736 entries.
Ruth Spanos
from Burton, OH
Dear, Dear Dr. Sacks,
Today I listened to the most recent Radiolab podcast, and yesterday finished reading your book, "The Mind's Eye." I am so sorry to hear of your illness, and wanted to express my profound gratitude for the privilege of reading your writings over the years. Your descriptions of your patients and the therapists that helped them inspired me to go into Speech-Language Pathology as a career.
I wanted to let you know that just this morning, I was walking my daughter to school. By three years old, here eyes were crossed, but after wearing a patch and correcting her very far-sighted vision, she has passed the 3d vision tests at the ophthalmologists ever since. I told her how I had just read about a man who had lost vision in one of his eyes and couldn't see distance. She said that she can see distance, but that she can "see things flat like a painting" when she wants to. I thought you might be interested in her apparent ability to turn on and off her stereoscopic vision at will.
Thank you again for your wonderful writing, and for setting an example of a clinician who cares for the well-being and strengths of his patients in addition to just diagnosing what ails them.
I hope you find the time to finish your children's book so that my daughter can read it. Even though we have never met, love to you and those that care for and about you.
Daniel Cazard
When I was very young I read 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat'. In the wake of which I harassed pretty much anyone close to me into reading it. It taught me one of the most profound lessons: in order to truly understand anything, especially such a complex organism as the human being, it won't do to watch it only when it is functioning perfectly (where it concerns a human being, there's no such person who just functions perfectly). It's the fails and disruptions that illuminate the nature of what is observed. The very, self-imposing theme of the book.
Since then Sacks-books have been accompanying my life, and in consequence contributed to shaping it. They have deeply influenced my way of looking at things, and in particular of looking at people, including the view pointed inside. The world of the workings of what we call mind is as astonishing, as rich and bizarre as the world stretching out endlessly into all directions from our planet, and the existence of one of the finest of its narrators is thus enriching our lives to an immense extent.
There'd be too many of my favourite Sacks-moments to mention here. Right now what's, oddly, sticking with me is the cafe-tale of a beard groomed in a reflecting surface before realizing it was actually another bearded man... Yes, neurological conditions are often funny.
My deepest gratitude. And my impatient awaiting of what's to come next.
Kaci McCleary
from Iowa City
As I finish my first year of medical school (hoping for neurology and psychiatry), you continue to represent not only the type of doctor I want to be, but also the type of person I want to be. If my life can be half as exciting and influential as yours, I expect I will be very happy. Thank you for what you have shared with the world.
Margaret Ervin
from West Chester, PA
Thank you for On the Move. I just finished reading it, and could not put it down. You remind me that the essence of peaceful protest is compassion and being open to the suffering of individuals. At 50, I am hoping to be like you when I grow up, with "no real enmities," as you put it in your New York Times essay in February. So many of us these days are floundering around with how to stand up to institutions, to ingnorance, to those who are dogmatic and blind in the face of brilliant and beautiful discoveries. You have stood up to bullying in a way that inspires me to have the courage to do that same, not further entangling yourself in it, but moving on when that is best, and sticking with those you are helping as best you could. You are a true boddhisattva. One who was born to ease the suffering of sentient beings. What a wonderful accomplishment. I wish you ease as you pass surrounded by the love of family and students.
Sarah
from Montreal
Dear Dr. Oliver Sacks,
I have heard today about your cancer reemerging, and I am deeply saddened with this news.
Your gentle, peaceful voice has been tremendously calming, your ideas and investigations, most intriguing. I wanted to express to you my profound gratitude for the generosity of compassion, humour, love and intellect you share.
In peace and love, Sarah.
Jennifer
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Dear Dr. Sacks:
When I am swimming I think of you often now, including on one recent swim when I felt at one with the water. It is such a marvellous feeling.
Yesterday, I was dreading a 2-hour procedure at the dentist. I brought On the Move. During a break, I was allowed to read and I chuckled out loud at the little note that recounts an audience at a conference in Italy who misheard the line from an American professor - "the world is not a piece of tape" as "the world is not a piece of cake." This laughter completely diminished my anxiety about being in the dentist's chair and things went much more smoothly after.
I especially appreciate your insistence on the irreducibility of each human being, each individual, each life. With much gratitude, hope and best wishes for many more moments of bliss in the water.
Preeti Shah
from Huntingdon Valley
Dear Dr. Sacks, Sir,
I wanted to thank you for all your contributions to the world of medicine and music and humanity at large. I call myself a forever student, who loves reading research papers and frequently visits Barnes and Noble to read a handful of your books. I wish I could meet you. You are an amazing inspiration in my life, and the lives of many. Not only have you pierced medicine and made the field more human, but you contribute to humanity just by opening yourself up to your audience. You are an artist.
I pray that you have no pain and that you are enjoying every moment of life. I wish for everyday that you live to be filled with the most joy possible. Please keep writing and find a moment of each day to know what a difference you have made in the lives of others, and continue to make. You are one of my biggest inspirations in life, Sir. I wish only for your health and happiness.
With utmost respect,
Sincerely,
Preeti Shah
Preeti Shah
from Huntingdon Valley
Dear Dr. Sacks, Sir,
I wanted to thank you for all your contributions to the world of medicine and music and humanity at large. I call myself a forever student, who loves reading research papers and frequently visits Barnes and Noble to read a handful of your books. I wish I could meet you. You are an amazing inspiration in my life, and the lives of many. Not only have you pierced medicine and made the field more human, but you contribute to humanity just by opening yourself up to your audience. You are an artist.
I pray that you have no pain and that you are enjoying every moment of life. I wish for everyday that you live to be filled with the most joy possible. Please keep writing and find a moment of each day to know what a difference you have made in the lives of others, and continue to make. You are one of my biggest inspirations in life, Sir. I wish only for your health and happiness.
With utmost respect,
Sincerely,
Preeti Shah
Kendra
from London
Dear Dr. Sacks,
I have read several of your books and just finished listening to the Radiolab podcast "Tel-tale Hearts" in which you were featured. Your compassion for others and curiosity for life despite truly tough circumstances is so inspirational. Thank you for all you've shared with the world via your case studies, and for now letting us in to your own life through your autobiography. You're an exceptional person.
All the best to you.
Chris Valenti
from St. Louis
People have been changed by your work and by Oliver Sacks, the person. I am so grateful that you gave us that part of yourself that will inspire and comfort generations to come. That thing that inspires is your curiosity and that part that comforts, feels like love.
Adelaida Mitani
from Los Angeles
Dear Dr. Sacks,
Thank you for sharing all your wonder and curiosity. Thank you for giving fascination in the nebulous gray matter; for "rather enjoying hallucinations reminiscent of cave paintings." Thank you for illuminating that miracle of brain and mind, for describing colorblindness as "a system of beauty and order and meaning" based on what Knut had). Thank you for all you've considered, reconsidered, and given over; I will always be the first to spill some thing when serving dinner, as your mother did to make her guests feel at ease. Thank you for being such a brilliant child of the universe ("It was eightness that ruled the (elemental) table before me."). Because of your voice, in the best senses I will never be the same; these are your songs; Thank you for all your music. I am grateful to you forever. My prayers are ever with you.
With love and respect always,
Ada Mitani
Ciara
from Dublin
Dear Dr. Sacks,
When I started my Psychology degree I had no real aim as to where I wanted to go with it until someone introduced me to 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat'. In the years that followed I read nearly all of your other books. I became inspired to spend my life studying the brain and how it works. For this I thank you. I would also like to thank you for having written as openly and honestly as you did about your sexuality in 'On The Move'. I cannot describe how much it means to me to have another member of the lgbt community be so incredibly influential in this field and what it will surely mean to countless others. Lastly I would like to wish you all the best.
Yours sincerely,
Ciara.
Josephine Manjaji
from Shelly Beach
Dear Dr Sacks, How are you? I hope this letter finds you comfortable and happy.
Thank you for writing your books. I had never heard of you until I bought "The Man who mistook his wife for a hat." After that initiation, I searched and purchased 3 other books. I saw my late father and deceased friends in all your books and have been so inspired by your case studies to attempt writing a novel which will be dedicated to you. I now look forward to reading your autobiography. Love & light, Josie xx
Belinda Buyze
from Zaamslag (the Netherlands)
Dr Sacks,
What a life and what an honour you share it with us! Great respect. I do not understand all the medical and technical terms you use in your books, but the sincerity and empathy within your writing touches my heart.
Thank you!
Belinda
de Swart
from Quanzhou
Dear Dr. Sacks,
Just a few notes to express gratitude for your writing which is very inspiring, entertaining and moving. I will reread your books. I find new meaning and points of interest in them when I reread them, because I have moved on as a human being! Wishing you all strength to deal with your illness and strength of the people are yours too.
All the best and warmth from the PRC,
MdS
Elsen Portugal
from Ipatinga, Brazil
Dear Dr. Sacks,
I was working on my Master's degree in Piano Performance at UCA in Conway, AR, USA in 2009/10, when somehow I came across one of your books, Musicophilia. This and other articles have been a great help to my teaching and musical experience since then.
Particularly unique, however, was the fact that you addressed the phenomenon of synesthesia in Musicophilia. As other musicians you mention in that particular chapter, I was unaware of the fact that there had been any research on the matter. My mention of color associations to friends was a peculiarity which brought up some interesting and amusing conversation at times. My association is with the notes and keys, although, as you also illustrate, mine does not match most of those mentioned in your book. How could possibly D be green?? D IS yellow!! Just a bit of fun . . .
Thank you again. I wish you always the best.
Sincerely,
Elsen Portugal
B.M. and M.M.
(presently) Music Director at Igreja Batista do Bom Retiro, Ipatinga, MG, Brazil.
Jenny Kastner
from Cambridge, MA
Dear Dr. Sacks,
I am so grateful for your generous mind, your original work, and your humanity. You have brought light to the many dark parts of human existence. Shalom.
Basia Hubbard
from Cambridge, UK
Dear Prof. Sacks,
My name is Basia Zastawska-Hubbard. I’m Polish and live with my husband in Cambridge, United Kingdom. I just wanted to thank you for the books you have written with such wisdom and compassion. They are extremely interesting from a scientific point of view, but also contain universal qualities, like belief in a human being. In your books you come across as a doctor who cares for his patients.
I am deeply touched with the way you treat your patients, each one as an individual.
I come from a family of doctors, and find it fascinating reading about the mysteries of the human brain, but, for me, equally important is that you come across in your books as a very caring doctor full of compassion and understanding of people.
I’ve read a few of your books and am looking forward to reading more. Living in our civilization one often stops believing in humanity, there is so much selfishness and cruelty around. Because of people like you one can restore a belief in humanity. You enriched my world and I would like to thank you for that.
I usually don’t write to people I don’t know. We have never met, I only saw a couple documentaries about you, but after reading your books I feel like I know you, like you are my friend.
I am looking forward to reading more of your books, including your autobiography.
I read the article about you in The Guardian some time ago. I was really sorry to find out that you are not well. I would like to tell you that because of people like you the world is a better place to live and has more meaning.
Best wishes and thanks again for enriching my life.
Basia Zastawska-Hubbard
Steve Seager
from Amsterdam
Dear Dr. Sacks.
Your work has touched me so deeply that I feel I know you. For years I have shared your thoughts and ideas to everyone and anyone who will listen. They have become a very part of me.
My family have been care workers in mental 'illness' (you understand the inverted commas) all their lives. They too have been inspired to learn and understand more.
That said. I must confess, above all, the one thing I have valued the most is your outstanding humanity.
You are a shining light, sir. It is a privilege to share this earth-space with you.
Be splendid!
Sincerely,
- Steve
Cynthia Ishler
from Menlo Park
Dear Dr. Sacks,
I will never forget reading your book "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" for the first time so many years ago. You opened my eyes to a new world and the way you write is music to my heart. I am grateful that you lived and saw and felt and wrote. I'm sorry I waited so long to tell you.
All my best,
Cynthia
