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Uncle Tungsten by Oliver Sacks
Uncle Tungsten by Oliver Sacks
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R 65.00
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Uncle Tungsten by Oliver Sacks
Memories of a Chemical Boyhood
337 pages, Hardcover
22cm x 15cm
Condition: Very Good (Has very small/minor signs of wear). There no markings, inscriptions or signatures of any kind, pages are clean and vibrant.
Genres: Nonfiction / Science / Memoir / Chemistry / History
Oliver Sacks' illuminating memoir traces the development of a brilliant mind. Born in 1933 into a family of highly intelligent London Jews, he was introduced to the wonders of the physical sciences at a young age by his parents and their exceptionally bright siblings, most notably his Uncle Tungsten (real name, Dave), who specialized in manufacturing lightbulbs with filaments made of fine tungsten wire. Metals captivated young Oliver from the start, and his vivid descriptions of their colors, textures, and properties are as evocative and poetic as an art enthusiast's admiration for a masterpiece.
Intertwined with his personal anecdotes is a captivating exploration of scientific history, focusing on influential chemists such as Robert Boyle, Antoine Lavoisier, and Humphry Davy (Sacks' personal hero). However, this memoir is far from a dry intellectual account; Sacks paints vivid portraits of his parents, both doctors. His sociable father, who had a passion for making house calls, was drawn to medicine because of its central role in society. In contrast, his reserved mother had a deep appreciation for structure and viewed medicine as an integral part of natural history and biology.
For young Oliver, who struggled at a harsh boarding school during the war and feared inheriting his older brother's mental illness, chemistry provided solace in a tumultuous world. Although he eventually transitioned to a career in neurology, his belief in the deeply human nature of scientific pursuit remained unwavering, as evidenced by his renowned works such as "Awakenings" and "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat." Oliver Sacks' memoir is a testament to the enduring impact of science on the human experience.
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