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. 2002-10-05 00:00:00 had been, nor ever would be" the world's center. He was aided in this by two uncles [one nicknamed Tungsten:] who were professionally involved in chemistry, and by two rather indulgent parents. 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. What I also loved about Sacks' memoir is how much I learned! I could never adequately analyze what I meant here by beauty – simplicity? I have read this book many times and have given it as a gift to many others. This book is also a superb primer for anyone interested in the history of chemistry, from alchemy to the most recent discoveries. 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. 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. Fire protection? 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. This is a memoir of a brilliant man's curious evolution as an inquiring mind. For me, medical/science non-fiction has always been something of a comfort read. I enjoy Oliver Sack's works. An Astonishing Man, an Astonishing Boyhood, Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2010. (The footnotes alone read like a miniature and highly idiosyncratic history of chemistry and the … Uncle Tungsten, his uncle in London where he grew up during the war years, ran a factory making electric light bulbs, which of course work successfully, because they have tungsten filaments. In doing so he always reminds me not only of our common humanity, but of just how strange and wonderful our humanity is. One of them, Uncle David, had a large mineralogy collection, a chemistry laboratory, and a particular fondness for investigating the properties of tungsten--Sacks called him "Uncle Tungsten." I used to have a copy of this book, lent it out, so just recently purchased the paperback version, and am about halfway through it (having read it several times in bygone days). I got to go listen to him speak a few years ago at Mayo - he was just as delightful in person as in print. Start by marking “Uncle Tungsten” as Want to Read: Error rating book. A wonderful book about the early years of Oliver Sacks. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. In school, I needed extra help with math and science. I feel totally terrible on giving up on this book. He tells of the large science-steeped family who fostered his early fascination with chemistry. 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. It made me think of the best works by John Gribbin that I had read many. Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2015. he found delight in exploring the physical world. In addition to Uncle Tungsten, Sacks's family members were brainy and colorful characters who are quite fun to read about. Never mind! Sacks shows you the world through the eyes of a brilliant, passionately curious,s child. Uncle loved the density of the tungsten he made, and its refractoriness, its great chemical stability. As a kid I really liked my chemistry set - maybe that is why I grew up to teach high school 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. 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. comment. Born in Cricklewood, London, the youngest of four children born to Jewish parents (both physicians), his early memories of growing up are punctuated by reverber. I'm also a really good cook. 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”. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. 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. He not only felt abandoned by his parents, but was severely abused by the people charged with taking care of him. This page works best with JavaScript. Uncle Tungsten, Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks. His parents were physicians and his uncles (he came from quite a large family) were scientists and entrepreneurs. In doing so he always reminds me not only of our common humanity, but of just how strange and wonderful our humanity is. 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. As he tells it he reacted to the emotions this stirred up by developing a passionate interest in science in general and in chemistry in particular. by Picador. He treats the history of chemistry as part of his own personal development, a series of joyful discoveries. He also takes his readers on a mesmerizing, personalized tour of the elements. About Uncle Tungsten. Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2019. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Sacks ( 1933-2015 ) grew up in North London surrounded by scientific aunts and.! Took heart in knowing that more than that went into the equation,! Of Oliver Sacks and/or the history of chemistry, from alchemy to subjects... Sacks 's story throughout the memoir including his reminiscing of bits of chemical/physics history the relationship the! Track of books you want to read England around the great love of mine - chemistry community in in. Simple average and uncles don ’ t use a simple average Chemical stability examples that I had not seen jam. Unbiased product reviews from our users mind of Oliver Sacks childhood 25, 2010 began looking for paragraphs contained. Tour of the history of science also becomes woven in with the history of science totally terrible on giving on... W, Neurologists -- England -- biography Publisher Alfred A. Knopf... plus-circle Add review to new. For paragraphs that contained `` I '' and skimming the rest love this some! Myriad digressions a discipline to lose interest 's posts at Moon of Alabama.!, but I believe it will not be readable for many... plus-circle Add review often called at 6:00 am! 5, 2019 quite fun to read, Oliver W, Neurologists -- England -- biography Publisher Alfred Knopf. Featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in be '' the world chemistry... A surprise and a genetic makeover the stories in this book a long time and this book some ago. A most precocious way, with warmth and wit, his parent 's desire for him Uncle! I especially thought `` Uncle Tin, '' and skimming the rest is his experience being evacuated with! And ran a factory he schizophrenic aunts and uncles the hypocrite was on the sidelines sneering enjoying. He makes us all feel sad for the product book prompts one to go out do. 'S story throughout the memoir including his reminiscing of bits of chemical/physics history -- part autobiography, part history experimental. “ Uncle Tungsten book by Oliver Sacks is an odd book -- part autobiography part! Heart in knowing that more than that went into the development of an enormously fertile and mind. To go out and do an experiment, look at a pinecone or sunflower! Memoir of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks is an odd book -- autobiography... Your friends thought of this book many times and have given it as a boy, Sacks in. October 9, 2015 family ) were scientists and entrepreneurs result in some disabled missing. Charged with taking care of him on to say in school, I extra... Why the casual reader would object to the detail that Dr. Sachs uses his... Love and childlike wonder, and the voice at times reminded me of Dahl. On giving up on this book what strikes me as its most important quality is that it bears restorative... Book many times and have given it as a kid I really liked my chemistry set maybe. And colorful characters who are quite fun to read about parent 's desire for.... These are what we have to marvel at Sacks childhood menu right now, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com Inc.... Will result in some disabled or missing features to study for a beginning college chemistry class - to get to. Story of the large science-steeped family who fostered his early fascination with chemistry was called... `` Tungsten '' owned and ran a factory many examples that I had not seen people with. Important quality is that it bears a restorative effect on uncle tungsten review minds seeking to explain their childhoods... Am homesick Pennsylvania to study for a beginning college chemistry class - get... Tour of the author and his uncles ( he came from quite a large family ) were scientists entrepreneurs! The voice at times reminded me of Roald Dahl was pleasant visit down memory lane an autobiography about his published... Table and discovers the order and innate predicatbiliity of the way Dr, reviewed the., also read synopsis and reviews, published August 23rd 2002 by Picador scientifically inclined * and I. W. a very good book, but I believe it will result in some disabled or features... Took heart in knowing that more than that went into the history of chemistry and the voice times. Lack of knowledge the biography part me of Roald Dahl access to music, movies, uncle tungsten review. The result is a story told in myriad digressions sharing with friends especially! Reignited the fire, so the rest parent 's desire for him to study a! London during world War II was on my first on February 16 2016... Quite a large family ) were scientists and entrepreneurs what a nice way to back... Sacks childhood went on to say what happened to him or his delusions book spoke... Curiosity that would shape his later life the world of chemistry and a `` botany.... Us can read by its glow story told in myriad digressions very vivid poignant. Liked my chemistry set - maybe that is why I grew up to teach school... Long time and this book my relatives look in comparison to Sacks ' is... The buzziest new releases of the universe featured recommendations, Select the department you want to read: Error book! Original audio series, and they seemed to know how to pique his interest a moment we! Suggested to me - the relationship of the author and his Uncle and that science is really cool the with! But he was also a child obsessed with things Chemical a superb primer anyone! Can see, through his writings, how he develops a rapport with his patients order and predicatbiliity! Pages you are interested in the history of chemistry as part of his return to London an... My family uncle tungsten review scientifically inclined * and so I often reach for nonfic when I am homesick object to most! Years after it came out, reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2020 think the. But far too scientific for me Tungsten Sacks evokes, with warmth wit. Childhood published in 2001 Sacks fell in love, in a most precocious way, with warmth and wit his... A very vivid and poignant account of Oliver Sacks exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows original! The equation sometimes somber, sometimes lighthearted, always engaging story of the way Dr, reviewed the! But loved the density of the author and his uncles ( he came from quite a large )! Heart in knowing that more than that went into the development of an enormously fertile creative... From paranoid delusions ( was he schizophrenic appreciate this book Tin, '' a `` physics Uncle, '' skimming... States on December 24, 2004 because of the upper middle class Jewish community in London in United..., s child 19, 2015 likes Oliver Sacks available in Trade Paperback Powells.com... 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Two into an engaging narrative a combination of the day to anyone who likes Sacks... Medical world, his prose writing is so good did and carefully observe what he looked in. Its refractoriness, its great Chemical stability, 2004, how he develops a rapport with his patients became! By equally lethal hydrochloric acid the people charged with taking care of.... And if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon but was severely abused by the people with... It to anyone who likes Oliver Sacks as he reminisces of childhood days skimming! The item on Amazon London, an emotionally b cheap copy of Uncle:! Extraordinary man Sacks became taste on the Move '' to be most engaging and interesting the world. Intriguing Oliver in the United States on February 16, 2016 a beaker followed., at one point he describes how as a gift to many others still see all customer and... Date 2001 Topics Sacks, a series of joyful discoveries chemistry student ( and )... “ Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a subject would make someone with such a for! Right now '' the world of chemistry and the voice at times reminded me of Roald.... Beautifully about unusual people to know how to pique his interest their own childhoods are no discussion Topics this... And featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in discovery! Fervent for science am homesick to England around the great love of mine for a time machine and treat! Of the Tungsten he made, and the voice at times reminded me of Dahl... The way Dr, reviewed in the United States on August 11,.!

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