Hallucinations

By: Oliver Sacks

Narrated by: Dan Woren, Oliver Sacks

Hallucinations don’t belong wholly to the insane. Much more commonly, they are linked to sensory deprivation, intoxication, illness, or injury. Here Dr. Sacks weaves together stories of his patients and of his own mind-altering experiences to illuminate what hallucinations tell us about the organization and structure of our brains, how they have influenced every culture’s folklore and art, and why the potential for hallucination is present in us all.

Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following for permission to reprint previously published material:

American Academy of Neurology: Excerpt from “Anton’s Syndrome Accompanying Withdrawal Hallucinosis in a Blind Alcoholic” by Barbara E. Swartz and John C. M. Brust from Neurology 34 (1984). Reprinted by permission of the American Academy of Neurology as administered by Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research.

American Psychiatric Publishing: Excerpt from “Weir Mitchell’s Visual Hallucinations as a Grief Reaction” by Jerome S. Schneck, M.D., from American Journal of Psychiatry (1989). © 1989 by American Journal of Psychiatry. Reprinted by permission of American Psychiatric Publishing a division of American Psychiatric Association.

BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.: Excerpt from “Heautoscopy, Epilepsy and Suicide” by P. Brugger, R. Agosti, M. Regard, H. G. Wieser and T. Landis from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, July 1, 1994. Reprinted by permission of BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. as administered by the Copyright Clearance Center.

Cambridge University Press: Excerpts from Disturbances of the Mind by Douwe Draaisma, translated by Barbara Fasting. © 2006 by Douwe Draaisma. Reprinted by permission of Cambridge University Press.

Canadian Psychological Association: Excerpt from “Effects of Decreased Variation of the Sensory Environment” by W. H. Bexton, W. Heron and T. H. Scott from Canadian Psychology (1954). © 1954 by Canadian Psychological Association.

Excerpt from “Perceptual Changes after Prolonged Sensory Isolation (Darkness and Silence)” by John P. Zubek, Dolores Pushkar, Wilma Sansom and J. Gowing from Canadian Psychology (1961). © 1961 by Canadian Psychological Association. Reprinted by permission of Canadian Psychological Association.

Elsevier Limited: Excerpt from “Migraine: From Cappadocia to Queen Square” in Background to Migraine, edited by Robert Smith (London: William Heinemann, 1967). Reprinted by permission of Elsevier Limited.

The New York Times: Excerpts from “Lifting, Lights, and Little People” by Siri Hustvedt from The New York Times Blog, February 17, 2008. Reprinted by permission of The New York Times as administered by PARS International Corp.

Oxford University Press: Excerpt from “Dostoiewski’s Epilepsy” by T. Alajouanine from Brain, June 1, 1963. Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press as administered by Copyright Clearance Center.

Royal College of Psychiatrists: Excerpt from “Sudden Religious Conversion in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy” by Kenneth Dewhurst and A. W. Beard from British Journal of Psychiatry 117 (1970). Reprinted by permission of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Scientific American: Excerpt from “Abducted!” by Michael Shermer from Scientifi c American 292 (2005). © 2005 by Scientifi c American, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Scientific American.

Vintage Books: Excerpts from Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov, © 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1967, copyright renewed 1994 by the Estate of Vladimir Nabokov. Used by permission of Vintage Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

©2012 Oliver Sacks (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Fascinating…Dr. Sacks’s compassion for his patients and philosophical outlook transform what might have been clinical case studies into humanely written short stories that illuminate the complexities of the human brain and the mysteries of the human mind." (Michiko Kakutani, New York Times Top Ten of the Year)

“Oliver Sacks is my hero, so any book he publishes is a book of the year for me…His book explores not only his own experiences but a wide variety of conditions that can cause patients to see things that aren't there, and his writing is characterized by a mix of close-focus scientific scrutiny and broad human sympathy.” (Hilary Mantel, Wall Street Journal Favorites of 2012)

A Very interesting publication

Where does Hallucinations rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks very high in the overall contents and presentation.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hallucinations?

The massive presentation of sample information of many many people.

Have you listened to any of Dan Woren and Oliver Sacks ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes I have listened to their works.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think it overall was left me moved with an overview of the subject matter.

Any additional comments?

I think it was a very good book and I would like to read the book and listen together
for a more detailed study.

A trip

Oliver Sacks takes you by the hand and walks you through his life and his clinical practice, but does so in such a way that a novice to neurology and disordered brain function can follow along and absorb the experience. He pulls you in and it is very difficult to walk away.

Hallucination nation

With his characteristic humanism and erudition, Sacks takes the reader on a thought provoking journey through the landscape of hallucination. Fascinating from beginning to end, he explains how hallucinations, rather than being the hallmark of an aberrant mind, are often a byproduct of normal mental function that society has, for better or worse, stigmatized.

If you love hearing peoples' stories.

What about Dan Woren and Oliver Sacks ’s performance did you like?

I found Dan Woren's accent shifting (in order to represent the nationality of someone quoted) a bit annoying at first, but I came around to it. His reading style was helpful to keep track of who was talking, and after the first few times, made me smile when he switched accents.

I love to hear Oliver Sacks read his work. I can sense the excitement and joy in every sentence, and his voice is endearing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely, but this is the case for any Oliver Sacks book.

Much to learn about various forms of hallucination

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Unless you have a deep interest in the many types of hallucinations discussed in this book, the information may seem overwhelming.

Was Hallucinations worth the listening time?

Not for me, even though I am a fan on Dr. Sack's previous work.

Not his best

I have always enjoyed Oliver Sacks' books of clinical tales, but this one is not his best. The focus is on non-psychotic hallucinations and the chapters often contain multiple case examples that continue long after the reader has gotten the message.

Good book, a bit repetitive

The narrator tried to emulate a variety of foreign accents with limited success. I decided to be amused by this rather than annoyed. French, Indian, and other accents all tended toward Mandy Patinkin's Inigo Montoya from "The Princess Bride."

I will definitely read this again

What a fascinating story! I have had auditory hallucinations for most of my life, but I had no idea they could have anything to do with a seizure disorder. I started reading this on a whim, because it sounded interesting, but there was actually information in it, that I brought up to my neurologist, who confirmed that it probably had to do with the frontal lobe seizures I have been having. Who knew?? Anyways, if you’re a nerd like me, and you like reading about the brain, definitely don’t skip this one!

Oliver Sacks writes another great one

Would you consider the audio edition of Hallucinations to be better than the print version?

It is nice to hear the author in the beginning; I wish he read all his books.

Any additional comments?

This book brings up an important facet of the human experience and helps to put it in context. Oliver Sacks delivers another great one.

Nicely done.

Fascinating subject, and well covered. Very enjoyable and informative. I think most of us can relate in some shape or form to experiences in our lives whether understood or not at the time.n