Five books you should read the neurologist Oliver Sacks – Gizmodo in Spanish

If you do not know Oliver Sacks, chances are it does sound like the film Awakenings . The character played by Robin Williams is based in part on the life of this famous neurologist and popularizer today leaves us at the age of 82 years. These are the five most recommended books.

Although Awakenings is the most immediate reference when talking about Sacks, not much less alone. This neurologist combined his medical work with the writer, and published some great work on the functioning of the brain.
Http://es.gizmodo.com/por-que-hay-ta…

Without ever losing sight of science, his books are an amazing walk in the functioning of our psyche, the way we perceive the world and the problems that may arise in the path. The great merit of having done Sacks is understandable to the general public concepts that are usually reserved for neurologists. Sacks today leaves us after battling cancer for several years, but his work will always be there to remind you. These are the five most recommended:

The man who mistook his wife for a hat

In this work, with great humanity Sacks recounts the details of 20 cases of patients suffering from serious neurological problems. The patient who book’s title, for example, was unable to decipher what he saw with his own eyes, which led him to constantly confuse objects in the world around them.

An Anthropologist on Mars

Despite its title, does not speak of Mars. Same as above, is a review of some of its most unique patients from a painter who was not able to perceive colors, until about autistic brothers capable of playing endless lists of prime numbers, or a surgeon with Tourette syndrome.

Awakenings

Awakenings it is based on a stage of life in which Sacks set about trying to vegetative patients suffering from sleeping sickness. Some of them managed to regain consciousness due to a drug against Parkinson’s. The story was made into a film, starring Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro.

Journal of Oaxaca

Of all the books Sacks, this one is special because it is the only one who could be classified as travel literature. The neurologist was part of a botanical to the region of Oaxaca, Mexico expedition. In its pages not only talking about ferns (which the expedition wanted to investigate) but may find a surprising and wonderful portrait of society and Mexican culture written by a scientist whose passion was just trying to understand the human mind.

Migraine

While not as popular as its predecessors, this work is a wonderful explanation of a problem that affects thousands of people in the world: migraines. Sack’s book will not make those terrible headaches disappear, but at least it will help you understand the problem and live better with it from the exquisite sensitivity of the author.

Home: Oliver Sacks signing books. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

***

Psst You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Google+!)