Oliver Sacks

Date of Birth: July 9, 1933

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: August 30, 2015

Biography

Oliver Sacks was a renowned British neurologist and author who significantly contributed to the field of neurology and the popular understanding of neurological disorders. Born in London, Sacks pursued his medical studies at Queen’s College, Oxford, and later completed his residency in the United States. He was best known for his work as a clinical neurologist, as well as for his numerous books that brought the complexities of the human brain to a general audience. Among his most famous works are “Awakenings,” which inspired a major film of the same name, and “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat,” a collection of fascinating case studies. Sacks was known for his humanistic approach to medicine, emphasizing the person behind the disorder. His writing combined scientific rigor with deep empathy, making complex neurological conditions accessible and compelling to the public. Sacks continued to write and contribute to the field of neurology until his death in 2015.

5 Interesting Facts about Oliver Sacks

1. Oliver Sacks was a cousin of the Israeli diplomat Abba Eban.

2. He was awarded the Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science in 2001.

3. Sacks was an avid swimmer and held a lifelong passion for the sport.

4. He was also a prolific letter writer, with his correspondences compiled into a posthumous collection titled “Dear Mr. Sacks.”

5. Despite his deep scientific knowledge, Sacks had a lifelong interest in the arts, particularly music, which he often incorporated into his work.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Oliver Sacks

1. “We see with the eyes, but we see with the brain as well, and seeing with the brain is often called ‘imagination.’”

2. “To live on a day-to-day basis is insufficient for human beings; we need to transcend, transport, escape; we need meaning, understanding, and explanation.”

3. “I am what I am, and there is that.”

4. “In examining disease, we gain wisdom about anatomy and physiology and biology. In examining the person with disease, we gain wisdom about life.”

5. “Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears—it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear.”