Hallucinations (book)

Hallucinations was written with the intention to remove the stigma of hallucinations in the eyes of society and the medical world.^[3] The book is separated into fifteen chapters; each chapter pertains to a different observation of hallucinations made by Sacks. The hallucinations mentioned in this book come from the everyday citizen and his own experiences, which are used to connect the structure and function of the brain of a healthy person to the symptom of hallucination. Sacks also mentions the positive effects of hallucinations in culture and art.^[4]

Sacks notes that the symptom of hallucinations have a negative connotation that was created by society. The purpose of Hallucinations was to take away the public fear of symptoms relating to mental illness by showcasing many instances where healthy individuals experienced hallucinations.^[5] Sacks also uses this book to educate society on the different types of hallucinations and the neurological basis behind hallucinations.

• 2014 Wellcome Book Prize shortlist^[6][7]