Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I loved this book! Oliver Sacks is both ordinary (self described as slovenly, disorganized, and insecure) and extraordinary in his brilliance and storytelling. I want to listen to the audio book, too.
A fascinating life. Knowing him from his writing, I was fascinated by the stories of his early life -- riding motorcycles, lifting weights on muscle beach, doing drugs. The second half of the book -- when the big drama was mostly whether he would finish a book and how it would be reviewed -- was less compelling, although it did make me want to read some of his books that I missed along the way.
I was so pleased to read that he found love and companionship at the end of his life.
I was so pleased to read that he found love and companionship at the end of his life.
Dr Sacks is a brilliant man; a medical doctor, a scientist and a writer. He is curious about everything, especially the unusual. I have enjoyed a number of his books. It was a pleasure to read this book, the story of his life thus far. What a unique and fascinating man. Of course now I must go and read a few more of his books.
Writing was a lifelong preoccupation and joy of Sacks' so it's no surprise this memoir takes the form of a rich annotated bibliography. An account of all the books you've written and how they came about might seem dull, but Sacks' ravenous curiosity about the human experience is catching. He talks about how the neurological disorders he encountered in his patients over the decades were windows into the mind's workings and examples of the beauty of human individuality (the "flora" as he refers to it). He even weathers (for a time) his own illnesses through humane, scientific inquiry. The insatiable spirit of his unconventional life serves as a model for us all.
I'd give it 3 1\2 stars if I could, but I would give Mr. Sacks' life itself 5 - what a brilliant, inspiring guy!!
76: On the Move: A Life by Oliver Sacks
I actually listened to this one rather than reading the print version, BUT there were so many things I wanted to go back to in reference that I have since starting it purchased the printed edition as well.
Eventually I will read everything Oliver Sacks ever wrote prior to his passing, in August of 2015. By my own estimation, I am maybe 1/6 to 1/5 of the way in so far. My entry to Oliver Sacks was, like many, watching the movie Awakenings, which was based on his book by the same title. Having no idea who Oliver Sacks was and/or how he was involved with that project, I was with his very brief and relevant collection of thnext introduced to his writing via one of his short--three essays, I believe--collections called Gratitude. And ever since then I have been quite fascinated by Sacks's stories, his brain, his storytelling--really by everything, seemingly, that makes Oliver Sacks, well…Oliver Sacks, and I wish to know and understand it all. His is a fascinating story and for so many layers of reason.
Sacks is smart and funny, thoughtful and sometimes artistically selfish, but engagedly entertaining; everything that I have read of his has given me some new perspectives on life, added interesting new layers of consideration for my own, made me think about something or some things differently from how I previously had. And if I ever do seek the attention of a psychologist, I plan to ask whether he/she/they have read Sacks. I think that'd be my standard for the smartest among them. He's a scientist, a medical professional, a doctor--and yet he tends to people and their concerns in a patient and thoughtfully thorough way, having pondered so many situations and collected so many interesting cases over time.
In On the Move, one of his final literary projects, we read more of a memoir of Sacks's earlier life and experiences as well as his most recent, both his initiation into romance and relationships along with fairly solid distate for it all, his coming out as a homosexual, and then as only occurred many years later, his finding true love at 77 and building a relationship with Bill Hayes. And learning about him prompted me to add his own Insomniac City to my tbr list as well.
Additionally we learn about Sacks's relationship with his very successful and similarly smart parents, both doctors as well, and each of them passing away before him. On the Move is also about Sacks's move from the UK to the US, and here he also explains his preference to remain an "alien" over pursuing US citizenship.
Sacks has lots to say and is a great teacher of life.
On the Move: A Life is a great read. Just like a woman who came into the bookstore recently looking for a book by Sacks and sharing why she similarly admires him, I, too, am (and already!) reading Sacks's Musicophilia next. May I just say how much it pleased me to have someone asking for Oliver Sacks books? She explained that as a retired AP Psychology teacher, she was on a mission to read everything he had ever written. Me, too, Ms. __…me, too!
I actually listened to this one rather than reading the print version, BUT there were so many things I wanted to go back to in reference that I have since starting it purchased the printed edition as well.
Eventually I will read everything Oliver Sacks ever wrote prior to his passing, in August of 2015. By my own estimation, I am maybe 1/6 to 1/5 of the way in so far. My entry to Oliver Sacks was, like many, watching the movie Awakenings, which was based on his book by the same title. Having no idea who Oliver Sacks was and/or how he was involved with that project, I was with his very brief and relevant collection of thnext introduced to his writing via one of his short--three essays, I believe--collections called Gratitude. And ever since then I have been quite fascinated by Sacks's stories, his brain, his storytelling--really by everything, seemingly, that makes Oliver Sacks, well…Oliver Sacks, and I wish to know and understand it all. His is a fascinating story and for so many layers of reason.
Sacks is smart and funny, thoughtful and sometimes artistically selfish, but engagedly entertaining; everything that I have read of his has given me some new perspectives on life, added interesting new layers of consideration for my own, made me think about something or some things differently from how I previously had. And if I ever do seek the attention of a psychologist, I plan to ask whether he/she/they have read Sacks. I think that'd be my standard for the smartest among them. He's a scientist, a medical professional, a doctor--and yet he tends to people and their concerns in a patient and thoughtfully thorough way, having pondered so many situations and collected so many interesting cases over time.
In On the Move, one of his final literary projects, we read more of a memoir of Sacks's earlier life and experiences as well as his most recent, both his initiation into romance and relationships along with fairly solid distate for it all, his coming out as a homosexual, and then as only occurred many years later, his finding true love at 77 and building a relationship with Bill Hayes. And learning about him prompted me to add his own Insomniac City to my tbr list as well.
Additionally we learn about Sacks's relationship with his very successful and similarly smart parents, both doctors as well, and each of them passing away before him. On the Move is also about Sacks's move from the UK to the US, and here he also explains his preference to remain an "alien" over pursuing US citizenship.
Sacks has lots to say and is a great teacher of life.
On the Move: A Life is a great read. Just like a woman who came into the bookstore recently looking for a book by Sacks and sharing why she similarly admires him, I, too, am (and already!) reading Sacks's Musicophilia next. May I just say how much it pleased me to have someone asking for Oliver Sacks books? She explained that as a retired AP Psychology teacher, she was on a mission to read everything he had ever written. Me, too, Ms. __…me, too!
Deeply personal but oddly disjointed. Nevertheless, a magnificent ride through the life and mind of an extraordinary man; a welcomed conclusion to Uncle Tungsten. His life, his discoveries, his connections and collaborations, his passions and habits, are infinitely fascinating. I found myself wanting to map and annotate all the books, music, and unbelievable connections he's made on my wall - Frank Gilbreth style - in attempt to take it all in.
Heartbreaking, inspiring, and ultimately joyful. One I'm certain to revisit.
Heartbreaking, inspiring, and ultimately joyful. One I'm certain to revisit.
Olier Sacks is an interesting cat. I really loved his book "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat" -- he has a way of telling a story that is so captivating and interesting. This story of his own life, however disjointed it's told, is very much written in the same way.
perhaps it's a bit too long. perhaps it rambles on a bit too much. but he had an interesting life, full of interesting people and discoveries and i enjoyed learning about him.
perhaps it's a bit too long. perhaps it rambles on a bit too much. but he had an interesting life, full of interesting people and discoveries and i enjoyed learning about him.
emotional
sad
slow-paced