Letters

Letters by Oliver Sacks

As per the title, this is a posthumously published collection of letters written by Oliver Sacks. He was a prolific letter writer. There are a mixture of different types of communication. Some are personal letters that deal more with his experience in life. Others are more science focussed, responding to concerns about research and publications. Through the letters, we can learn about the unfolding of Sack's career. He is concerned with the "mechanical" approach to medicine. He doesn't want to treat everybody as a statistics, but wants to explore the person to reach a solution. He has done work with people with neurological conditions. Some may appear commotose, but can be awakened. Others are essentially "dead", but kept alive mechanically. Drugs can help those with Parkinson's, but they may also have negative side effects. He does not believe there is a possible "miracle drug". He has struggles with medical bureaucracy and education. His Jewish background and sexuality come out at various times in his life - especially near the end as he is diagnosed with cancer. It makes for an interesting "biography" told all from primary sources.