by Oliver Sacks
First published 1997
Travel with renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks to remote Pacific atolls, where he discovers isolated communities grappling with rare neurological conditions. On Pingelap, Sacks immerses himself in the world of the colorblind, listening as they vividly describe their monochrome existence. On Guam, he investigates a century-old paralysis epidemic, tending to patients amidst lush cycad jungles. Through these journeys, Sacks reawakens his lifelong passion for botany and ponders the profound questions raised by the dissemination of species, the genesis of disease, and the nature of human experience.
Genres: biography, science, medical, adventure, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, personal-journey
Setting: Guam, Micronesia, Caroline Islands, Micronesia (Federated States)
336 pages · Paperback · Vintage