Oliver Sacks – British neurologist and writer of the 20th–21st century, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings, celebrated populariser of neuroscience whose books turned clinical cases into compelling literature. His work bridged medicine and the humanities.
✨ Born in London to a Jewish family of doctors. 📖 Awakenings (1973) chronicled patients revived after decades of catatonia. 🎬 Adapted into the 1990 film Awakenings starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. 🧠 Saw neurology as not just medicine but a philosophy of consciousness. 🌍 Worked in the US, balancing clinical practice with writing. 📚 His books made neuroscience accessible to millions. 🤔 Curious: had an extraordinary memory for medical details but admitted to everyday forgetfulness. 😄 Funny: joked that neurologists are “detectives investigating crimes of the brain.”