RIP Oliver Sacks

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.

Rest In Peace.

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.

Listening to his interviews were a real treat.

He was definitely an outlier.

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:

This Year Change Your Mind
Dec. 31, 2010
http://nyti.ms/1AwGCue

The Joy of Old Age. (No Kidding.)
July 6, 2013
http://nyti.ms/17THHnJ

My Own Life
Feb. 19, 2015
http://nyti.ms/17u5LNP

Mishearings
June 5, 2015
http://nyti.ms/1GpcskZ

My Periodic Table
July 24, 2015
http://nyti.ms/1VEVeEP

Sabbath
Aug. 14, 2015
http://nyti.ms/1Lchy5J

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.