Uncle Tungsten

This memoir combines autobiographical elements with a primer in the history and science of chemistry.

Sacks recounts his childhood in wartime England, his early scientific fascination with light, matter, and energy, and his experiences at boarding school.

The book also delves into his family's influence, including his Uncle Dave, who manufactured light bulbs with tungsten filaments, and the broader scientific community that shaped his early life.

It touches on his transition from a childhood love of chemistry to an interest in biology and his eventual decision to become a doctor.