Comments (22)

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Dec 12, 2022Ficus rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Love Oliver Sacks. Beautiful writing as always. Very compelling autobiography, highly recommend.
Dec 07, 2022rab1953 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I thought that the life of Oliver Sacks would be interesting, but I did not know that it would take me into weightlifting culture, motorcycling, the gay scene of the 1960s, and the philosophy of consciousness. Perhaps I could have guessed…
Dec 30, 2020rclane rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
An eminently readable collection of anecdotes by a charming author. While the timeline is hard to piece together at times, one does get a sense of the writer's rapid thinking and all encompassing appetite for exploration.
May 29, 2020morkman rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
While I had heard of Oliver Sacks, I knew little of his work. His autobiography seemed like a good place to start. I found this book both very readable and highly interesting. I considered it a fast read. I look forward to reading at…
Mar 08, 2020dissymissylessy rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
"William James had written of his own teacher Louis Agassiz--how Agassiz 'used to lock a student up in a room full of turtle shells, or lobster shells, or oyster shells, without a book or work to help him, and not to let him out till he…
Jan 23, 2019PatEe rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
For someone who has had such an interesting life, populated with fascinating places and people, Dr. Sacks manages to make it all dull and lifeless. It seems as if he is writing about someone else, it lacks passion, and as another reviewer…
Jan 02, 2019mclarjh rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Good writing, and interesting life, but somehow distant.
Mar 22, 2018maipenrai rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I fell in love with the mind of Oliver Sachs 33 years ago when I read "The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat". I saw "Awakenings" in a movie theatre as a new release in 1990. Sadly he passed away in August of 2015. This autobiography…
Mar 22, 2017swagonrabeettt rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Quite good and an easy read, especially if you know who he is and have read his other work(s). The 4 stars instead of 5 is for the overly long passages about his own drug using/motorcycle riding/weight lifting/cross country travelling…
Dec 06, 2016Harriet_the_Spy rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
If you think of Oliver Sacks as a kindly old doctor with a somewhat odd manner, this wild ride through his sexual awakening, drug experimentation, motorcycle road trips, and unorthodox work arrangements will shake that up. Written shortly…
Dec 01, 2016Elliott50 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Very good read. Fascinating life. Got a little (read way) over my head sometimes when he got into discussions on neurological issues but for the most part very readable
Jun 03, 2016Polansky rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I love Sacks' writing about his patients and his thinking. In this autobiography, he tells us more about himself. I was touched and surprised by what he wrote. I wished so much that I could have known him. He was very shy and a wonderful,…
May 20, 2016TQ7777 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
a wonderful read.
May 16, 2016djmurph54 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
More reportage than personal. Sacks avoids deep introspection. But a good read.
Mar 08, 2016georgiag829 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I truly loved reading this book! I borrowed it from the library but had to buy my own copy. Dr. Sacks is an interesting case... he comes across as matter of fact sometimes, conceited at others. However, his life was never dull and I marvel…
ktnv
Mar 04, 2016ktnv rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Olive Sacks had a most unusual and interesting life. He has the gift of being able to tell a great story about his life with such insight and openness. I became intrigued about his life after reading 'The Mind's Eye' and then remembering…
Feb 26, 2016rusty_13 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Oliver Sacks, besides being a famous neuroscientist, was a great story teller. This book is full of good stories, both about Sacks's life and his work.
Feb 17, 2016rlinda rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
Boring, self aggrandizing, needless trivia about his life.
Oct 24, 2015kelliyfults rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
immensely readable...Dr Sacks is that rare combination: a man of great intellect/curiosity/likability! Interesting for it's span of 60+ years of decoding the human experience. A very quick read-
Oct 14, 2015HowardWilliams rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Most enjoyable.
bibliotechnocrat
Sep 03, 2015bibliotechnocrat rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Sacks' rich case studies, exploring the intersection of personality and pathology, have long been a stark reminder of how off-the-rails modern medicine has become. This autobiography gives us the man who so values the human-ness of his…
Aug 30, 2015Rock_Shadow rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed Sack's biography, though haven't read his books - catching up now. It seemed to fit well with his life and writings, and it was anything but dry. I saw Awakenings, but don't go by the movies. Soon after I have read the…