The latest RadioLab on National Public Radio features a taped interview with Oliver Sacks, “Dr. Sacks looks back,” which is probably the last time we’ll hear from him. As you probably know, Sacks has been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer (see here and here), and decided not to give further interviews. But Robert Krulwich, armed with a tape recorder, visited Sacks in his Manhattan apartment and persuaded him to speak one more time. It’s the final part of this broadcast, starting at 31:10 and lasting about 23 minutes, ending with some lovely and ethereal music.
Krulwich handles it with affection and humor, not worshipfully or elegiacally, which makes it all the more poignant: it’s as if he’s expecting Sacks to continue contributing to the show in the future. Sacks describes how he felt when he got his terminal diagnosis (very upset and regretful for things he won’t see), but spends most of his time discussing his life as a gay man, and the loneliness of not being able to find love. (“I haven’t had any sex for thirty-five years.”)
How wonderful, then, and yet how sad, that Sacks finally managed to find a partner—real, reciprocated love—when he was 77. (Sacks is now 81.) The show finishes with a bit about Sack’s strong desire to see the color indigo, which he did only twice, and with Krulwich’s hope that perhaps Sacks will see that long-sought color once again. (I’m not sure if that bit has religious overtones.)
So farewell, Dr. Sacks, and thanks for all the tales.
What a great guy. I’ve been reading him for years.
I understand the reason behind the title of the interview. I understand his diagnosis, even if his treatments might give him a few more weeks or months, will be the stop sign on the road of life. Never the less, I’m not ready to bury him until he’s actually dead.
I feel a little selfish in that I am happy that he keeps writing, and plans to do so as long as physically/mentally able.
But, until that final stop, I’ll enjoy catching up on those books I’ve yet to read. Oaxacan Journal, purchased a week ago, is on the way in the mail, and I’d love to track down an affordable 1st ed. copy of Migraine to complete my collection.
On a happier note, I caught a replay of an older Sacks interview on Radiolab this weekend on my local NPR station that was followed by a certain biologist who, for a brief time, was the proud owner of a pet botfly…
I am reminded of Roger Ebert. I recently watched a documentary of his life. The effects of his cancer were more visually impactful. It was nearly unbearable to watch.
I wish peace and tranquility for Oliver.
Ebert was quite frank on his blog about his deteriorating health throughout its long drawn-out decline; while simultaneously keeping up a rate of posting on other topics (most film-related, natch) to rival that of Jerry’s postings here.
If it’s still up and if you’ve never seen it, it sounds as if you’d enjoy having a look at that blog.
Thank you Diane. It has been some time, some while before his death, since I’ve visited his blog. I should probably pay it a visit.
Haven’t gotten to the Sacks interview. The Summer Ash performance / interview was very well done…the discussion about people freaking out during the performance I could do without….
b&
Ugh. They’ve got “listeners” reading advertisements…some Web hosting company…REI…what the fuck?
Can we please go back to truly advertising-free public broadcasting?
…but the Sacks interview is about to start, at least….
b&
Isn’t it the case that with recent Congresses we’re lucky to have PBS at all? Apparently pledge drives aren’t cutting it.
It just means that so-called “public” broadcasting has now been privatized. It receives somewhat above-average government subsidies, but that’s no different from American automakers receiving somewhat more government subsidies than their foreign competitors.
b&
Can I mention his recently published autobiography? ‘On The Move. A Life.’
Absorbing read, sometimes a bit heartbreaking, almost impossible to put down, and a great addition to Uncle Tungsten.
and anyone who hasn’t seen this from Science Friday’s Desktop diary series (which needs to be continued!):
http://www.sciencefriday.com/video/11/09/2012/desktop-diaries-oliver-sacks.html
Not many neurologists have had their work adapted into a stage play by Harold Pinter, a Robin Williams film (both based on “Awakenings”) and an opera (based on “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat”)!!
Sacks writings were personally very meaningful to me during the years 2000-2002 in which I was recovering from encephalitis- I was very disoriented during the time.
I am not related to his cousin, film director Jonathan Lynn.
Sub (sob)
Oliver Sacks is one of the writers who was instrumental in my deconversion from Christianity. His books helped me realize that there is no such thing as the human soul; our brains are who we are. We are entirely physical creatures. He is a great author who opened up new worlds for me.
I still have never read a word of Dr Sacks. Where to begin?
The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat
Yes, this!
You’re in for a treat.
Seeing Voices.
Wonderful writer, wonderful man, marked by great compassion and understanding. I once had lunch with him for a piece I was writing about Uncle Tungsten. He discussed quite openly what have been called his eccentricities, including his eating habits. As we left the rather posh hotel restaurant, he spied a bowl of (purely decorative) apples on the desk of the maitre’d. He strolled over, grabbed two, tossed one to me. “Have some dessert,” he said.
Years ago I attended a book reading that Sacks gave, and it was one of the best evenings of my life. Not only was Sacks fascinating, he was unpretentious and radiantly kind. It was like spending the evening in a pub with the world’s most interesting and benevolent person. Sacks was so unassuming we all felt we were old friends—he even told us about his difficulties with intimacy and his loneliness—but, alas, as much as his entire enraptured audience wanted this new relationship to go on forever, we only had him for one short evening.
And what a huge loss if we lose him entirely. Hah—I think I’ve only kept my New Yorker subscription so I could scan the table of contents of each new issue in the hopes of finding a Sacks article. I wish he would stick around, and I wish that we could all repay him for the many hours of reading pleasure he’s given us. Thank you for the link to the wonderful interview. I hope there are many more!