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On the Move: A Life
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins
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On the Move: A Life
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Summary
When Oliver Sacks was 12 years old, a perceptive schoolmaster wrote in his report: "Sacks will go far, if he does not go too far." It is now abundantly clear that Sacks has never stopped going. From its opening reflection on his youthful obsession with motorcycles and speed, On the Move is infused with his restless energy.
As he recounts his experiences as a young neurologist in the early 1960s, first in California and then in New York, where he discovered a long-forgotten illness in the back wards of a chronic hospital, as well as with a group of patients who would define his life, it becomes clear that Sacks' earnest desire for engagement has occasioned unexpected encounters and travels - sending him through bars and alleys, over oceans, and across continents.
With unbridled honesty and humour, Sacks shows us that the same energy that drives his physical passions - bodybuilding, weightlifting, and swimming - also drives his cerebral passions. He writes about his love affairs, both romantic and intellectual, his guilt over leaving his family to come to America, his bond with his schizophrenic brother, and the writers and scientists - Thom Gunn, A. R. Luria, W. H. Auden, Gerald M. Edelman, Francis Crick - who influenced him.
On the Move is the story of a brilliantly unconventional physician and writer - and of the man who has illuminated the many ways that the brain makes us human.
Critic reviews
"A compelling, surprising and sometimes astounding story of a richly lived life . . . fabulously surprising photos." (James McConnachie, The Sunday Times)
What listeners say about On the Move: A Life
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- foundafiver limited
- 11-05-17
Great book, incredible life, poor narration
What didn’t you like about Dan Woren’s performance?
Unfortunately he was totally the wrong choice. He's clearly a very good narrator but his voice is so far removed from Sacks' own that this, along with a myriad of mispronunciation nearly spoils the book - or at the least, wrenches you from the narrative.
Any additional comments?
The story is a wonderful insight into an inspiring man.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- R King
- 07-02-19
Great book about an interesting man
A really great book penned by a fascinating man, but why - given that the author was English - did they choose an American narrator? The narration is good, but he mispronounces many of the common English places and names and it detracts from the overall work.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Diana C.
- 25-09-16
A genius among common men
An inspiring life story let down by poor performance containing mispronounced English proper and place names.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Josie
- 17-04-17
Fascinating
I don't normally bother reviewing books but this one deserves a review - fascinating excellent storytelling and rich life story - many insights into the workings of the brain and mind and life in general.
Highly recommended and inspirational.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- K. Sewell
- 11-08-19
Fascinating man
Like so many immensely talented people, Oliver Sacks comes across as quite eccentric and perhaps somewhat self absorbed, I assumed that he was on the high functioning spectrum of Aspergers or autism, but of course I am probably wrong. Despite having many friends and acquaintances he seems to have lived his life out quite alone, until finding love very late in life (which was a lovely ending). I really enjoyed the book from beginning to end and felt uplifted by it. A truly interesting and vital man, who has contributed immensely to the understanding of the human psyche.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Roly
- 28-08-19
Charming and eclectic
Oliver Sacks is eclectic, knowledgeable and must have been very charming to have attracted astoundingly smart and famous friends as well as genuinely sympathetic in the way he bonded w his patients... it’s an autobiography so I guess a self indulgence is allowed .
I have a medical background so aspects of his writing were easier to understand and wondered how non-medics managed the technicalities and the jargon. The balance between the personal and scientific varies and you need to persevere w the neurogenetics in the later chapters.
His writing is entertaining, a mix of narrative and science which popularised the neurological material for the uninitiated but attracted the researchers
I had an ambivalence about the choice of narrator ... it’s personal, so I want to imagine its Oliver himself and unsure if he should have been American or English....
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 25-03-20
Delightful
Oliver Sacks was an amalgam of wonderful, fascinating qualities and too modest for his value. On The Move is a delightful insight into his life as not just Dr Sacks, the scientist, the doctor who treated his patients with so much respect and -dare I say - love, but Oliver, the human. The man who lived carrying the burden of his mother's words to hearing about his sexuality way into late adulthood - IF he ever managed to get over it at all. The man who loved to travel, who was shy and insecure, the man who would write in his journals throughout the years, since he was 15 (if I remember correctly). And how grateful I am that he did so, for we got to know such deep and personal thoughts of his too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MMc
- 17-07-19
Wonderfully told story of an incredible life
Brilliant story of Oliver Sacks’ life told by himself, an outstanding storyteller. He describes exciting adventures, his numerous professional interests, own thoughts, meetings with his contemporaries, his family make up and more. And all of it put in wonderfully and carefully chosen words that tell a vibrant and vivid story, without compromising on its multi-layered quality.
It’s one of the most interesting books I’ve read/listened to in a long while.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Melina
- 24-05-23
Excellent
I loved the book- I wished it didn’t end so abruptly but I could listen to Dr Sacks thoughts and experiences for 10 more hours.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- study never stops
- 16-12-15
Great book, shame about the voice choice
Would you listen to On the Move: A Life again? Why?
I would not listen again but I would read the book again. The choice of voice artist is quite bizarre and the production very poor.
What didn’t you like about Dan Woren’s performance?
The voice artist would be fine for an American character or novel. But he is so far removed from Oliver Sacks's London origins and English pronunciation that whilst at first it is unintentionally funny it is ultimately annoying. His mispronunciation of well known places is an especially silly mistake. The voice artist may not have realised that he was mispronouncing but the producers should not have hired him without giving him the support to correct pronunciation. Because Sacks died just before the recording was released I don't suppose he heard it. He would have pointed out the numerous faux pas but alas this undermines a brilliant book.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
There are many shocking and hilarious moments and it is full of profound insight into the human condition.
Any additional comments?
Please producers of audio book, do your research and respect the pronunciations of things, people and places, for without this the books ring false and the meaning inferred or intended by the author is completely undermined.
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9 people found this helpful