Review Deeply moving. . . a gift to his readers - of erudition, sympathy and an abiding understanding of the joys, trials and consolations of the human condition (Michiko Kakutani New York Times)Sacks's empathy and intellectual curiosity, his delight in, as he calls it, "joining particulars with generalities" and, especially, "narratives with neuroscience" - have never been more evident than in his beautifully conceived new book. . .remarkably candid and deeply affecting (Boston Globe)Honest, lucid, passionate, humorous, humane and human (also slightly Martian). . .[a] marvelous memoir, which is as unconventional and singular as the man himself (Colin McGinn Wall Street Journal)Absorbing (Chicago Tribune)A fascinating account - a sort of extended case study, really - of Sacks' remarkably active, iconoclastic adulthood. . . .On the Move is filled with both wonder and wonderments (LA Times)Intensely, beautifully, incandescently alive (Newsday)On the Move is as much a dense journal of Sacks's own astonishing, incident-rich life as a meaty handbook on how to live (Globe and Mail)No matter what he writes about - whether struggling to understand what his patients are going through, or describing his love of swimming or photography - Sacks always seems open to learning more. He appears keenly interested in everything and everyone he encounters. He's a wonderful storyteller, a gift he says he inherited from his parents, both of whom were doctors. But as he proves again in his latest . . . book, it's his keen attentiveness as a listener and observer, and his insatiable curiosity, that makes his work so powerful (San Francisco Chronicle)On the Move is entertaining and illuminating and sometimes shocking, and it's given a deep tinge of poignancy by Sacks' public announcement in February that he has terminal cancer. If On the Move is his effort, at age 81 and in the face of death, to record a life well lived, he has succeeded beautifully (Tampa Bay Times)A compelling read. . .The memoir offers a glimpse into one of the greatest minds of our time, made all the more special by the knowledge that it's one of his last gifts to a devoted readership (Men’s Journal) Book Description An impassioned, tender and joyous memoir by the author of Musicophilia and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. See all Product description
V**A
An extraordinary man who lived life to the full. One of the best autobiographies I've read.
I must confess to having enjoyed everything I've read by Oliver Sacks. He writes about disease and neurological impairment in a way that's interesting and easy for a lay person to understand. I was sad to learn of his own illness last year, which finally claimed him and I was looking forward to reading this. What an amazing individual and this is possibly one of the best autobiographies I've ever read.He writes in a way that's immediately engaging and the reader is drawn in to the excitement of his life. I had no idea that he'd done so many extraordinary things and I'm delighted that he lived life to the full ( and occasional excess) in every way. It's quite an emotional roller coaster at times, both professionally and personally. Here was a man prepared to take risks and by and large they paid off. The world is a poorer place without him.
M**Y
A fascinating peek into the life of an extraordinary man
A gripping story of an extraordinary man's extraordinary life. The narrative tends to flit around a lot which I found a bit disconcerting at times, but once I'd gotten used to it I relaxed about it. As it was all fascinating that helped a lot. What I really enjoyed about this book apart from discovering more about Sacks himself, was learning about his quite astonishing family as well. His parents sound like amazing people and even his wider family are fairly awe inspiring. I was particularly interested to learn about Sacks' younger brother and his mental health problems. You can imagine how hard it would be to be in that kind of mental space in a family of eccentric characters in whom intellect was such a prize. I was devastated to get to the end of the book. I wanted more.
D**N
I have been a fan of Oliver Sachs for a ...
I have been a fan of Oliver Sachs for a long time. His autobiography is fascinating, giving detail about his early family life, his double life when he was first in the United States as a doctor and medical researcher and his private life of body-building and biking at a time when being gay was hardly respectable. He wrote extremely well, and knew a lot of important and influential people, and he writes about all aspects of his life in a witty and informative style.
L**B
A master story-teller's moving memoir
Oliver Sacks tells a case history - medical or otherwise - like no one else. He is neurology's answer to Malcolm Gladwell. Here the subject is Sacks's own life and the stories of love and loss - and it is unsparingly told - are moving and inspiring in equal measure. As good as anything this master storyteller has given us before.
D**K
Cracking read.
A little disappointed that Sachs early life is left to his previous work, Uncle Tungsten, and the latter section often seems more interested in potted biographies of various friends than in Sacks' own life.But these are quibbles. This is a fascinating read about a life richly lived.
M**G
Loved it!
I was in a hurry at Heathrow airport and bought this book by mistake (the cover and title made me think it was about motorcycling) but what a fortuitous mistake it was. I have actually read it twice, cover to cover, and have no doubt that, in a few years, I'll enjoy reading it again. Oliver Sacks not only had an interesting life, he had the wonderful writing ability to draw you into the page so that you're absorbed in the tale. To me, a good book is one that does that and that you know will never go to a charity shop.
M**S
Sachs comes across as a sweet, caring
Winner of the 'hottest-young-scientist-on-a-motorcycle' award, 1966 (not many contenders, I suspect, but he certainly aced it). Sachs comes across as a sweet, caring, insecure, empathic, insightful and engaging person. Deeply shy but with an empathic drive to connect with and understand his patients and with a burning desire to produce strong, well regarded work. Interesting to read about his extensive periods of drug use, the highs and lows. Charming, vulnerable and 'flawed' - I have some reservations that he holds back on the full picture - that there's a lot more to tell. But this is an engaging, wide-ranging series of snapshots of a life lived to the full.
N**N
Very interesting life
Excellent read. Had read his book "Uncle Tungsten" before and I thought it was a fiction. Turns out it's non-fiction which makes it even more amazing. This book explains many bits of his life and also added to my list of books to read. Very entertaining and informative. Recommend highly.
