Oliver Wolf Sacks (born July 9, 1933, London) is a neurologist who has written popular books about his patients. He considers it following the tradition of 19th-century "clinical anecdotes", literary-style informal case histories. His favorite example is Alexander Luria's The Mind of a Mnemonist. __TOC__ He earned his medical degrees from Oxford University while a member of The Queen's College and ended up as a resident in neurology at UCLA. He has lived in New York since 1965. He is a clinical professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, adjunct professor of neurology at the New York University School of Medicine, and consultant neurologist to the Little Sisters of the Poor. He has a practice in New York City.

Sacks describes his cases with little clinical detail, concentrating on the experiences of the patient (which in one case was himself). Many of the cases are incurable or nearly so, but patients are able to adapt to their situation in different ways.

His most famous book, Awakenings (on which the movie of the same name is based), tells about his experiences using the new drug L-Dopa on patients of the 1920s sleeping sickness encephalitis lethargica. It was also the subject of the first film made in the British television series Discovery.

More on [ Oliver Sacks ]

NPR Topics: Authors

Lowry Spins Mischievous Tale Of 'The Willoughbys'
Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:51:00 -0400
The Willoughbys is a wickedly wonderful story by award-winning writer Lois Lowry. The book tells the tale of a mother and father who want to be rid of their children, but whose kids also want to be rid of their parents.
Ambitions, Tragedy Collide In 'America America'
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:24:00 -0400
After a seven-year absence, author Ethan Canin returns with America America, a novel that explores power and influence in politics past.
Celebrating The Fourth With Rebellion
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:34:00 -0400
From the moment Huckleberry Finn sat on his raft and decided, "All right, then, I'll go to hell," great American books have featured people setting off on their own. Washington, D.C., writer, teacher and musician Will Layman offers three books about rebellion.
Welsh Awards Snafu Leaves Red Faces
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:41:00 -0400
Welsh Assembly Culture Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas has apologized for naming the wrong person winner of the Wales Book of the Year. He named Tom Bullough, who briefly thought he had won. Dannie Abse was the actual winner. Thomas apologized to both.
Who Wrote Shakespeare's Plays? Debate Goes On
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:01:00 -0400
Centuries later, doubts persist that William Shakespeare penned the works that bear his name. Skeptics include not only scholars but also famous folks, ranging from Orson Welles to Mark Twain.
'Netherland' Flirts With Greatness Of 'Gatsby'
Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:53:00 -0400
With plenty of nods to The Great Gatsby Joseph O'Neill's Netherland explores dreams and ambition in post-Sept. 11 New York City. Maureen Corrigan calls the novel "marvelous."

Subscribe to Authors RSS feed