Friday, July 24, 2015

This Week's Wanna Read: On The Move by Oliver Sacks

Easy. Oliver Sacks, guys.

This man knows how to blend precise command of the English language with elegant craft to create beautiful, readable prose. He never talks down or condescends in any way. He weaves medical terminology into his writing, defines it for the layperson, while still respecting the reader's intelligence.

His autobiography, On The Move, was released in April of this year. It's on the back burner because I have so much work to do right now, but I know I'll get to this one.

I loved A Leg to Stand On, the first book of his I read. It recounts an accident that left him without any sensation in his leg. This strange, frightening experience leads him to examine how much we depend on the connection between our brains and the rest of our bodies to understand our reality. His leg felt like an alien, appendage. It's a wonderful book.

In February, Sacks wrote an essay in the New York Times about finding out he has terminal cancer. It's gorgeous and heartbreaking. If you're into essays, either reading or writing them, I urge you to check it out; it epitomizes how elegant and moving the personal essay can be as an art form.

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