Oliver Wolf Sacks
- Born:
- July 9, 1933, London, England
- Died:
- August 30, 2015, New York City, USA
- Nationality:
- British-American
- Profession(s):
- Neurologist, Author, Professor
Early Life and Education
- Born into a large Jewish family of scientists and doctors in London.
- Educated at St Paul's School in London.
- Earned his medical degree from The Queen's College, Oxford in 1958.
- Moved to the United States in 1960, completing residencies at Mount Zion Hospital in San Francisco and UCLA.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began working as a neurologist in New York City in the 1960s.
- Treated patients with unusual neurological conditions, particularly those recovering from encephalitis lethargica.
- Professor of Neurology at NYU School of Medicine until his death.
- Gained prominence for his compassionate and insightful writing about his patients' experiences.
- His work shed light on the human side of neurological disorders.
- His book Awakenings, detailing his work with patients suffering from post encephalitis syndrome, gained widespread acclaim and was adapted into a major motion picture.
Notable Works
Books
- Awakenings (1973)
- Migraine (1970, revised 1992)
- A Leg to Stand On (1984)
- The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (1985)
- Seeing Voices (1989)
- An Anthropologist on Mars (1995)
- The Island of the Colorblind (1997)
- Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood (2001)
- Oaxaca Journal (2002)
- Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain (2007)
- The Mind's Eye (2010)
- Hallucinations (2012)
- On the Move: A Life (2015)
- Gratitude (2015)
Adaptations of Works
| Title | Year | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awakenings | 1990 | Film | Starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. Based on his book about treating patients with post encephalitis syndrome. |
| At First Sight | 1999 | Film | Based on his essay "To See and Not See" from An Anthropologist on Mars. |
Legacy and Impact
Oliver Sacks left a lasting impact on the fields of neurology and literature. He humanized the study of the brain, bringing empathy and understanding to the experiences of those with neurological conditions. His books made complex scientific concepts accessible to a wide audience and inspired countless individuals to consider the wonders and vulnerabilities of the human mind. His work continues to be studied and celebrated for its unique blend of scientific rigor and human compassion.