Ep 5. Oliver Sacks: His Own Life

Oliver Sacks was a brilliant mind and a highly respected neurologist. He was also a writer, and his books reached a wide audience, making him famous not only within the medical community but also with readers around the world. American Masters season 35 episode 5, called "Oliver Sacks: His Own Life," explores the story of this man through interviews with friends, family, colleagues, and Sacks himself.

Sacks was born in London in 1933 to Jewish parents who were physicians. He was a precocious child, and he excelled academically, ultimately earning a scholarship to study at Oxford. After completing his medical training, Sacks moved to the United States and began his career in neurology. He quickly became known for his innovative work and his ability to connect with his patients on a deep level.

Throughout his life, Sacks faced his share of challenges, including battles with addiction and mental illness. He was also gay at a time when it was still highly stigmatized, and he struggled with coming out to his family and friends. However, Sacks was a deeply empathetic person, and these experiences only made him more compassionate toward others who were struggling.

One of the most significant aspects of Sacks' life was his love of writing. He published his first book, "Migraine," in 1970, and went on to write many more, including "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" and "Awakenings." Sacks' writing was unique in that he used his patients' stories as a way to explore the larger human experience. He helped to destigmatize neurological conditions and mental illnesses by showing that these were not just medical problems but complex and fascinating phenomena that could teach us much about what it means to be human.

"Oliver Sacks: His Own Life" follows Sacks in the final months of his life as he reflects on his own experiences and what made him the person he was. The film is a moving tribute to a man who had a profound impact on both the medical and literary worlds. It offers a window into Sacks' life, his struggles, and his triumphs, and it provides a glimpse of the legacy he left behind. The episode is a must-watch for anyone who is interested in the intersection of science and art, or who wants to learn more about the life of one of the most fascinating and brilliant minds of our time.