Awakenings by Oliver Sacks Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Awakenings
Book Review: Compelling documentation
Summary: 4 Stars
One of the things I find most striking about Oliver Sacks is his humanity. I find myself instilled with his sense of compassion and understanding by reading his cases. Awakenings succeeds at being accessible to both the layperson and professional, and captivating both. There is a glossary to familiarize yourself with neurological terminology, but again the book isn't overtly prolix; rather a gripping account of neurological maladies.
Through Mr.Sack's these patients have received a certain immortality; a sense that their suffering has not been in vain, but tremendously valuable, not only to the advancement of neurology but as testament to the inherent strength and resolve in us all.
Book Review: Despite flaws, one of the most human books I've read
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite flaws, one of the most human books I've read
In 1969, Oliver Sacks gave L-DOPA (a recently released "miracle drug") to scores of his post-encephalitic Parkinson's patients. Most of them woke up - after essentially being in a state of sleep/death for over 30 years. They were the remnants of the great post-WWI epidemic and most spent virtually all their adult lives institutionalised. They were suffering from a specific "flavour" of Parkinsonism - and contrary to popular belief, this disease is not about shaking or tremors but more about the warping of an internal sense of scale (of space and time) which makes movement, thought and being human almost impossible. L-DOPA gave the patients a new lease on life, but at a terrible price.
The book chiefly outlines the case histories of individual patients in the course of the treatment. Although occasionally Sacks is repetitive from one patient to another (one of the book's flaws), his attention to detail, his degree of empathy and the vividness with which he describes the patients and their lives are breathtaking. The book gives an amazing impression of what it's like to go from being at a standstill (your mind being taken up by a map of a map of a map of a map...of nothing) to the frenzy of mania (one patient spoke at 500 words a minute).
Awakenings has inspired a Hollywood movie, dozens of plays, documentaries, theatrical productions and more. This is because the story is about so much more than a particular disease. It's about what it means to be human. And it's about the tremendous strength of the patients in the face of a disease that has to be read about to be believed - literally a living hell. Although Sacks seems almost mystical-dualist at times (the other main flaw in my opinion), his purpose is to bring the story to the world and to encourage a more wholistic, empathetic medicine that does not aim to reduce the human to symptoms and side effects, especially when it's completely counterproductive for certain disorders.
Very recommended despite some minor flaws.
Book Review: Don't expect the movie
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the true story of a group of very sick people permanently living in a hospital. They have an amazing semi-recovery due to some drug experimentation, but there is no lasting or long-term recovery.Unlike the movie, there is no love story, and the Leonard character is not a lovable hero. But the book is well written, and the medical ramifications are clearly explained for the lay-person.
I recommend this, and all of Oliver Sacks' books, highly.
Book Review: Essential Scientific Reading For Those Living With Parkinsonian Conditions or People Seeking a Scientific Understanding of Them
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this book of extreme importance as did my psychopharmocologist in understanding Parkinsonism (this is apart from Parkinson's which most people are familiar with) which is being identified clinically in myself from being enduced by the current generation of neuraleptics as tardive psychosis (brief note,this study as well as being part of an anti-psychotic in government study that can't cause it are in the process of being finalized for a standard psychiatric journal). In Oliver Sacks vivid depictions of Parkinsonism in this case enduced by encephalitis and the partial recovery with L-Dopa (there are newer and better treatments now) this book is not just a good series of "case studies" or interesting stories but a good scientific briefer although one that can be understood by the public about these conditions. And although what was described in the way of treatment was ultimately unsuccesful in people who have experienced this personally and did obtain treatment understanding what it was like from the writings of a renowed neurologist brought a greater understanding of it which in concordance with professionals I brought it to the attention of has potentially brought about some change. And considering that this was a work of research albeit one that tragically failed in its misunderstandings its important to understand the potential for success stories that take its blueprint and use it for further research. And as the beneficiary of this research I can say I am thankful it existed to begin with and for other people experiencing this as well as clinicians who may be unfamilar it is essential scientific reading as well as your average person who would like to be more informed. And I hope that would include all of us.Book Review: Great book from a great writer!
Summary: 5 Stars
I absolutely love this book! Oliver Sacks' clinical observations paired with his understanding of human experience provide a multidimensional account of what the patients described in the book were going through.