RIP Oliver Sacks

[delboydrums]

So sad to read of the passing of Oliver Sacks.
Dr Sacks was both brilliantly gifted across his diverse professional field and a warm and very funny writer.

For anyone who has just seen the film Awakenings, go a bit deeper and read the book, and then read some of his other work. Both "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat" and "An Anthropologist on Mars" are fantastic.

Although I regret that I never got to see him speak, Dr Sacks was a personal hero of mine and a great influence on how I at least try to approach my work.

RIP

[chinaski]

I've only read The Man Who Mistook. And then of course the column he wrote when he announced he was ill. Would you recommend An Anthropologist on Mars next?

Can I ask what your work is that you find him influencing your approach?

[delboydrums]

Yes, I would recommend An Anthropologist on Mars next as it follows a similar case history per chapter format.


I deliver training and consultancy support to social care services (so I tend to work in support of with people with autism, learning disabilities, dementia etc). I specialise in Positive Behaviour Support, which is just a fancy way of saying I help figure out why people display so-called "Challenging Behaviour" and how to try and avoid it.

I've worked in care and support for over 23 years, in most roles from support-worker to area manager. I've worked in training for about 15 years, the last eight of which have been self-employed.

I relate to Oliver Sacks' work firstly because he worked with people with a wide range of neurological conditions, but also because I loved the way he always tried to work with a very human and humorous approach.

[Nightclub Dwight]

Dr. Sacks was a rare talent, and I miss him a lot.


B