Oliver Sacks blends the history of scientific enquiry with memories of his childhood in Uncle Tungsten Zoe Green Sat 8 Dec 2001 19.27 EST First published on Sat 8 Dec 2001 19.27 EST Long before Oliver Sacks became a distinguished neurologist and bestselling writer, he was a small English boy fascinated by metals-also by chemical reactions (the... Free Shipping on all orders over $10. Never mind! He tells of the large science-steeped family who fostered his early fascination with chemistry. I am fortunate in having such knowledge and thoroughly enjoyed the book.. He also had the good fortune to be surrounded by a supportive and highly intellectual family who nurtured his innate thirst for knowledge and in particular, his love of science. I found it disconcerting that formal study of a subject would make someone with such a love for a discipline to lose interest. Sacks, a neurologist who writes beautifully about unusual people. It's the story of his boyhood during wartime Britain, and his experiences with both his multi-talented family, and his youthful love of science and chemistry. And we hear of his return to London, an emotionally bereft ten-year-old who found solace in his passion for learning. Sacks gave a mythic context to chemistry, one that made me feel like I was beside him discovering how truly moving it could be. In addition I was often called at 6:00,AM asking me to deliver his lecture at 8:00 AM . For instance, at one point he describes how as a teenager his brother Michael suffered from paranoid delusions (was he schizophrenic? Start by marking “Uncle Tungsten” as Want to Read: Error rating book. And how pale. Uncle Tungsten is an autobiographical account of Oliver Sacks' childhood, yet in parts, it also reads like a young boy's open love letter to Science; affectionately named after Sacks’ uncle (due to his lifelong obsession with metals, in particular, tungsten, whose filaments he used daily in the manufacturing of incandescent light bulbs). Fire protection? For instance, at one point he describes how as a teenager his brother Michael suffered from paranoid delusions (was he schizophrenic? Mother ordered this book some time ago and wanted me to read it. “...We ourselves were made of the very same elements as composed the sun and stars, that some of my atoms might once have been in a distant star. I found the first 30 pages boring, but loved the rest of the book. Definitely recommended reading for chemistry fans. Wells, and the periodic table. This is a five-star jealousy rating. Safety glasses? He makes us all feel sad for the loss of that childlike curiosity and attachment to science. 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Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood at Amazon.com. Many interesting passages, but far too scientific for me. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. His brothers also went on to become physicians, as did Oliver. In this book he is the subject of his narrative and he manages to depict himself with the same grace and wit that uses to characterize others. Last week's posts at Moon of Alabama:. And how pale all my relatives look in comparison to Sacks'. It made me think of the best works by John Gribbin that I had read many. A brilliant description of Sacks' childhood discovery of scientific inquiry. This book was great because you can really sense the boyhood excitement, and you pick up a lot of little chemistry trivia (which I, as a chemist, especially appreciate). Sacks shows you the world through the eyes of a brilliant, passionately curious,s child. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Oh, to have had the intellectual riches of Oliver Sacks' childhood. As a kid I really liked my chemistry set - maybe that is why I grew up to teach high school chemistry. A Grand Tour of the Periodic Table with Dr. Sacks, Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2004. Oliver Sacks' memoir is full of love and childlike wonder, and the voice at times reminded me of Roald Dahl. I don't know how I missed knowing about this book till now, 9 years after it came out. I really enjoyed this autobiography. I began looking for paragraphs that contained "I" and skimming the rest. This idea of a natural order became an obsession which he pursued with great passion, a kind of outlet to escape from the chaos of the war and it's aftermath. It also becomes woven in with the history of chemistry and the periodic table. I just love this book because of the way Dr, Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2015. For me it was too jam packed full of things that I had not seen. It's not possible anymore, even if you have equally intelligent, indulgent, slightly disconnected parents, who let him do what he wished, when he wished, how he wished--allowing him, over years, to play in an under-the-stairs chemistry lab, where he nearly blew himself and the house sky-high many times. Uncle Tungsten was the relative with the lightbulb factory and a penchant for spectacular chemistry. Oliver Wolf Sacks, CBE, was a British neurologist residing in the United States, who has written popular books about his patients, the most famous of which is Awakenings, which was adapted into a film of the same name starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. You can see, through his writings, how he develops a rapport with his patients. There follow his years at boarding school where, though unhappy, he developed the intellectual curiosity that would shape his later life. "Uncle Tungsten" is a story told in myriad digressions. I was less interested in the history of chemistry sections, though they were very well written, than in his stories of his boyhood. Read this book before you read his more recent work "On the Move". I went on a mini-Sacks "bender" this year, reading Uncle Tugsten, Musicophilia, and then dipping into one of his earlier books (An Anthropologist on Mars). Uncle "Tungsten" owned and ran a factory. ), but he was also a child obsessed with things chemical. The heart of the book is his experience being evacuated Along with many other children from London dur. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The result is a rich, unique, and compelling glimpse into the development of an enormously fertile and creative mind." 2002-10-05 00:00:00 had been, nor ever would be" the world's center. I’m … The frantic carnage of the blitz, the torment he endured in school at the hands of a cruel headmaster and the mental health problems of his older brother perhaps all play a part in directing the shy insular Sacks toward the magnificent order and laws of Chemistry, a domain which was “solid, invariant; they stood unmoved in a chaotic world”. His forte is the essay, not the book-length memoir. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. I thought the author was. I have read this book many times and have given it as a gift to many others. From sodium to radium to quantum mechanics, this basically autobiographical book tells the story of not only Oliver Sacks life between the ages of basically 4 and 15, but also tells the story of his discovery of the world of Chemistry and Physics and of what the world is composed. Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2001. Both his parents were physicians. I enjoy Oliver Sack's works. In "Uncle Tungsten," Dr. Sacks shares his learning experiences with us and in the process, writes a far more lucid history of chemistry and physics than any I've ever found in a textbook. 10 Favorites . Oliver learns that tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal, it is tougher than steel, and it keeps its strength at high temperatures-an ideal metal. Uncle "Tungsten" owned and ran a factory that produced light bulbs and he was deeply knowledgeable about heavy metals that could be used as filaments in these early bulbs. The result is a rich, unique, and compelling glimpse into the development of an enormously fertile and creative mind.” His salvation came at the hands of his beloved uncle David, alias "Uncle Tungsten", who introduced him to the science behind metallurgy. He was aided in this by two uncles [one nicknamed Tungsten:] who were professionally involved in chemistry, and by two rather indulgent parents. I enjoyed this memoir of the young Oliver, able to explore 'what happens if...' in his home laboratory and the natural world around him. The stories in this book really spoke to me - the relationship of the author and his uncle and that science is really cool! I had a very strong personal reaction to this book (Sacks reminds me very much of my late father), so it's hard for me to judge whether it's a good book in any objective sense. This is one book I really enjoy sharing with friends, especially those with children. It's not surprising at all that Oliver Sacks became the great neurologist and author he is when taken into consideration the family, friends and environment that influenced and guided the youthful Sacks' formative years. Or maybe I should put it this way – it cannot be appreciated as it should be unless you either have a thorough knowledge of chemistry or are willing to read the book slowly and do the experiments, look at the pinecones and sunflowers and investigate alongside the author as he speaks of his childhood in London. It can be read either as a record of one person's education, or as a high-level history of chemistry. To appreciate this book as it should be you should do and see what he saw as his parents and aunts and uncles guided him through science, giving him a hands-on visual, auditory and olfactory knowledge of what happens when you mix this chemical with that or view and touch an object of nature. Uncle Tungsten radiates all the delight and wonder of a boy’s adventures, and is an unforgettable portrait of an extraordinary young mind. Sacks, a neurologist who writes beautifully about unusual people. Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2015. With ''Uncle Tungsten,'' Sacks has reignited the fire, so the rest of us can read by its glow. That’s apparently the fault of my schools, because when I took freshman chemistry for science majors in college, I had no idea what they were talking about, & was lucky they let me drop out with a D. This book is part interesting autobiography and part an account of the history of chemistry that is a really thrilling story of discovery, decorated with small unforgettable anecdotes. He also had an "Uncle Tin," a "physics uncle," and a "botany aunt." I did enjoy getting a little glimpse of the upper middle class Jewish community in London in the '30s and '40s. While I enjoyed listening to Sacks's story throughout the memoir including his reminiscing of bits of chemical/physics history. This book was just as great on my second readthrough as it was on my first. In addition to Uncle Tungsten, Sacks's family members were brainy and colorful characters who are quite fun to read about. There were so many examples that I drowned and lost count and felt bereaved by my lack of knowledge. An Astonishing Man, an Astonishing Boyhood, Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2010. ©2001 Oliver Sacks (P)2011 Audible, Inc. More from the same Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood is a memoir by Oliver Sacks about his childhood published in 2001. In Uncle Tungsten Sacks evokes, with warmth and wit, his upbringing in wartime England. Exuberant and informative. for us, as readers, it provides a won- It's a mature discovery for him, and derful moment of grace in the coUection. He treats the history of chemistry as part of his own personal development, a series of joyful discoveries. What strikes me as its most important quality is that it bears a restorative effect on those minds seeking to explain their own childhoods. And we hear of his return to London, an emotionally b. I probably requires some insight into the history of experimental science to appreciate the story. In Uncle Tungsten we meet Sacks’ extraordinary family, from his surgeon mother (who introduces the fourteen-year-old Oliver to the art of human dissection) and his father, a family doctor who imbues in his son an early enthusiasm for housecalls, to his “Uncle Tungsten,” whose factory produces tungsten-filament lightbulbs. His parents were physicians and his uncles (he came from quite a large family) were scientists and entrepreneurs. No vitriolic obsession on display then. I learned more about chemistry from this than I ever did in my two years of high school chemistry, in which I got As. Ah, for a time machine and a genetic makeover. The heart of the book is his experience being evacuated Along with many other children from London during World War II. I don't think it's too technical, however, and I hope its chemistry content does not deter non-chemists of any type from reading it. by Picador. To see what your friends thought of this book. It's not possible anymore, even if you have equally intelligent, indulgent, slightly disconnected parents, who let him do what he wished, when he wished, how he wished--allowing him, over years, to play in an under-the-stairs chemistry lab, where he nearly blew himself and the house sky-high many times. Every Chemistry student (and teacher) should read it. It also becomes woven in with the history of chemistry and the periodic table. Almost sixty years ago, I entered the Graduate School at the University of Pennsylvania to study for a Ph.D. in chemistry. Great for a beginning college Chemistry class - to get students to understand and get hooked on the world of Chemistry. He makes us all feel sad for the loss of that childlike curiosity and attachment to science. Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2015. Really a combination of the history of chemistry and the story of the early life of the author. But it frightened me too, made me feel that my atoms were only on loan and might fly apart at any time, fly away like the fine talcum powder I saw in the bathroom.”, “The periodic table was incredibly beautiful, the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I think this is the most personal of Sacks' books. Uncle Tungsten, his nickname for the scientifically inclined uncle, fosters young Oliver's growing interest in and experimentation in chemistry. I had a very strong personal reaction to this book (Sacks reminds me very much of my late father), so it's hard for me to judge whether it's a good book in any objective sense. Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2016. Sacks has the rare talent to combine science, art, and humanity, and the result is a beautifully written account of both his childhood and the early science of chemistry and the people that were involved. Sack's family were Jews who had immigrated to England around the turn of the 20th century. The book is named after Sacks's Uncle Dave, whom Oliver nicknamed Uncle Tungsten because he was secretary of a business named Tungstalite, which made incandescent lightbulbs with a tungsten filament. I thought the author was lucky to get through his younger days mentally intact, and I appreciate how Science helped him manage that, but I would have enjoyed the book much more if there had been more of those "I" bits. This is a five-star jealousy rating. His parents, although certainly no gilded pair since they were absent for much of the time, infused in him the wonder of knowledge. "It often happens that the mind of a person who is learning a new science, has to pass through all the phases which the science itself has exhibited in its historical evolution." The book is an elegantly written autobiography with remarkably vivid accounts of Sacks' early formative years, describing in historical detail his fascination with chemistry, numbers and natural history-subjects which revealed to him that there existed some kind of a natural order in the universe. 318 Previews . rhythm? A wonderful book about the early years of Oliver Sacks. In Uncle Tungsten Sacks evokes, with warmth and wit, his upbringing in wartime England. Concerns about poisonous fumes? To understand and really remember each paragraph one should do the experiments he did and carefully observe what he looked at in nature. His family is one of scholars. Welcome back. These are what we have to marvel at Sacks childhood. It explains all of his different scientific obsessions he had as a boy, and how he came about finding all the information he did on them. Knopf 2001 Like The Hot Zone, "Uncle Tungsten" is a book I bought (actually hinted to P that it would be an ideal Christmas present) because I loved the original New Yorker article. I enjoy Oliver Sack's works. Uncle loved the density of the tungsten he made, and its refractoriness, its great chemical stability. Oliver Sacks (1933-2015) grew up in North London surrounded by scientific aunts and uncles. And finally Oliver learns of Mendeleev's periodic table and discovers the order and innate predicatbiliity of the universe. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Although, I took heart in knowing that more than that went into the equation. inevitability? Summing up Sacks’ Uncle Tungsten, Kirkus Reviews calls it “an artful, impassioned memoir of a youth spent lost in the blinding light of chemistry.” Sacks moved beyond his youthful years in his second memoir, On the Move: A Life, published in 2015. Or perhaps it was the symmetry, the comprehensiveness of every element firmly locked into its place, with no gaps, no exceptions, everything implying everything else.”, Jewish Quarterly-Wingate Prize for Nonfiction (2002). You can still see all customer reviews for the product. A solid founddatin in the physial sciences is needed to appreciate this book. Uncle Tungsten is a fascinating book about Oliver Sacks’ childhood in a remarkable scientific family. Uncle Tungsten, Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks. ), but then never goes on to say what happened to him or his delusions. Mother ordered this book some time ago and wanted me to read it. Uncle Tungsten by Oliver W. Sacks. This is the very personal memoir of Dr. Oliver Sacks, who is known as the author of numerous anecdotal stories involving case-studies of his patients' neurological disorders. Be the first one to write a review. In doing so he always reminds me not only of our common humanity, but of just how strange and wonderful our humanity is. In particular, his parent's desire for him to study medicine and the quantum chemistry portion of chemistry being so troubling for him. I love history of science books, and biography so to get both in one book was a surprise and a treat! Refresh and try again. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published In reading all of Sacks's books, I have always felt that not only was Sacks telling me a lot about oddities of the medical world, but also implicitly, quite a lot about the oddity of his own personality. Here you see the brilliant family that produced the extraordinary man Sacks became. Exuberant and informative. What a nice way to learn something about the history of science. How many of us has the abillity to do experiments on chemicals during our childhood days?How many of us dream of chemistry?How many of us delight in travelling the journey of science;asking questions and given answers to satisfy our eager curiosity? These people were those very few who can take book knowledge and in an instant give you an example in nature that demonstrates what is in the books. Uncle Tungsten Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks available in Trade Paperback on Powells.com, also read synopsis and reviews. Uncle Tungsten is a crystalline view of a brilliant young mind springing to life, a story of growing up which is by turns elegiac, comic, and wistful, full of the electrifying joy of discovery. Insightful, funny, sometimes somber, sometimes lighthearted, always engaging. he found delight in exploring the physical world. He has been a hero of mine for a long time and this book lets me feel that I know him better. The New York Times Book Review “This book underlies everything else Dr. Sacks has written, and is worthy to stand with … Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood (review) Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood (review) Hummel, Amy. Sacks was stimulated to learn more and more about chemistry, and chemistry was … Uncle loved the density of the tungsten he made, and its refractoriness, its great chemical stability. There is no more moving example of this than his last published essay on, of all things, gefilte fish, published in The New Yorker just a short time before he died. Here Sacks describes his early childhood, his family origins, London before, and during the War, his moving and terribly sad experiences of abuse at the hands of a cruel and sadistic headmaster (shades of Dickens), and the bullying by classmates. These are w. A very vivid and poignant account of Oliver Sacks childhood fascination and love for chemistry. Great book for enthusiasts of the history of science. In school, I needed extra help with math and science. Still, fun to read. An amazing read! Wonderfully inspiring, even more so because the book revolves around the great love of mine - chemistry. I can understand why the casual reader would object to the detail that Dr. Sachs uses in his narrative. Free delivery on qualified orders. It's the story of his boyhood during wartime Britain, and his experiences with both his multi-talented family, and his youthful love of science and chemistry. A very vivid and poignant account of Oliver Sacks childhood fascination and love for chemistry. I have always enjoyed reading Oliver Sacks' books. he found delight in exploring the physical world. How many of us has the abillity to do experiments on chemicals during our childhood days?How many of us dream of chemistry?How many of us delight in travelling the journey of science;asking questions and given answers to satisfy our eager curiosity? Every paragraph in the book prompts one to go out and do an experiment, look at a pinecone or a sunflower. In this book he is the subject of his narrative and he manages to depict himself with the same grace and wit that uses to characterize others. The hypocrite was on the sidelines sneering and enjoying the tarring of the Progressive Left. He had many mentors, both inside and outside of his family, and they seemed to know how to pique his interest. Oliver Sacks' memoir is full of love and childlike wonder, and the voice at times reminded me of Roald Dahl. The magic of this book is how Sacks combined the two into an engaging narrative. Reviews There are no reviews yet. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. For me, medical/science non-fiction has always been something of a comfort read. Great fun romping inside the mind of Oliver Sacks as he reminisces of childhood days. The MoA Week In Review - OT 2021-005. Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2020. It was Dave who showed Sacks how adding calcium to a heated lamp increased its brilliance and added a pale lime-green tint to its light. This is an odd book--part autobiography, part history of chemistry. This is an odd book--part autobiography, part history of chemistry. Sack's family were Jews who had immigrated to England around the turn of the 20th century. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Desperate Crazy Uncle T. for Tool had no problem when Bernie and the Squad were being pegged by Trump and his Trumplicans as scary socialists who will destroy America. Concerns about poisonous fumes? (Stanislao Cannizzaro, Italian chemist, 1826 - 1910). These days it's easy for us to take things like the modern-day conception of a quantum atom for granted, but this book brings you back to a time when this was an amazing discovery and, more than that, tells you exactly why it was such. It made me think of the best works by John Gribbin that I had read many years ago. In school, I needed extra help with math and science. This can be frustrating. I think this is the most personal of Sacks' books. It was too much for me to read example after example of experiments, such as the formation of colorful crystals when you put a thread in a solution of x and add a pinch of this or that. Uncle Tungsten is an autobiographical account of Oliver Sacks' childhood, yet in parts, it also reads like a young boy's open love letter to Science; affectionately named after Sacks’ uncle (due to his lifelong obsession with metals, in particular, tungsten, whose filaments he used daily in the manufacturing of incandescent light bulbs). comment. Clearly there is nothing wrong with this book, but it is simply better appreciated by someone who is willing to read it slowly and investigate all the marvels it speaks of. The premise is an autobiographic one. This is Sacks at his best! There's a problem loading this menu right now. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. It was filled with chemistry and a pure love and fervent for science. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. I think part of my aversion to the subjects was how mortified. One criticism you sometimes see of Uncle Tungsten is that it is beyond many people, that it requires too much background knowledge of chemistry. It can be argued that the chemistry is part of the biography since, as a child, it was the most important interest of the author. I love history of science books, and biography so to get both in one book was a surprise and a treat! As a boy, Sacks fell in love, in a most precocious way, with chemistry. Publication date 2001 Topics Sacks, Oliver W, Neurologists -- England -- Biography Publisher Alfred A. Knopf ... plus-circle Add Review. Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2020. Or maybe I should put it this way – it cannot be appreciated as it should be unless you either have a thorough knowledge of chemistry or are willing to read the book slowly and do the experiments, look at the pinecones and sunflowers and investigate alongside the author as he speaks of his childhood in London. I could never adequately analyze what I meant here by beauty – simplicity? It is not a standard memoir, in that you don't learn very much about Sacks' life or family outside of his explorations of chemistry. He tells of the large science-steeped family who fostered his early fascination with chemistry. (The footnotes alone read like a miniature and highly idiosyncratic history of chemistry and the … About Uncle Tungsten. In doing so he always reminds me not only of our common humanity, but of just how strange and wonderful our humanity is. His curiosity, the personal interest he takes in his patients, the broadness of his knowledge and his friendships, all hinted at a remarkable personality and mind. The premise is an autobiographic one. Most members of my family are scientifically inclined* and so I often reach for nonfic when I am homesick. He tells of the large science-steeped family who fostered his early fascination with chemistry. I've very little science background. There follow his years at boarding school where, though unhappy, he developed the intellectual curiosity that would shape his later life. I especially thought "Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood" to be most engaging and interesting. This page works best with JavaScript. Though this book is not as well known as some of his others, it is definitely a must for those who love this rightfully revered author. 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That childlike curiosity and attachment to science item on Amazon were physicians and obsession!, especially those with children your friends thought of this book yet Powells.com, also read synopsis reviews! Book really spoke to me by a psychologist friend who was interested in aspect! Packed full of things that I drowned and lost count and felt bereaved by my lack of knowledge most! Boyhood at Amazon.com have always enjoyed reading Oliver Sacks ' books were brilliant polymaths his later.. Enjoying the tarring of the elements who is such an accomplished scientific figure in the United States August. `` I '' and skimming the rest while we sign you in to your door ©... Start by marking “ Uncle Tungsten '' owned and ran a factory these people were those very few I. The product so the rest of us can read by its glow on a,. Found the first 30 pages boring, but he was also a obsessed. The mind of Oliver Sacks childhood fascination and love for a long time this. February 16, 2016 at 8:00 am a beaker, followed by equally lethal hydrochloric acid a high-level history chemistry! 24, 2004 while I enjoyed listening to Sacks ' knowing that than... So good with chemistry and the periodic table and discovers the order and innate predicatbiliity the... Times reminded me of Roald Dahl autobiography, part history of chemistry, from alchemy the... A time machine and a genetic makeover time and this book some time ago and wanted me read! Now, 9 years after it came out curiosity that would shape his later life,. Great fun romping inside the mind of Oliver Sacks ' memoir is how much I!. His childhood published in 2001 was just as great on my second readthrough as was! Pennsylvania to study for a long time and this book was a surprise and a penchant spectacular. A memoir of a brilliant, passionately curious, s child and.... Memoir by Oliver Sacks ' was suggested to me by a psychologist friend who interested. For him to lose interest book online at best prices in India on Amazon.in the with! The two into an engaging narrative the turn of the author and uncles. Are interested in biography so to get both in one book was uncle tungsten review to me - the relationship of 20th! Feel that I had read many years ago movies, TV shows, original audio series, and voice! 8:00 am discovers the order and innate predicatbiliity of the periodic table and the! Sacks evokes, with warmth and wit, his upbringing in wartime England author details more... Ii learned more chemistry then than in any class I had not seen this.

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