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Oaxaca Journal  By  cover art

Oaxaca Journal

By: Oliver Sacks
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Oliver Sacks - introduction
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Publisher's summary

The best-selling author of Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks is well known as an explorer of the human mind - a neurologist with a gift for complex, insightful portrayals of people and their conditions. However, he is also a card-carrying member of the American Fern Society, and since childhood has been fascinated by these primitive plants and their ability to survive and adapt in many climates.

Oaxaca Journal is Sacks' spellbinding account of his trip with a group of fellow fern enthusiasts to the beautiful, history-steeped province of Oaxaca, Mexico. Bringing together Sacks's passion for natural history and the richness of human culture with his sharp eye for detail, Oaxaca Journal is a captivating evocation of a place, its plants, its people, and its myriad wonders.

PLEASE NOTE: Some changes have been made to the original manuscript with the permission of Oliver Sacks.

©2002 Oliver Sacks (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[The book] is light and fast-moving, unburdened by library research but filled with erudition.... Among the botanical and anthropological observations, one catches glimpses of Sacks's inner life: his preoccupation with dualities, his nearly Victorian sense of modesty, his fascination with the world around him." (The New Yorker)

What listeners say about Oaxaca Journal

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Amazing story telling

Oliver Sacks produces an excellent observational narrative mixed with fascinating natural history of Oaxaca Mexico.

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  • Overall
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Charming

This is the first work I've read by Oliver Sacks that wasn't based on his clinical work. As a highly personal travel journal, it is (not surprisingly) less profound, but perhaps even more charming. So renowned himself, it is a pleasure to see his warmth towards and admiration of the people he met on this short trip.

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2 people found this helpful

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A gem

Oliver Sacks at his best: intelligent, compassionate, mind-opening.
Wonderfully written and read, a delightful diary of a trip to Mexico: ferns, carpets, history, food and plants and much more.

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4 people found this helpful

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A WONDERFUL LISTEN AND VIRTUAL TOUR

What made the experience of listening to Oaxaca Journal the most enjoyable?

I love Oliver Sach's medical writing and this is my first adventure with him. He is an erudite and knowledgeable man prepared to share his knowledge. Highly recommended.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis and Oliver Sacks (Introduction) ???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Unmisseable

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Do we need a book about ferns? Turns out we do.

What did you love best about Oaxaca Journal?

The late great Sacks could make interesting most anything subject other than the phone book. Until last week I didn't envision opening the wallet for an audio book on the ferns of a Mexican province.

What about Jonathan Davis and Oliver Sacks (Introduction) ’s performance did you like?

Pleasant voice, with a hint of William Shatner. No,really! I hope the narrator never sees this opinion as I wouldn't want the guy to drink himself into a mindless stupor. I will track down further narrations by him.

Any additional comments?

The Audible price tag is over ten bucks for a four hour book. I deem this excessive.

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Unlike any other of his books

I did not find this compelling at all. Not read by the author. Returning for credit.

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