by Oliver Sacks
First published 1620
When the war separates young Oliver Sacks from his London home, he finds solace in the "stinks and bangs" of his uncle's chemistry lab. As the budding scientist experiments with sodium, vacuum tubes, and the periodic table, he unlocks a lifelong fascination with the natural world. Sacks' memoir paints a vivid portrait of a curious mind forged in the shadows of wartime, fueled by the wonder of discovery and the guidance of scientific heroes like Davy and Curie.
Genres: 20th-century, coming-of-age, autobiography, memoir, biography-memoir, chemistry, 21st-century, history-of-science
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: England, Angleterre
352 pages · Paperback · Vintage