[Brazelton] Oliver Sacks, 82

PatrThom

PatrThom

osacks.jpg

Some of you may recognize the name, others may not. He was a scientist in the truest sense of the word, not only in appearance but also in action. He was probably best known for his book "Awakenings," which was later made into a movie starring Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro (and which I have not yet seen). One has but to listen to him talk on any subject, and you can immediately tell that this is someone who wants to know stuff. This is a trait I know well, and I am saddened that we have lost someone else who exhibited that trait so strongly.
I had considered adding his name to my top ten list, but even though he fit all the other criteria, and even though I have profound respect for the man, he is not someone whose death strongly affected me, except that now I will no longer be able to drop him a line as one intensely curious person to another. A missed connection in the cosmos, I suppose.

--Patrick
 
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Dave

Dave

Staff member
No, it's not. It's super DUPER depressing. Unless you think Flowers for Algernon is a laugh a minute. I always thought it was a ripoff of FfA (as I call it) until I found out that it was based on a real case.
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

I find that unusual, as Sacks himself was someone who seemed to always be in a perpetual state of wonder.
Unless this is writers taking the book and going all Hollywood on it.

--Patrick
 
drawn_inward

drawn_inward

He has been interviewed a couple of times on Radiolab. He was an interesting cat. He did appear to be full of wonder; as a scientist should be.

I thought Awakenings was fantastic. It gave me hope that some of these conditions may be reversed someday. Glass half full, I guess.
 
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