A leg To Stand On

A book, a film, and a voting plan

Dear Readers,

Is it autumn so soon? We have so much news to catch up on!
First off, we are delighted to announce a new edition of Oliver Sacks’s third book (originally published in 1984), A LEG TO STAND ON, with a new foreword by Kate Edgar, his longtime editor. In this book, Dr. Sacks, following a mountaineering accident, becomes a patient himself, and examines profound issues of injury, recovery, and body image. It is deeply personal and perhaps his most poetic foray into questions of health and patienthood.
 
We are excited, too, to announce that Ric Burns’s “tender and thrilling” documentary OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE will be available for viewing from 9/23 via a COVID-compliant virtual theatrical release. Translation: Since theaters were unable to debut the film in May, crafty minds at Zeitgeist Films have engineered a way for you to buy tickets through your local cinema that enables you to rent the film for five days online—all for the price of a single cinema ticket!
So you can support your local cinema and see the movie in the comfort of your own home. Many of your local cinemas will also be offering online Q&As and other special events, so be sure to visit the film’s website for latest updates. And stay tuned to our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates.
A special note to all of our friends and followers in the U.S.:

As all of you know, Oliver Sacks was deeply concerned not only with humanity’s ability to survive and respect each other’s differences, but with the health of our planet and all of its creatures. He was fiercely supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement from its earliest days, as his partner, Bill Hayes, has written about.

If you are a citizen of the U.S., or know someone who is: IT’S TIME TO ACTIVATE YOUR VOTING PLAN. Make sure your vote counts by casting it as soon as you can. For state by state info, visit vote411.org.

And while we’re on the topic of caring for yourself, your neighbors, and your future, have you filled out your 2020 census yet? Go to my2020census.gov. This will affect how much federal funding your community is entitled to, as well as how many representatives and votes you have in the U.S. Congress for the next ten years.

Thank you, be well, and stay strong,

The Oliver Sacks Foundation Team