‘Wonderfully illuminating’ Guardian
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Book Description
‘An inexhaustible tourist at the farther reaches of the mind, Sacks presents, in sparse, unsentimental prose, the stories of seven of his patients. The result is as rich, vivid and compelling as any collection of short fictional stories’ Independent on Sunday As with his previous bestseller, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks uses case studies to illustrate the myriad ways in which neurological conditions can affect our sense of self, our experience of the world, and how we relate to those around us. Writing with his trademark blend of scientific rigour and human compassion, he describes patients such as the colour-blind painter or the surgeon with compulsive tics that disappear in the operating theatre; patients for whom disorientation and alienation – but also adaptation – are inescapable facts of life. ‘Sacks’ great gift is his capacity to place himself in the position of his subjects, to see the world the way they see it and to empathize with their condition with great compassion but without patronage or pity’ Daily Telegraph ‘Writing simply and beautifully, Sacks uses individual case histories to reveal the infinite complexities of the human mind’ Daily Mail
About the Author
Oliver Sacks was educated in London, Oxford, California and New York. He is a professor of clinical neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is the author of many books, including the bestselling The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I agree with all the compliments of other reviewers, and did not mind the long-windedness (though I was aware of it). I would have enjoyed this book much more if each case had been given perpective, by more description of similar cases or the current state of knowledge about the condition, followed by list of references and suggestions for further reading. I have no right to grumble about the disconnected, unreferenced style; it is Sacks' deliberate choice and he is under no obligation to give us a general education in neuroscience. I only wish he would!
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Dani
Format:Paperback
Some of the stories are sad because of the devastating conditions but some are also inspiring because of how some of the people find a way of making life still worthwhile. In this collection I was particularly struck in this regard by the first and the last. I think Sacks gives back as much as a person is able to in his position. There are no miracle cures for these conditions in fact he says himself that the neurologist gains more from the interaction than the patient because there is little at the moment that can be done to help. It was only the thoroughness of the testing that gave the artist the green filter spectacles that he did find useful. I think he gets a more thorough understanding than would be achieved in just clinical consultations which, in the long run, will benefit patients of the future. he tries to see the person behind the condition and has a great respect for his patients.
If you have some knowledge of neuroscience and or cognitive psychology, as I have, there are bits that may sound "repetative and long-winded" only because this knowledge is already known to me. His audience is not really the knowledgable about neuroscience but the reader with little or no knowledge. I personally find them exciting stories which encourage my own speculations on brain functioning. I think it is a great book for inspiring people in this fascinating area. I also think it would broaden peoples' understanding of the behaviour of others and where it might have come from. It might help people be a bit less judgemental and dismissive, or patronising, about others whose behaviour seems "odd".
If you have some knowledge of neuroscience and or cognitive psychology, as I have, there are bits that may sound "repetative and long-winded" only because this knowledge is already known to me. His audience is not really the knowledgable about neuroscience but the reader with little or no knowledge. I personally find them exciting stories which encourage my own speculations on brain functioning. I think it is a great book for inspiring people in this fascinating area. I also think it would broaden peoples' understanding of the behaviour of others and where it might have come from. It might help people be a bit less judgemental and dismissive, or patronising, about others whose behaviour seems "odd".
26 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
With the format and style of the earlier "The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat", each chapter describing a patient suffering from a particularly unusual and often spectacular neurological disorder, Sacks successfully shows how poor our understanding of the functioning of our own minds really is. More than ever his primary focus is the human aspect of mental affliction, the emotional trauma involved, presumably so he can appeal to a wider audience. I feel that the earlier book actually has the best material and is certainly a better choice if picking one title. Though the cases in "The Anthropologist" are hardly dull, it does seem a little long winded and repetitive in places - is he paid by the page? Perhaps others would disagree, but I would prefer to see more of the clinical speculation and brain-function theorizing. This is my only criticism for what is for the most part provocative and illuminating reading.
By fin323ish
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as Oliver Sach's other books I've read. (Apparently, six more words are required).
By Alexij66
Format:Paperback
An awesome journey through this book, loved each and every story. Insight was sought and received. A must read for all.
By picnic hen
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Oliver Sacks as always provides an interesting and engaging insight into psychological disorders. This book is very interesting and I recommend it to anyone interested in a more detailed review of psychological disorders
By Dr Chris
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I recognise that Dr Sacks has a much greater talent then I will ever have, but humbly give my views on this book. I liked the first half but not the second in which there is much emphasis the extreme minutiae of Dr Sack's personal interpretations of what must be going on in the minds of those with autism. He goes on and on and on about his observations of the daily life of one or two particular sufferers and gets very repetitious. I must admit to skipping pages! This book also repeats some of the material in his earlier works such as "The man...". I wanted some of his observational studies backed up with some hard headed objective studies like those done by VS Ramachamdran, whose books I enjoy. This book may be enjoyed by people who like novels with rich characterisation.
12 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Keith Appleyard
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I like Oliver Sacks' writings, but they tend to leave me sad at the end. He spends all this time observing people, whether they be his patients or people he's 'just visiting', but I always feel he takes away more than he gives. He's an observer, but he never seems to give anything back to make people's lives any better - there may be diagnosis, but there's no suggestions of how to improve things, so he becomes a voyeur?
Having said all that, this little collection of neurological disorders is interesting; a colour-blind painter, the last hippie, a twitching surgeon, blindsight, landscapes of a childhood, autistic artists, and high functioning autism.
Interesting, fascinating, but disturbing.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent service
Excellent amazon service
Book received in time and as described
A book to read for all those interested in the field of neurology
Oliver Sachs has managed to cover a... Read more
Book received in time and as described
A book to read for all those interested in the field of neurology
Oliver Sachs has managed to cover a... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compassionate and objective
Following Sach's more famous The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (Picador), this is another wonderful book of seven case studies, including a couple on autistic people and an... Read more
Published on 13 July 2009 by B. T. Denvir
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