Great physician, scientist and communicator. He did more to illuminate the intricacies of the brain through the quirks and challenges faced by those whose brains were not working right. Farewell, Dr. Sacks, you will be sorely missed.
I am not familiar with the man or his works, but I will look it up. I consider a greater understanding of the brain, and particularly as it relates to its intricate function and mental illness, is the true final frontier of man.
Dr. Sacks truly was brilliant and not at all afraid to think outside the box. I studied neuroscience for some time, and I never tired of reading his work.
Sacks's op-ed pieces for the NY Times are gems. The last four, a series of valedictory essays written after he received his diagnosis of terminal cancer, are sure to be cited as classics of the genre; I found them deeply moving. Here they are, with links:
For those of you who listen to podcasts, please search out the Radiolab podcast. They have broadcast a number of shows in the past 6 months or so that featured Dr. Sacks. You'll get a glimpse of how this man's mind works.
I was sad to hear this news. I have only read one of his books so far, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Looking forward to exploring more of his great legacy.