736 entries.
Adriene A. LaGuardia P.
from North Bergen, NJ
Dear Dr. Sacks,
Thank you for your voluminous contribution to humankind by persisting, with clarity, compassion, exponential brilliance and infinite curiosity, to delve into the vastness of the mind along the journey of our collective life trip on this our planet earth.
May you rest in peace continuing to hear the music in your present realm.
Rich Laxton
from Seattle
Read Uncle Tungsten and thought it was among the best books I ever
read!! Thank you Oliver and may you rest in peace!!
Lucy W
from Boston
Having to pull over to reflect and to feel is hardly predictable. Your essence accompanied me in more ways than I can convey. I am so happy you experienced the freedoms that are our right. Now the ultimate freedom, that which our small brains cannot understand. I will always bring you with me.
Seonaid Anderson
from London
Everyone at Tourettes Action in the United Kingdom was very saddened to hear that Oliver Sacks died of cancer on Sunday 30th of August. Oliver Sacks, --a Neurologist and prolific writer--was a patron of Tourettes Action and dedicated himself through his work to reduce the stigma of mental and neurological illness, supporting a compassionate approach to neurology and psychiatry. He leaves behind him a legacy of great work in the field of Tourette Syndrome and we are incredibly grateful for all he has done to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of TS
http://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/news-154-a-life-well-lived.html
Grace
from Daly City
Thank you Oliver for everything. I love you.
Bo Cassel
from Norrköping, Sweden
Oliver Sacks first entered my life as the author of ”The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat,” when in 1986 I was commissioned to translate that noted book into Swedish. It was a privilege to work with such an insightful, compassionate and deeply humane text. Since I knew next to nothing about neurology, I enlisted a prominent local neurologist to help me out with the tricks of the trade. When the book was published in Swedish, it made a lasting impact, attracting readers from every walk of life, and I know it was also used as a course book at medical schools, and probably still is. To date, it exists in six editions in Swedish, the latest one – a paperback – printed in 2007.
The characters or, rather, persons in ”The Man Who Mistook...” have accompanied me ever since, especially Jimmie G., the sailor marooned on the desert island of Time. If all our fates are strange, then some fates are stranger still.
Thank you, Oliver Sacks, for many a keen thought on the human condition. Your work is done, your oeuvre lives on.
Phil
from Los Altos Hills
I have always found Dr Sacks' books fascinating and completely respectful towards the people about whom he was writing: shame on the judgemental illiterates who accused him of "exploiting" his patients. He did far more than any of his pusillanimous detractors to promote understanding and sympathy for people with neurological challenges.
I also found it very reassuring that such a brilliant and compassionate man had, like myself, the rare inability to visualize images.
Thank you, Dr Sacks.
Kasey Grier
from Newark
While I knew that Dr. Sacks' death was approaching, I dreaded this news, and I am deeply sorrowful. His case studies have inspired me, and they have helped me to become more a more compassionate person. From his books, I've learned a great deal about what it means to be human. And now he has taught me how to face my own death when the time comes. There are some people who are indispensable. Dr. Sacks is one of these. There is no one else like him. I don't have confidence that there is anything beyond death, except for the ripples we have made by our actions in life. He certainly made great ripples!
marshall keilson,MD
from brooklyn ny
I am a neurologist trained at Einstein and heard him lecture to us in the late 70's while he was still at Beth Abraham in the Bronx. he was a very inspiring figure--even back then.
Fiona Brook
from Sydney, Australia
I was very saddened to learn of the death of Oliver Sacks. Musicophilia is one of my favourite books, and I am now looking forward to reading On The Move.
Our world was blessed to have had such a compassionate, wise and insightful soul who had a rare gift for humanising medicine.
RIP Dr. Sacks.
Erika
from San Franicsco
Almost 2 years ago I woke up middle of the night throwing up and could tell I was quickly loosing brain function. Before that I had read several of Oliver Sacks books. Had I not read his books, I could not have had the wherewithal to navigate what I called my Chihuahua brain that did not like lines nor narrow spaces, the migraines, months of hallucinations, times it froze my legs, the sound and visual sensitivity, nausea, balance issues and exhaustion. I was able to stand aside and tell myself that I was not going crazy, that this quite likely might be temporary, and as much as I could, enjoy the circus of my brain. I continually adapted and figured out how to move forward.
I am not yet totally well, but yesterday I managed to drive and not feel like I was in a video game. The world looked "normal" and I navigated it. As I was doing that, I was thinking about him and feeling grateful for what he gave to me; I did not know at that moment that he had passed away. I wish I could thank him for the patience and hope that he has given me. My condolences to his family and friends. It is a great loss.
Dr Michael D. Szap
from Little Neck
The book and movie Awakenings gives me the stamina to do research in encephalopathy and neurology coupled with brain chemistry.
Goodbye to a giant in medicine.
Sincerely,
Dr Szap
Neuropharmacologist
Barbara Melamed
from Honolulu
I am so saddened by the loss of my friend and colleague who, while I was Dean at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, took the time to sit with me at the Bronx Botanical Gardens and convince me to keep the person in the Patient.
I am giving a talk on Non-Traditional Healing Backed by Science and Conducted by Multidisciplinary Teams at an upcoming presentation at the Hawaiian Psychological Association and will dedicate it to Dr. Oliver Sacks...
Oliver, you taught us all to think about the people we were treating rather than the disease that befalls them. Your loss is a public tragedy. My love to your family and friends at this sad moment.
Ligia
from Vitória - ES - Brasil
Oliver Sacks changed my life forever.
I just wanted to thank him for being always an inspiration in so many ways. I always admired him and his work so much.
Thank you, Dr. Sacks, for sharing your amazing work, and for helping us to think beyond!
We will miss you!
joanna kyd
from new york
The Man Who Mistook His Wife was my introduction to your brilliant mind and compassionate nature and since then I have read many of your books, articles and essays, including your memoir On The Move.
There will never be another quite like you. Respectfully and with great admiration,
Joanna Kyd
Erin Marie Kirmeyer
from Jeannette
I heard of Dr. Sacks's death and was saddened. Even though I have not read his books (shame on me), I have certainly heard of most of them and have seen the movie "Awakenings." Today I listened to a past interview with Dr. Sacks on NPR's "Fresh Air." What a brilliant and beautiful person. I wish I could have known him. My sympathy goes out to his loved ones.
Carol Rodgers
from Amherst, MA
As a teacher, teacher educator, and researcher in teaching and learning, I am so grateful for what this gentle man has taught me about what it means to be human, about the power of story, and about how understanding a disease (the work of doctors) or how a person learns (the work of a teacher) is about understanding them and their stories much more than it is about tests or measures. I will read him again and again, and am so grateful for the writing he has yet to share with us.
George Dooley
from Johnstown, PA
Dear Dr. Sacks,
I have Tourette Syndrome. It was only after reading your marvelous essays on the disorder did I fully begin to understand myself and learn how to live with it. You are one of those magical people whose life lit up the intellectual sky. Every time I saw you on TV or an article by you I smiled. My deepest gratitude to you for your compassionate understanding of the human condition and for bearing witness. God bless you, Dr. Sacks. The world is a sadder place without you.
Trey Carrico
from Austin
Good Night Dr. Sacks,
You life was a wonderful example of how to live well. Your gift continues as your thoughts, writings, and video carry your vision to the living.
The hardest parts of your life, shared, help me through difficult parts of mine.
Thank You Dr. Sacks, you are missed.
Trey
Kat McCall
from Fort Lauderdale
With great sorrow we mourn the loss of such a giant.. A scientific giant, a poetic giant, a magical speaker.. A brilliant mind and soul. We celebrate his life and will read and share his work that will live on long after he's gone...
