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Vintage Sacks
Vintage Readers are a perfect introduction to some of the great modern writers presented in attractive, accessible paperback editions.
“It is Dr. Sacks’s gift that he has found a way to enlarge our experience and understanding of what the human is.” — The Wall Street Journal
Dubbed “the poet laureate of medicine” by The New York Times, Oliver Sacks is a practicing neurologist and a mesmerizing storyteller. His empathetic accounts of his patients’s lives—and wrily observed narratives of his own—convey both the extreme borderlands of human experience and the miracles of ordinary seeing, speaking, hearing, thinking, and feeling.
Vintage Sacks includes the introduction and case study “Rose R.” from Awakenings (the book that inspired the Oscar-nominated movie), as well as “A Deaf World” from Seeing Voices ; “The Visions of Hildegard” from Migraine ; excerpts from “Island Hopping” and “Pingelap” from The Island of the Colorblind ; “A Surgeon’s Life” from An Anthropologist on Mars ; and two chapters from Sacks’s acclaimed memoir Uncle Tungsten .
“It is Dr. Sacks’s gift that he has found a way to enlarge our experience and understanding of what the human is.” — The Wall Street Journal
Dubbed “the poet laureate of medicine” by The New York Times, Oliver Sacks is a practicing neurologist and a mesmerizing storyteller. His empathetic accounts of his patients’s lives—and wrily observed narratives of his own—convey both the extreme borderlands of human experience and the miracles of ordinary seeing, speaking, hearing, thinking, and feeling.
Vintage Sacks includes the introduction and case study “Rose R.” from Awakenings (the book that inspired the Oscar-nominated movie), as well as “A Deaf World” from Seeing Voices ; “The Visions of Hildegard” from Migraine ; excerpts from “Island Hopping” and “Pingelap” from The Island of the Colorblind ; “A Surgeon’s Life” from An Anthropologist on Mars ; and two chapters from Sacks’s acclaimed memoir Uncle Tungsten .
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2004
33 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
About the author
Oliver Sacks
102 books9,746 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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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 7, 2015
An introduction into the fascinating world of Oliver Sacks. Segments from Uncle Tungsten. Awakenings and other books written by Sacks over a 35 years span.
It makes one more interested to venture into the world of Sacks and his patients.
It makes one more interested to venture into the world of Sacks and his patients.
September 15, 2009
Neurology is poetry. Memoir is science. Case study is narrative. Sacks is amazing. The story of the island of the colorblind was like reading Dr. Doolittle, but unlike Doolittle, Dr. Sacks is simply an observer whose own interactions have some impact, but it's the impact on Sacks himself that he writes about. He manages to turn a dozen or more other neurological conditions into marvelous short stories that just happen to be nonfiction, and then the slightly more academic essay on sign language and deafness is nothing short of revelatory.
It only gets four stars because, in the end, it is (just barely) an academic work, and as such, has the occasional moment where I waited impatiently for the narrative to pick back up so that the science became once again stay-up-at-night compelling.
It only gets four stars because, in the end, it is (just barely) an academic work, and as such, has the occasional moment where I waited impatiently for the narrative to pick back up so that the science became once again stay-up-at-night compelling.
July 21, 2016
I'll preface my little comment about this book now. I bought this book for $2 just on name recognition, yesterday while at a used book store. I knew he was a neurologist, so that peaked my interest, because I have been on a binge on books on the philosophy of mind/consciousness and current research in neuroscience.
On the onset, I thought I would be getting more detailed explanations of neurological disorders and what not, but what I got was just stories of patients of his or people with neurological disorders. Honestly not a bad book at all, just wasn't completely what j wanted and that was MY fault not the author's fault. Pick it up if you want a quick and fast read about some strange tales of people with neurological disorders.
On the onset, I thought I would be getting more detailed explanations of neurological disorders and what not, but what I got was just stories of patients of his or people with neurological disorders. Honestly not a bad book at all, just wasn't completely what j wanted and that was MY fault not the author's fault. Pick it up if you want a quick and fast read about some strange tales of people with neurological disorders.
July 10, 2008
I enjoy Sacks' work, and this is a fine overview that gives a sense of the tremendous range of his interests and expertise. It also gives a lovely sense of Sacks' humanity and compassion for individuals who somehow don't fit our "norms," and presents them to readers in ways that help us better understand ourselves.
December 19, 2014
Brilliant! I loved Oliver Sacks during college and grad school, but other than articles and excerpts that appeared over the years, I hadn't read a complete book by him since — until I recently picked up Hallucinations, which made me hungry for more. I am so happy for my personal rediscovery and cannot wait to read the books I've missed since the 1990s!
June 15, 2010
Absolutely fascinating! I really enjoyed this book — a smattering of chapters from this neurologists other books about fascinating subjects like the sleeping sickness, colorblindness, deafness, tourette's...really well-written too.
September 15, 2015
A great collection of samples of his works that I found in the wake of his death. I particularly enjoyed the tales of his childhood, creating smoke and explosions in his home. What an incredible mind his parents allowed to develop.
October 19, 2017
Dr. Sacks is informative and entertaining
So much to learn so much to enjoy. Very entertaining the chapter of his childhood, and his interest wonderfully encouraged by his family. I am left wanting more. And will certainly read more of his books.
So much to learn so much to enjoy. Very entertaining the chapter of his childhood, and his interest wonderfully encouraged by his family. I am left wanting more. And will certainly read more of his books.
September 8, 2015
This book is not a usual book a Oliver Sacks reader would pick up for first reading but it is not a bad one at all. Gives you enough of incentives to find out more about his works.
September 12, 2015
Volume 2 of my Sacks Tribute. Best chapter on Oliver's adventures in chemistry as a youth.
July 8, 2016
A great introduction to Sacks writing. I'm keen to read more. He has a great voice as an author.
October 9, 2018
Regardless of whether you have already read works by Sacks, or you don't know him at all, this is a great little book that will present to you a poet and a doctor, a sage and a learner, and it will also tell you the story of the many adventures he embarked on, just to understand humans a bit more. With a variety of topics, a light, joyous narrative and some deep science to delve in, this is a great read.
July 8, 2024
I'm a big fan of Oliver Sacks. He's an interesting clinician who seeks out weird and unusual medical cases and he's a great writer in itself.
This book was a little odd since it had so many clips from his various other books, and the shifts occasionally felt jarring. However, it was also nice to have the snapshots from his different books. I was definitely interesting in finding the originals and learning more.
A very solid read overall, especially if you either want a reminder of Sacks' works or to decide which one to pick out next. For a first time reader, I'd recommend trying one of his full books though.
This book was a little odd since it had so many clips from his various other books, and the shifts occasionally felt jarring. However, it was also nice to have the snapshots from his different books. I was definitely interesting in finding the originals and learning more.
A very solid read overall, especially if you either want a reminder of Sacks' works or to decide which one to pick out next. For a first time reader, I'd recommend trying one of his full books though.
October 9, 2021
great compilation for a quick introduction to his writing. It includes excerpts from 4 of his books
July 4, 2025
fascinating, beautifully-written, and at moments funny
i gobbled this up
i gobbled this up
August 3, 2020
Such vintage Sacks. No more be said.
August 8, 2012
A very interesting book. Will need to check out more from him.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews