Events › Adult Book Discussion: The River of Consciousness

Join us for a discussion of the thought-provoking collection of non-fiction essays, The River of Consciousness.

From the best-selling author of Gratitude, Awakenings, and Musicophilia, a collection of essays that displays Oliver Sacks's passionate engagement with the most compelling and seminal ideas of human endeavor: evolution, creativity, memory, time, consciousness, and experience. 

The book is a tribute to his appreciation of all that's beautifully complex in humans. In "Darwin and the Meaning of Flowers," Sacks examines Darwin's late-career studies of plants and worms, writing of Darwin's belief that natural beauty "always reflected function and adaptation at work."

In "Speed," he lauds William James for his exploration of the perception of time and how it was altered "by the effects of certain drugs." One of the most moving pieces, "The Fallibility of Memory," argues that humans are "landed with memories which have fallibilities, frailties, and imperfections-but also great flexibility and creativity.

Accessibility

Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.