.
Oliver Sacks strikes me as someone you would love to have as a friend. Erudite. Quirky. A good storyteller. Someone, like Asimov or Vonnegut, you would enjoy meeting and talking over dinner or taking a walk with. He doesn’t dumb down his writing, and I found myself circling many words to look up later. But he did so without a trace of condescension, and that made me lean in all the more.
The story of him looking for ferns in uptown NYC, together with a small group of other fern-atics, gives you a good sense of the man I think. His recounting of the history of asylums was illuminating. (I had no idea how large and critically important these places were, and the impact of their closure is obvious now.) His casual references to his cancer and having weeks to live took my breath away.
Most of all, what shines through in his stories is his compassion and caring. I’m looking forward to reading more, and getting to know him even better.
August 22, 2020
This was a posthumous gift from Oliver Sacks, a writer I shall miss very much. This particular book is a grab bag of essays on different topics. My favorites are always the ones that delve into the wondrous peculiarities of the human brain; I tend to skim through the ones about minerals and elements, childhood memories, or even the wonders of the library, although he writes well on all those topics. In this collection I found particularly interesting his thoughts as he approached death; and his essay on the aging brain is the first I've read on the topic that was not a total downer. Recommended! But now I must go back and reread The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.
June 21, 2020
Il libro racchiude vari pensieri dell'autore: nella prima parte questi si concentrano sulla sua formazione e gioventù, nella seconda su casi clinici e situazioni lavorative, infine nella terza spaziano su argomenti particolari che in qualche modo hanno suscitato il suo interesse e che sono ritenuti importanti.
Scritto molto bene, mi è piaciuta soprattutto la seconda parte anche per quanto riguarda considerazioni più generali su alcune patologie (ad esempio le demenze). Per il resto alcuni capitoli mi hanno incuriosita, mentre altri li ho trovati meno appassionanti.
Scritto molto bene, mi è piaciuta soprattutto la seconda parte anche per quanto riguarda considerazioni più generali su alcune patologie (ad esempio le demenze). Per il resto alcuni capitoli mi hanno incuriosita, mentre altri li ho trovati meno appassionanti.
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