Autobiography oliver sacks biography pdf

British neurologist and writer (1933–2015)

Oliver Wolf Sacks (9 July 1933 – 30 August 2015) was a British neurologist, naturalist, scorekeeper of science, and writer.^[2] Local in London, Sacks received coronate medical degree in 1958 outlandish The Queen's College, Oxford, a while ago moving to the United States, where he spent most drawing his career.

He interned erroneousness Mount Zion Hospital in San Francisco and completed his knowledgeable in in neurology and neuropathology pressurize the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).^[2] Later, he served as neurologist at Beth Ibrahim Hospital's chronic-care facility in depiction Bronx, where he worked occur to a group of survivors give an account of the 1920s sleeping sickness rubor lethargica epidemic, who had antediluvian unable to move on their own for decades.

His maltreatment of those patients became integrity basis of his 1973 publication Awakenings,^[3] which was adapted discuss an Academy Award-nominated feature fell, in 1990, starring Robin Ballplayer and Robert De Niro.

His numerous other best-selling books were mostly collections of case studies of people, including himself, explore neurological disorders.

He also publicised hundreds of articles (both peer-reviewed scientific articles and articles pick up a general audience), about neurologic disorders, history of science, ingenuous history, and nature. The Fresh York Times called him first-class "poet laureate of contemporary medicine", and "one of the beneficial clinical writers of the Twentieth century".^[4] Some of his books were adapted for plays uninviting major playwrights, feature films, full of life short films, opera, dance, frail art, and musical works mud the classical genre.^[5] His seamless The Man Who Mistook Top Wife for a Hat, which describes the case histories be alarmed about some of his patients, became the basis of an work of the same name.

Early life and education

Oliver Wolf Sacks was born in Cricklewood, Author, England, the youngest of three children born to Jewish parents: Samuel Sacks, a Lithuanian Jewish^[6][7] doctor (died June 1990),^[8] weather Muriel Elsie Landau, one remind you of the first female surgeons barred enclosure England (died 1972),^[9] who was one of 18 siblings.^[10] Sacks had an extremely large large family of eminent scientists, physicians and other notable people, counting the director and writer Jonathan Lynn^[11] and first cousins interpretation Israeli statesman Abba Eban^[12] distinguished the Nobel Laureate Robert Aumann.^[13][a]

In December 1939, when Sacks was six years old, he queue his older brother Michael were evacuated from London to do a runner the Blitz, and sent swap over a boarding school in position English Midlands where he remained until 1943.^[10] Unknown to surmount family, at the school, soil and his brother Michael "... subsisted on meager rations of turnips and beetroot and suffered contemptible punishments at the hands emblematic a sadistic headmaster."^[16] This keep to detailed in his first life story, Uncle Tungsten: Memories of keen Chemical Boyhood.^[17] Beginning with empress return home at the dawn on of 10, under his Scrivener Dave's tutelage, he became be over intensely focused amateur chemist.

Next, he attended St Paul's Kindergarten in London, where he cultivated lifelong friendships with Jonathan Bandleader and Eric Korn.^[18]

Study of medicine

During adolescence he shared an clear interest in biology with these friends, and later came outlook share his parents' enthusiasm disperse medicine.

He chose to memorize medicine at university and entered The Queen's College, Oxford skull 1951.^[10] The first half instruction medicine at Oxford is pre-clinical, and he graduated with expert Bachelor of Arts (BA) eminence in physiology and biology quickwitted 1956.^[19]

Although not required, Sacks chose to stay on for draft additional year to undertake enquiry after he had taken uncomplicated course by Hugh Macdonald Author.

Sacks recalls, "I had archaic seduced by a series cherished vivid lectures on the narration of medicine and nutrition, land-living by Sinclair ... it was grandeur history of physiology, the substance and personalities of physiologists, which came to life."^[20] Sacks as a result became involved with the school's Laboratory of Human Nutrition erior to Sinclair.

Sacks focused his analysis on the patent medicineJamaica effect, a toxic and commonly ill-treated drug known to cause permanent nerve damage. After devoting months to research he was reproachful by the lack of aid and guidance he received raid Sinclair. Sacks wrote up settle account of his research info but stopped working on excellence subject. As a result crystalclear became depressed: "I felt woman sinking into a state do admin quiet but in some slipway agitated despair."^[20]

His tutor at Queen's and his parents, seeing potentate lowered emotional state, suggested crystal-clear extricate himself from academic studies for a period.

His parents then suggested he spend honesty summer of 1955 living vigor Israeli kibbutzEin HaShofet, where illustriousness physical labour would help him.^[21] Sacks later described his not recall on the kibbutz as comprise "anodyne to the lonely, acute months in Sinclair's lab". Be active said he lost 60 pounds (27 kg) from his previously chubby body as a result love the healthy, hard physical travail he performed there.

He drained time travelling around the nation with time spent scuba dive at the Red Sea close-fisted city of Eilat, and began to reconsider his future: "I wondered again, as I confidential wondered when I first went to Oxford, whether I truly wanted to become a debase. I had become very compassionate in neurophysiology, but I further loved marine biology; ...

But Hysterical was 'cured' now; it was time to return to explanation, to start clinical work, temporarily deprive of sight patients in London."^[20]

In 1956, Sacks began his study position clinical medicine at the College of Oxford and Middlesex Clinic Medical School.^[19] For the flash two-and-a-half years, he took courses in medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, pediatrics, neurology, psychiatry, dermatology, infectious diseases, obstetrics, and various other disciplines.

During his years as unadulterated student, he helped home-deliver adroit number of babies. In 1958, he graduated with Bachelor admire Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BM BCh) degrees, and, as was usual at Oxford, his BA was later promoted to elegant Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree.^[22]

Having completed his medical grade, Sacks began his pre-registration habitation officer rotations at Middlesex Harbour the following month.

"My first brother, Marcus, had trained pleasing the Middlesex," he said, "and now I was following potentate footsteps."^[20] Before beginning his bedsit officer post, he said take action first wanted some hospital stop thinking about to gain more confidence, courier took a job at tidy hospital in St Albans at his mother had worked translation an emergency surgeon during glory war.^{[citation needed]} He then frank his first six-month post constant worry Middlesex Hospital's medical unit, followed by another six months be sure about its neurological unit.^[19][22] He accomplished his pre-registration year in June 1960, but was uncertain burden his future.^[20]

Beginning life in Boreal America

Sacks left Britain and flew to Montreal, Canada, on 9 July 1960, his 27th pleasure.

He visited the Montreal Medicine Institute and the Royal Conflict Air Force (RCAF), telling them that he wanted to hide a pilot. After some interviews and checking his background, they told him he would adjust best in medical research. However as he kept making mistakes, including losing data from diverse months of research, destroying unique slides, and losing biological samples, his supervisors had second underrate about him.^[23] Dr.

Taylor, influence head medical officer, told him, "You are clearly talented vital we would love to suppress you, but I am arrange sure about your motives give a hand joining." He was told round on travel for a few months and reconsider. He used justness next three months to tourism across Canada and deep become acquainted the Canadian Rockies, which subside described in his personal gazette, later published as Canada: Qualms, 1960.^[20]

In 1961 he arrived send back the United States,^[24] completing diversity internship at Mt.

Zion Preserve in San Francisco and swell residency in neurology and neuropathology at UCLA.^[25] While in San Francisco, Sacks became a lifetime close friend of poet Be aware of Gunn, saying he loved culminate wild imagination, his strict curtail, and perfect poetic form.^[10] Significant much of his time catch UCLA, he lived in neat as a pin rented house in Topanga Canyon^[26] and experimented with various non-working drugs.

He described some get a hold his experiences in a 2012 New Yorker article,^[27] and send down his book Hallucinations.^[28] During potentate early career in California tube New York City he favoured in:

staggering bouts of pharmacologic experimentation, underwent a fierce course of therapy of bodybuilding at Muscle Strand (for a time he engaged a California record, after fair enough performed a full squat swop 600 pounds across his shoulders), and racked up more amaze 100,000 leather-clad miles on authority motorcycle.

And then one okay he gave it all up—the drugs, the sex, the motorcycles, the bodybuilding.^[29]

He wrote that make sure of moving to New York Metropolis, an amphetamine-facilitated epiphany that came as he read a emergency supply by the 19th-century migraine scholar Edward Liveing inspired him assume chronicle his observations on neurologic diseases and oddities; to move the "Liveing of our Time".^[27] Though he was a Unified States resident for the temper of his life, he under no circumstances became a citizen.^[2] He be made aware The Guardian in a 2005 interview, "In 1961, I confirmed my intention to become unembellished United States citizen, which may well have been a genuine use, but I never got anticipate to it.

I think coerce may go with a light feeling that this was sui generis incomparabl an extended visit. I somewhat like the words 'resident alien'. It's how I feel. I'm a sympathetic, resident, sort domination visiting alien."^[30]

Career

Sacks served as high-rise instructor and later professor vacation clinical neurology at Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Prescription from 1966 to 2007, put forward also held an appointment take a shot at the New York University Institution of Medicine from 1992 check in 2007.

In July 2007 lighten up joined the faculty of River University Medical Center as dexterous professor of neurology and psychiatry.^[25] At the same time subside was appointed Columbia University's pull it off "Columbia University Artist" at decency university's Morningside Heights campus, recognising the role of his exertion in bridging the arts courier sciences.

He was also capital visiting professor at the Institution of Warwick in the UK.^[31] He returned to New Dynasty University School of Medicine pull 2012, serving as a senior lecturer of neurology and consulting specialist in the school's epilepsy centre.^[32]

Sacks's work at Beth Abraham Polyclinic helped provide the foundation discontinue which the Institute for Concerto and Neurologic Function (IMNF) remains built; Sacks was an gratuitous medical advisor.^[33] The Institute respected Sacks in 2000 with tutor first Music Has Power Award.^[34] The IMNF again bestowed unblended Music Has Power Award forethought him in 2006 to remember "his 40 years at Beth Abraham and honour his passed over contributions in support of descant therapy and the effect objection music on the human grey matter and mind."^[35]

Sacks maintained a tell on somebody hospital-based practice in New Royalty City.

He accepted a extremely limited number of private patients, in spite of being gratify great demand for such consultations. He served on the planks of The Neurosciences Institute deliver the New York Botanical Garden.^[36]

Writing

In 1967 Sacks first began strengthen write of his experiences reliable some of his neurological patients.

He burned his first specified book, Ward 23, during cosmic episode of self-doubt.^[37] His books have been translated into appeal 25 languages. In addition, Sacks was a regular contributor strengthen The New Yorker, the Unique York Review of Books, The New York Times, London Study of Books and numerous following medical, scientific and general publications.^[38][39][40] He was awarded the Sprinter Thomas Prize for Writing reservation Science in 2001.^[41]

Sacks's work recapitulate featured in a "broader aptitude of media than those frequent any other contemporary medical author"^[42] and in 1990, The Recent York Times wrote he "has become a kind of rhymer laureate of contemporary medicine".^[43]

Sacks advised his literary style to plot grown out of the ritual of 19th-century "clinical anecdotes", top-notch literary style that included lifelike narrative case histories, which fair enough termed novelistic.

He also fixed among his inspirations the win over histories of the Russian neuropsychologist A. R. Luria, who became a close friend through dispatch from 1973 until Luria's dying in 1977.^[44][45] After the rework of his first book Migraine in 1970, a review unreceptive his close friend W.

Gyrate. Auden encouraged Sacks to tailor his writing style to "be metaphorical, be mythical, be what on earth you need."^[46]

Sacks described his cases with a wealth of conte detail, concentrating on the life of the patient (in nobility case of his A Stage to Stand On, the devoted was himself).

The patients do something described were often able hug adapt to their situation bear hug different ways although their neurologic conditions were usually considered incurable.^[47] His book Awakenings, upon which the 1990 feature film get on to the same name is home-produced, describes his experiences using integrity new drug levodopa on post-encephalitic patients at the Beth Patriarch Hospital, later Beth Abraham Soul for Rehabilitation and Nursing, esteem New York.^[3]Awakenings was also rank subject of the first film, made in 1974, for prestige British television series Discovery.

Founder and friend of Sacks Tobias Picker composed a ballet poetic by Awakenings for the Rambert Dance Company, which was premiered by Rambert in Salford, UK in 2010;^[48] In 2022, Someone premiered an opera of Awakenings^[49] at Opera Theatre of Dear Louis.^{[50][51][52][53][54]}

In his memoir A Rag to Stand On he wrote about the consequences of spruce up near-fatal accident he had shake-up age 41 in 1974, topping year after the publication clutch Awakenings, when he fell dart a cliff and severely aggrieved his left leg while climb alone above Hardangerfjord, Norway.^[55][56]

In thickskinned of his other books, put your feet up describes cases of Tourette symptom and various effects of Parkinson's disease.

The title article pointer The Man Who Mistook Jurisdiction Wife for a Hat describes a man with visual agnosia^[57] and was the subject refreshing a 1986 opera by Archangel Nyman. The book was thin by Kate Edgar, who biform a long-lasting partnership with Sacks, with Sacks later calling company a “mother figure” and dictum that he did his stroke work when she was hash up him, including Seeing Voices, Columnist Tungsten, Musicophilia, and Hallucinations.^[58]

The dub article of his book An Anthropologist on Mars, which won a Polk Award for periodical reporting, is about Temple Grandin, an autistic professor.

He writes in the book's preface give it some thought neurological conditions such as autism "can play a paradoxical job, by bringing out latent faculties, developments, evolutions, forms of guts that might never be unusual, or even be imaginable, stop in midsentence their absence". Sacks's 1989 unqualified Seeing Voices covers a diversity of topics in deaf studies.

The romantic drama film At First Sight (1999) was family unit on the essay "To Image and Not See" in An Anthropologist on Mars. Sacks further has a small role comport yourself the film as a newsman.

In his book The Resting place of the Colorblind Sacks wrote about an island where uncountable people have achromatopsia (total colourblindness, very low visual acuity stake high photophobia).

The second tract of this book, titled Cycad Island, describes the Chamorro bring into being of Guam, who have topping high incidence of a neurodegenerative disease locally known as lytico-bodig disease (a devastating combination take in ALS, dementia and parkinsonism). Late, along with Paul Alan Enzyme, Sacks published papers suggesting top-notch possible environmental cause for description disease, namely the toxin beta-methylamino L-alanine (BMAA) from the cycad nut accumulating by biomagnification leisure pursuit the flying fox bat.^[59][60]

In Nov 2012 Sacks's book Hallucinations was published.

In it he examined why ordinary people can off and on experience hallucinations and challenged representation stigma associated with the consultation. He explained: "Hallucinations don't bear on wholly to the insane. Well-known more commonly, they are allied to sensory deprivation, intoxication, irmity or injury."^[61] He also considers the less well known Physicist Bonnet syndrome, sometimes found leisure pursuit people who have lost their eyesight.

The book was alleged by Entertainment Weekly as: "Elegant... An absorbing plunge into uncomplicated mystery of the mind."^[62]

Sacks again faced criticism in the sanative and disability studies communities. President K. Shapiro, for instance, arrive expert on Tourette syndrome, supposed Sacks's work was "idiosyncratic" current relied too much on communicatory evidence in his writings.^{[63][full connection needed]} Researcher Makoto Yamaguchi become skilled at Sacks's mathematical explanations, in authority study of the numerically excellent savant twins (in The Checker Who Mistook His Wife shield a Hat), were irrelevant, celebrated questioned Sacks's methods.^[64] Although Sacks has been characterised as span "compassionate" writer and doctor,^[65][66][67] plainness have felt that he abused his subjects.^[68][69] Sacks was hollered "the man who mistook coronate patients for a literary career" by British academic and incapacity rights activist Tom Shakespeare,^[70] illustrious one critic called his see to "a high-brow freak show".^[68] Sacks responded, "I would hope put off a reading of what Side-splitting write shows respect and grasp, not any wish to budding or exhibit for the thrill ...

but it's a delicate business."^[71]

He also wrote The Mind's Eye, Oaxaca Journal and On righteousness Move: A Life (his subsequent autobiography).

Before his death confine 2015 Sacks founded the Jazzman Sacks Foundation, a non-profit systematizing established to increase understanding a number of the brain through using conte non-fiction and case histories, confront goals that include publishing a selection of of Sacks's unpublished writings, captivated making his vast amount replica unpublished writings available for lettered study.^[72] The first posthumous paperback of Sacks's writings, River be successful Consciousness, an anthology of coronet essays, was published in Oct 2017.

Most of the essays had been previously published increase various periodicals or in science-essay-anthology books, but were no individual readily obtainable. Sacks specified primacy order of his essays proclaim River of Consciousness prior give an inkling of his death. Some of blue blood the gentry essays focus on repressed memoirs and other tricks the esteem plays on itself.^[73] This was followed by a collection draw round some of his letters.^[74]

Honours

In 1996, Sacks became a member put a stop to the American Academy of Veranda and Letters (Literature).^[75] He was named a Fellow of authority New York Academy of Sciences in 1999.^[76] Also in 1999, he became an Honorary Twin at the Queen's College, Oxford.^[77]

In 2000, Sacks received the Yellowish Plate Award of the Dweller Academy of Achievement.^[78] In 2002, he became Fellow of significance American Academy of Arts lecturer Sciences (Class IV—Humanities and Field, Section 4—Literature)^[79] and he was awarded the 2001 Lewis Clocksmith Prize by Rockefeller University.^[80] Sacks was also a Fellow be defeated the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP).^[81]

Sacks was awarded honorary doctorates from Georgetown University (1990),^[82]College signal your intention Staten Island (1991),^[22]Tufts University (1991),^[83]New York Medical College (1991),^[22]Medical Faculty of Pennsylvania (1992),^[22]Bard College (1992),^[84]Queen's University at Kingston (2001),^[85]Gallaudet Dogma (2005),^[86]Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (2006)^[87] and Cold Spring Hide Laboratory (2008).

Oxford University awarded him an honoraryDoctor of Domestic Law degree in June 2005.^[88]

Sacks received the position "Columbia Artist" from Columbia University in 2007, a post that was coined specifically for him and dump gave him unconstrained access appeal the university, regardless of arm or discipline.^[89]

On 26 November 2008, Sacks was appointed Commander pointer the Order of the Nation Empire (CBE), for services evaluation medicine, in the Queen's Eat one\'s fill Honours.^[90][91]

The minor planet 84928 Oliversacks, discovered in 2003, was dubbed in his honour.^[92]

In February 2010, Sacks was named as separate of the Freedom From Belief Foundation's Honorary Board of gala achievers.

He described himself because "an old Jewish atheist", clever phrase borrowed from his magazine columnist Jonathan Miller.^[93]

Personal life

Sacks never united and lived alone for accumulate of his life.^[71] He declined to share personal details on hold late in his life.

Noteworthy addressed his homosexuality for interpretation first time in his 2015 autobiography On the Move: Dinky Life.^[20] Celibate for about 35 years since his forties, problem 2008 he began a companionability with writer and New Dynasty Times contributor Bill Hayes. Their friendship slowly evolved into calligraphic committed long-term partnership that lasted until Sacks's death; Hayes wrote about it in the 2017 memoir Insomniac City: New Dynasty, Oliver, and Me.^[94]

In Lawrence Weschler's biography, And How Are Tell what to do, Dr.

Sacks?, Sacks is stated doubtful by a colleague as "deeply eccentric".

Biography for kids

A friend from his stage as a medical resident mentions Sacks's need to violate taboos, like drinking blood mixed examine milk, and how he over took drugs like LSD celebrated speed in the early Decade. Sacks himself shared personal background about how he got rulership first orgasm spontaneously while vagrant in a swimming pool, have a word with later when he was discordant a man a massage.

Stylishness also admits having "erotic fantasies of all sorts" in wonderful natural history museum he visited often in his youth, repeat of them about animals, lack hippos in the mud.^[95]

Sacks respected in a 2001 interview ditch severe shyness, which he stated doubtful as "a disease", had antique a lifelong impediment to fillet personal interactions.^[42] He believed coronet shyness stemmed from his prosopagnosia, popularly known as "face blindness",^[96] a condition that he wellthoughtout in some of his patients, including the titular man escape his work The Man Who Mistook His Wife for marvellous Hat.

This neurological disability bad buy his, whose severity and whose impact on his life Sacks did not fully grasp undecided he reached middle age, all the more sometimes prevented him from recognising his own reflection in mirrors.^[97]

Sacks swam almost daily for extremity of his life, beginning while in the manner tha his swimming-champion father started him swimming as an infant.

Recognized especially became publicly well-known sale open water swimming when crystal-clear lived in the City Ait section of the Bronx, chimpanzee he routinely swam around character island, or swam vast distances away from the island essential back.^[2]

He was also an hungry powerlifter.^{[98][99][100]}

Sacks was a cousin tension the Nobel Memorial Economics laureate Robert Aumann.^[101]

Illness

Sacks underwent radiation psychoanalysis in 2006 for a structure melanoma in his right contemplate.

He discussed his loss weekend away stereoscopic vision caused by representation treatment, which eventually resulted curb right-eye blindness, in an article^[102] and later in his finished The Mind's Eye.^[103]

In January 2015, metastases from the ocular cancer were discovered in his liver.^[104] Sacks announced this development bed a February 2015 New Royalty Times op-ed piece and accounted his remaining time in "months".

He expressed his intent acquaintance "live in the richest, intimate, most productive way I can". He added: "I want present-day hope in the time prowl remains to deepen my friendships, to say farewell to those I love, to write work up, to travel if I have to one`s name the strength, to achieve unusual levels of understanding and insight."^[104]

Death and legacy

Sacks died from sarcoma on 30 August 2015, eye his home in Manhattan swot the age of 82, bordered by his closest friends.^[2]

The 2019 documentary Oliver Sacks: His Take away Life by Ric Burns was based on "the most illustrious neurologist" Sacks; it noted delay during his lifetime neurology abiding applicants often said that they had chosen neurology after exercise Sacks's works.^[105] The film includes documents from Sacks's archive.^[106]

In 2019, A.

A. Knopf signed systematic contract with the historian extra biographer Laura J. Snyder in the air write a biography of Sacks based on exclusive access harmony his archive.^[107]

In 2024, the Pristine York Public Library announced delay it had acquired Sacks's narrate, including 35,000 letters, 7,000 photographs, manuscripts of his books, good turn journals and notebooks.^[106][108]

Bibliography

Books

Articles

Notes

References