Oliver Sacks

Oliver Sacks was an influential British neurologist and author whose writings on the human brain, including a number of books, earned him widespread recognition. His work exploring the effects of neurological conditions helped popularize the understanding and knowledge of science, and subsequently laid the foundations for modern neuroscience.

Sacks was born in London, England, in 1933. As a child, he studied medicine at Oxford University and completed his residency at the University of California, San Francisco before ultimately entering private practice as a doctor of neurology. He helped to successfully treat a number of cases involving hallucinations, emotional states, and bizarre behaviors with dose-tailed neurochemical treatments.

In addition, Sacks was known for his brilliant and inspiring writing, often depicting real-life oddities of patients, their neurological conditions, and his own insights into the mysteries of the brain. In 1970, he published his first book, "Migraine," and his works "Awakenings" (awarded the 1988 Los Angeles Times Novel of the Year Award) and "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat" (awarded the 1986 Guardian Prize for Best Medical Book) would interweave his professions, contributing to both the medical and scientific communities while providing the public with a bridge to the understanding of such topics.

While his work initially focused on neurological conditions, Sacks eventually spun off his pen to tackle topics such as evolutionary history and military medicine. In 1992, he received a MacArthur Fellowship, which resulted in a series of essays about his view of medicine and his observations of patients. He was also frequently consulted for television programs, theatrical adaptations, and was an honorary professor at the Sackler Center for Cognitive Neurosciences at New York University.

Sacks wrote an autobiography, "On the Move," and his other works include "An Anthropologist On Mars," "Uncle Tungsten," and "Gratitude," all of which popularized the concept of neuroscience in the public sphere. His works often address philosophical questions surrounding the quirks of the brain and ways in which neurological curiosities can be seen in real-life conditions. Furthermore, Sacks was one of the first proponents of empathy in medicine, advocating for compassionate, understanding treatment in even the most severe cases.

Before Sacks’ passing in 2015, he established an award in his name, the Oliver Sacks Award, which is granted annually to individuals who have dedicated their lives to medical research and the understanding of neurology. The award serves as an everlasting legacy of Sacks’ powerful work and his intricate understanding of the human brain, and his books have been acclaimed worldwide by both medical and non-medical readers alike. To this day, his writings continue to both entertain and educate readers and are considered keystones of the foundation for modern neurology.