*****= An all-time favorite
**** = Outstanding
*** = Above
average
**
= Enjoyable
*
= Good, with reservations
***Uncle Tungsten
Memories of a Chemical Boyhood
by Oliver Sacks
Reviewed
June 17, 2003.
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2001. 337 pages.
Oliver Sacks is a neurologist, and the author of The Man Who Mistook
His Wife for a Hat, and Migraine, the first book to help me
understand my headaches.
Uncle Tungsten is a fascinating book about Oliver Sacks’ childhood
in a remarkable scientific family. He was a child in London during
World War II (That part of the book is quite sad, as he was sent to a nightmarish
boarding school.), but he was also a child obsessed with things chemical.
In those days, you could go to the corner chemist’s shop and buy chemicals
and do experiments at home. The young Oliver set up a laboratory at
home complete with a fume cupboard. This book presents a history of
chemistry as he learned it as an obsessed and fascinated boy. It
tells about the experiments he did, following in the footsteps of the founders
of modern chemistry. He manages to capture much of the wonder and
delight he found in chemicals as a child, before his parents turned him
away from that, toward medicine. One wants to be sad for him, only
he is a fine neurologist. Apparently he found great delight in reviving
his old love to write this book.
As full as it is of facts about chemistry, this book is by no means
quick or easy reading. Still, it’s quite fascinating, and I can’t
think of a more interesting way to learn about the history of chemistry.
I’m recommending it to my son, who takes Chemistry in high school next year.
I’m sure that his class will not be able to take the playful, delighted
approach to the subject that Oliver Sacks had as a precocious child.
Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund