An Anthropologist on Mars

Seven Paradoxical Tales

By: Oliver Sacks

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Oliver Sacks

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

To these seven narratives of neurological disorder, Dr. Sacks brings the same humanity, poetic observation, and infectious sense of wonder that are apparent in his best sellers Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. These men, women, and one extraordinary child emerge as brilliantly adaptive personalities, whose conditions have not so much debilitated them as ushered them into another reality.

PLEASE NOTE: Some changes have been made to the original manuscript with the permission of Oliver Sacks.

©1995 Oliver Sacks (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"True to his past work, he offers compelling stories told with the cognizance of a clinician and the heart and compassion of a poet." ( Library Journal)

Read this book

I was a bit annoyed by the narrator (his great voice has nothing to do with it). He seemed like he did't fully understand what he was reading. I would listen the book if the author himself read it.
The stories were good but they were repetitive. Exactly same wording was used multiple times in the same chapter.
I still recommend you to READ it.

Not as good as the man who mistook his wife for a

Interesting stories but could have been much better with some editing, some parts just go on too long. I had to force myself to get through some of it.

always interesting

The brain is fascinating. the book goes off topic a bit sometimes. but is well worth listening to if you like his other books.

a fascinating look at the human mind

This is classic Oliver Sacks! His details are exquisite and, while the anatomical and medical information may be detailed for many readers, it is surrounded and engulfed in compassionate observations of not only the neurological function, but the human drama of neurological dysfunction. anyone with a friend or family member with Tourette's Syndrome or Asperger's or Autism Spectrum disorder would find this a must-read.

paradoxical indeed

a painter who becomes completely color-blind (not your regular red-looks-black colorblind). A surgeon with Turette's. A blind man to whom retina function, but not brain function, is restored and then what happens. No one but Sacks could tell these tales of neurology, a science as complex and nuanced as genomics, but much more concrete.

The narration is good, and reminiscent of Sacks himself.

Typical Oliver Sacks

Would you consider the audio edition of An Anthropologist on Mars to be better than the print version?

I loved Oliver Sacks' narration. It adds immeasurably to the pleasure and the clarity. Mr. Davis' narration was very disappointing.

What was one of the most memorable moments of An Anthropologist on Mars?

The fact that the restoration of sight was such a disappointment was so shocking and sad.

Did Jonathan Davis and Oliver Sacks do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Despite the brevity of their description, Oliver Sacks was able to carve a three dimensional view of his sympathetic characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not quite sad enough to make me cry.

Any additional comments?

I have read almost everything that Mr. Sacks has ever written. I always find his work strange, enlightening and memorable.

Past and still in used perspectives on mental health

This was an interesting pick at the past, but unfortunately still very much on use perspective of mental health. It was even shocking at some points, but you have to remember that this book was written more than 2 decades ago. We still have a long way to go to understand and normalize mental health in general and neurodiversity.

Favorite book by Sacks, full of humanity

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book more than the others by Sacks that I've read (Awakenings; The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat). The way he has framed this collection of case studies -- as explorations of the humanity of seven patients with various neurological conditions -- lets his storytelling shine. In other books, where it was just as much patient case study as scientific exploration, Sacks's tendency to speak in metaphor and supposition got int he way. In this book, it is an advantage. We get to know the seven patients and how they interact with the world through conditions that we generally consider illnesses, disorders, or pathologies, but how in some ways their "otherness" makes them who they are. A really thought provoking and often touching set of essays.

the empathetic neurologist

the author conveys insights into the subjects ofnthe book in a way he could not if he weren't emotionally envolved amd even deeply empathetic of them. i would love to spend even a day with him in person. great book.

Anthropologist with a philosopher’s mind

This is the kind of book you wish you had read with others merely because it has revelations and insights everyone should have and you want everyone to have them with you.

Some parts feel like anthropological Notes, others medical, others like the intimate impressions in a poetic diary, and you’re not sure as a reader if you’ve just experienced a new revelation or something that you understood all along.

Oliver Sacks is one of a kind. I miss him greatly.