Hallucinations is a 2012 book written by the neurologist Oliver Sacks. In Hallucinations, Sacks recounts stories of hallucinations and other mind-altering episodes of both his patients and himself and uses them in an attempt to elucidate certain features and structures of the brain[1] including his own migraine headaches.[2]

Hallucinations
AuthorOliver Sacks
LanguageEnglish
SubjectNeurology, psychology
PublisherKnopf/Picador, a division of Random House
Publication date
6 November 2012
Publication placeUnited States
Pages352 (First edition)
ISBN978-0-307-95724-5
OCLC769425353
Preceded byThe Mind's Eye (2010) 

Summary

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Hallucinations was written with the intention to remove the stigma of hallucinations in the eyes of society and the medical world.[3] The book is separated into fifteen chapters; each chapter pertains to a different observation of hallucinations made by Sacks. The hallucinations mentioned in this book come from the everyday citizen and his own experiences, which are used to connect the structure and function of the brain of a healthy person to the symptom of hallucination. Sacks also mentions the positive effects of hallucinations in culture and art.[4]

Sacks notes that the symptom of hallucinations have a negative connotation that was created by society. The purpose of Hallucinations was to take away the public fear of symptoms relating to mental illness by showcasing many instances where healthy individuals experienced hallucinations.[5] Sacks also uses this book to educate society on the different types of hallucinations and the neurological basis behind hallucinations.

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ The Week – Review of reviews: Books, pp. 19[date missing]
  2. ^ "More about Hallucinations", oliversacks.com. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  3. ^ O'Callaghan, Tiffany (2012-11-11). "Oliver Sacks on Drugs, Hallucinations, Joan of Arc, and Arguing With God". Slate. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  4. ^ Kakutani, Michiko (2012-11-26). "Hallucinations, by Oliver Sacks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  5. ^ "Oliver Sacks: Hallucinations". NPR. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  6. ^ "Andrew Motion announces shortlist for the Wellcome Book Prize 2014". Wellcome Trust. 25 February 2014. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  7. ^ GrrlScientist (26 February 2014). "Wellcome Trust's Book Prize 2014 shortlist announced". The Guardian. Retrieved February 26, 2014.