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Uncle Tungsten cover art

Uncle Tungsten

By: Oliver Sacks
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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Summary

In Uncle Tungsten, Oliver Sacks evokes, with warmth and wit, his upbringing in wartime England. He tells of the large science-steeped family who fostered his early fascination with chemistry. There follow his years at boarding school where, though unhappy, he developed the intellectual curiosity that would shape his later life. And we hear of his return to London, an emotionally bereft 10-year-old who found solace in his passion for learning.

Uncle Tungsten radiates all the delight and wonder of a boy’s adventures and is an unforgettable portrait of an extraordinary young mind.
©2018 Oliver Sacks (P)2011 Audible, Inc
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Medical Brain & Nervous System Neuroscience & Neuropsychology
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Critic reviews

"If you did not think that gallium and iridium could move you, this superb book will change your mind." (The Times)

What listeners say about Uncle Tungsten

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Profile Image for Alistair Davies

It's Chemical

A few mispronoutiations, but well compensated by the memories it brought back of my days learning fun chemistry.

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  • Overall
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Profile Image for A. Scott

Incredibly Boring but good for getting to sleep

If you needed any confirmation that the author was neurodivergent, this was it. Although anecdotes from his early life were interesting, the prolonged discussions about the elements on the periodic table and their qualities would only be exciting for those for whom this is their area of interest or expertise. The author was English yet the narrator was American: a bad choice in my view.

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