A Leg to Stand On

by Oliver Sacks
A Leg to Stand On  
published 1998 by Touchstone
binding Paperback
isbn 0684853957   (isbn13: 9780684853956)
pages 224
description Dr. Oliver Sacks's books Awakenings, An Anthropologist on Mars and the bestselling The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat have been accl...more
date added
02-08-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 158)



Todd Johnson
Todd rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/05/08

bookshelves: brain
Read in April, 2008
recommended to Todd by: Anthony
It seems like I've been reading a lot of borderline 3-4 star books lately. This one is hard to give only 3 stars, because it was a gift, and I hate to seem ungrateful.

The first third or half of the book is great. The last quarter of the book is good. In between, not as much. It seemed to me that Sacks was way more enamored of the things he was thinking and writing than I was, which was very frustrating. Many times he would repeat the same thought several times, expounding and elaborating ti...more
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Jacob
Jacob rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
10/24/07

Read in October, 2007
here is the place to learn a little more about sacks the person. long and sometimes a bit repetitive - it's a totally different pace than his much shorter narratives in man who mistook wife and elsewhere, but the same delicious old-fashioned british flavor, rich with literary references. And in the same way, his narrative instructs on multiple levels: we learn something about how our neurology works, but also about the methodological problems of neurology as a discipline, and finally, there's mu...more
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Miriam
Miriam rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/30/07

bookshelves: sciences, summer2007
Read in June, 2007
In this book, Sacks writes about the conditions of injury and patienthood and their effects on the psyche, using an extreme, autobiographical example. The writing is sometimes (okay, often) overwrought, and there is little suspense throughout the entire narrative. However, as a description of a curious condition, this book succeeds.
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Jan
Jan added it
01/23/08

Read in January, 2008
Fascinating account of when Oliver Sacks hurt his own leg badly and subsequently lost his mental association with it. He opens up completely about the experience so it's fascinating as a view into what happens to someone in this situation. But he also adds in his remarkable erudition and knowledge about neuro-psychology which makes it all the more interesting. And as a bonus it's relatively short too!
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Kim
Kim rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
04/03/08

Read in April, 2008
My star rating about sums it up. It was okay. He discusses some interesting topics associated with consciousness and self, some of it a little beyond my ability to differentiate, I just think he could have covered the same ground in about half the time.
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Keith
Keith rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
01/06/08

bookshelves: psychology-and-cognitive-science
This book is particularly fascinating because it turns the tables on Sacks -- he's the patient here, suffering from a neurological problem that in another context he might be diagnosing in a patient of his own.
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Peter Macinnis
Peter rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/27/08

bookshelves: medicine, science
Read in January, 2005
Recently, I was talking to a former student who has tried writing a book. He brought it to me as a published author, and it had promise, but this is the book I suggested that he read, to see what he is missing. An excellent story!
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Antoinette
Antoinette rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
10/22/07

Read in August, 2000
This book starts with a story about the author; real life near death experience. But then it morphs into a scientific study about body awareness. Again, it gets a little academic, but still an interesting read.
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James
James rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/26/07

Interesting change of view from Mr. Sacks as it is autobiographical, based on his own injury and subsequent recovery. Sacks just has a way with words that is a joy to read.

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Kathy
Kathy rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
11/13/07

bookshelves: non-fiction
Read in January, 2005
I loved this story of Dr. as patient. Sacks is really engaging, I enjoyed hearing how he struggled through illness much as his patients do. I found his insights interesting.
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sara
sara rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/29/07

an interesting read for psych majors...
or for anyone whos either had a limb removed...or been hospitalized for long period of time...
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Earnest
Earnest rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
10/21/07

Read in June, 2006
recommends it for: science minded people
Oliver sacks talks about his leg injury and what it did to his mind... some strange things happen.
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Rachel
Rachel rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
01/14/08

Who wrote this? Oliver Sacks? Then I love it. More case studies.
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dishonore de
dishonore de rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
01/20/08

bookshelves: booksiwillneverread
sacks rhymes with sex no legs
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Brandi
Brandi rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/26/07

 

Jazz
Jazz rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
01/06/08

 

Ian
Ian rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
02/15/08

bookshelves: science-non-fiction
 

Rajintha
Rajintha rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
10/15/07

 

Lindsey
Lindsey marked it as to-read
04/16/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Bree
Bree rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/11/08

bookshelves: medical-geekiness
 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.93 (118 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.93 (116 ratings)
number of reviews: 14






other editions

A Leg to Stand on (Paperback)
A Leg to Stand on (Paperback)
A Leg to Stand on (Paperback)