Brilliant Minds: A New TV Show Based on Oliver Sacks

Hello, and happy September!

If you were watching the Olympics a few weeks ago, you may have seen ads for the new television series inspired by Oliver Sacks’s work, coming to NBC on September 23. We are so excited to share this with you!

In Brilliant Minds, Zachary Quinto plays a modern-day neurologist in a Bronx hospital who bears (so many!) similarities to Oliver Sacks (and a few differences…). We love that this new drama does exactly what Dr. Sacks’s case histories do: it explores the mysteries of the most complex thing in the universe, the human brain. It reminds us that we are all uniquely individual, and that we all deserve respect and care. It puts patients first. And it reminds us that doctors and their colleagues are human beings just like the rest of us. Read more about the show here.

As you watch the series unfold, see if you can recognize the cases. (Hint: many of them are from The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat or An Anthropologist on Mars, but lots are from the inspired brain of showrunner Michael Grassi and his team of writers.) For those who know a little about Oliver’s own life, there are many easter eggs. We’re not telling, but see if you can spot them. We will be running book giveaways on our social channels for best replies! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter to stay connected.

Brilliant Minds debuts Monday nights at 10pm in most markets, beginning September 23, 2024. It will also be available to stream on Peacock. See you there! For now, it’s available in the U.S. and Canada. We will be sure to let you know as other countries are added.