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Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Neurologist Oliver Sacks explored the minds of outcasts, and was an outcast himself

Oliver Sacks studied unusual neurological disorders, and was known for humanizing patients in his scientific methods and in his writing. He wrote about autism, deafness, color blindness, Tourette’s, and inexplicable conditions.

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By Madeleine Brand • Nov 22, 2019 • 1 min read

Oliver Sacks studied unusual neurological disorders, and was known for humanizing patients in his scientific methods and in his writing. He wrote about autism, deafness, color blindness, Tourette’s, and inexplicable conditions. The New York Times once called him the "poet laureate of contemporary medicine."

But he had a tumultuous childhood, struggled early in his career, and was largely ignored by the medical establishment. Writer Lawrence Weschler was friends with Sacks for more than 30 years. He has a new book called “And How Are You, Dr. Sacks? A Biographical Memoir of Oliver Sacks.”

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

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    Sarah Sweeney

    Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

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    Michell Eloy

    Line Editor, Press Play

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    Alexandra Sif Tryggvadottir

    Associate producer

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    Lawrence Weschler

    author

    NewsBooks
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