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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, Grief
An interesting person with a correspondingly interesting life. A writer who is also a doctor, but because he is a story-teller at heart his medical books always include stories about the patients.
While I was certainly aware of Oliver Sacks and his books, I had never read anything of his. After reading Bill Hayes’ wonderful “Insomniac City”, I thought it would only make sense to follow it up with Sacks’ autobiography, “On the Move”. And once again I am happy how reading takes me down this road and that, leading to discoveries like this one.
“On the move” was published shortly before Oliver Sacks’ death, and it’s full of memories of the people in his life. A quote in the beginning of the book sums it up perfectly: “I have loved and been loved, I have been given much and I have given something in return.” That underlying sentiment of this book, I felt. But at the same time we also get to read about his days of traveling the US on his motorbike, and about his weight lifting - both which where somewhat unexpected despite the image on the cover. It’s a book that not only tells the story of an interesting man and the interesting people he met, it also shows the richness of a human life, and the different sides that make up a person. I’m very glad I read it.
“On the move” was published shortly before Oliver Sacks’ death, and it’s full of memories of the people in his life. A quote in the beginning of the book sums it up perfectly: “I have loved and been loved, I have been given much and I have given something in return.” That underlying sentiment of this book, I felt. But at the same time we also get to read about his days of traveling the US on his motorbike, and about his weight lifting - both which where somewhat unexpected despite the image on the cover. It’s a book that not only tells the story of an interesting man and the interesting people he met, it also shows the richness of a human life, and the different sides that make up a person. I’m very glad I read it.
Oliver Sacks led an incredible life and is a fantastic writer.. This review by Maria Popova expresses more beautifully than I could some of what Sacks explores through his autobiography : https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/05/18/oliver-sacks-on-the-move/
I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. I just don't think it was for me but is well written. It is for you if you're a fan of Sacks in general though, and want to read more on him as a person (from his perspective!).
An enjoyable read but lots of name dropping. Someone who wanted to be a writer who happened to do medicine. From this book it doesn’t actually seem he did much medicine...
I've read most of Sacks' books since "An Anthropologist on Mars" in the late 1990s, and a few of his older ones. He's been one of my favourite voices: reading him can feel like sitting down and chatting with a friend. How sad that he's dying; but what a fascinating life, with so many brilliant friends. This is as interesting and engaging as his case study books.
I was very sorry to hear that Oliver Sacks is terminally ill, and knowing that made reading his autobiography a somewhat bittersweet experience. He is a gifted storyteller who has had a full life. It was interesting to learn about his early love of motorcycles, his background in weightlifting, his life as a gay man during repressive times, his drug use, his family, and of course his work as a writer and a doctor. I'm glad that he was able to finish this book,and I am glad that I got the chance to read it.
I loved this book and am so glad to have read it. I learned so much about Dr. Sacks and found him to be not only a great doctor but such a great humanitarian. When working with patients, he looked at the whole person (physical, mental, and emotional) with compassion and with great curiosity. I felt him as a kindred spirit in this regard for I also try to work in a a holistic manner to understand people need(s) before suggesting a career and/or professional development intervention.
I liked the progression of the book and how he described out he grew up, the relationships he formed, and I also love his candor as he discussed his sexuality, use of drugs, and physically challenges. Sacks proved consistently that he was a life-long learner and that his aim was to improve the world by understanding, helping, and communicating his work with the individual patient.
I like this quote from a New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/books/review/on-the-move-by-oliver-sacks.html review for I believe it captures what I’m thinking about the book:
“The primary mark of a good memoir is that it makes you nostalgic for experiences you never had, and Sacks captures the electrifying discoveries he made, especially those in his early career, with vivid, hard-edge prose.”
The last section of the book particularly inspired me for he wrote about how writing was basically the most important thing and consistent thing in his life. He wrote of having hundreds of journals that he kept over the years. I will make it a point to reread this because I’d like to be able to write better and with more ease.
Finally: I admire his use of language, ability to describe and tell stories, and his work ethic. I aim to be like him as a PhD student and a professional. As you can tell, I highly recommend this book.
I liked the progression of the book and how he described out he grew up, the relationships he formed, and I also love his candor as he discussed his sexuality, use of drugs, and physically challenges. Sacks proved consistently that he was a life-long learner and that his aim was to improve the world by understanding, helping, and communicating his work with the individual patient.
I like this quote from a New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/books/review/on-the-move-by-oliver-sacks.html review for I believe it captures what I’m thinking about the book:
“The primary mark of a good memoir is that it makes you nostalgic for experiences you never had, and Sacks captures the electrifying discoveries he made, especially those in his early career, with vivid, hard-edge prose.”
The last section of the book particularly inspired me for he wrote about how writing was basically the most important thing and consistent thing in his life. He wrote of having hundreds of journals that he kept over the years. I will make it a point to reread this because I’d like to be able to write better and with more ease.
Finally: I admire his use of language, ability to describe and tell stories, and his work ethic. I aim to be like him as a PhD student and a professional. As you can tell, I highly recommend this book.