Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood is a memoir by Oliver Sacks about his childhood published in 2001. The book is named after Sacks's Uncle Dave, whom Oliver nicknamed Uncle Tungsten because he was secretary of a business named Tungstalite,[1] which made incandescent lightbulbs with a tungsten filament. Uncle Tungsten was fascinated with tungsten and believed it was the metal of the future. According to family members, Oliver used the single nickname, Uncle Tungsten, to refer to a combination of Dave with several other individuals in the same family.
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| Author | Oliver Sacks |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | John Gall |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Memoir Science |
| Publisher | Vintage Books |
Publication date | 2001 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 317 |
| ISBN | 0-375-40448-1 |
| OCLC | 46937635 |
| 616.8/092 B 21 | |
| LC Class | RC339.52.S23 A3 2001 |
| Followed by | Oaxaca Journal (2002) |
Sacks' middle name is 'Wolf', and in most European (especially Germanic, Spanish and Slavic) languages, tungsten is named "Wolfram", which is the origin of the chemical symbol W.
The book combines autobiographical elements with a primer in the history and science of chemistry. However, it is not all about his youthful passion for chemistry, but also is eclectic, relating his memories of the catastrophic fire at the Crystal Palace, his terrible experiences of sadism at school, his interest in amateur chemistry, and a passing obsession with coloring his own black-and-white photographs in his home laboratory.
Reception
editUpon release, Uncle Tungsten was generally well-received among the British press. [2]
References
edit- ^ "1951 Directory for the British Glass Industry: Users T - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
- ^ "What the papers say". The Daily Telegraph. 15 Dec 2001. p. 60. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
External links
edit- Uncle Tungsten on Oliver Sacks' official site
- C-SPAN Book Discussion on Uncle Tungsten with Sacks, November 29, 2001
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