Catering to Nobody (A Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery, #1)
by Oliver Sacks
Catering to Nobody by Oliver Sacks holds a well received rating of 3.85 out of 5, based on 15.8K reader ratings. First published in 1990. The book spans 326 pages.
About Catering to Nobody
Have you ever seen something that wasn’t really there? Heard someone call your name in an empty house? Sensed someone following you and turned around to find nothing? Hallucinations don’t belong wholly to the insane. Much more commonly, they are linked to sensory deprivation, intoxication, illness, or injury. People with migraines may see shimmering arcs of light or tiny, Lilliputian figures of animals and people. People with failing eyesight, paradoxically, may become immersed in a hallucinatory visual world. Hallucinations can be brought on by a simple fever or even the act of waking or falling asleep, when people have visions ranging from luminous blobs of color to beautifully detailed faces or terrifying ogres. Those who are bereaved may receive comforting “visits” from the departed. In some conditions, hallucinations can lead to religious epiphanies or even the feeling of leaving one’s own body. Humans have always sought such life-changing visions, and for thousands of years have used hallucinogenic compounds to achieve them. As a young doctor in California in the 1960s, Oliver Sacks had both a personal and a professional interest in psychedelics. These, along with his early migraine experiences, launched a lifelong investigation into the varieties of hallucinatory experience. Here, with his usual elegance, curiosity, and compassion, Dr. Sacks weaves together stories of his patients and of his own mind-altering experiences to illuminate what hallucinations tell us about the organization and structure of our brains, how they have influenced every culture’s folklore and art, and why the potential for hallucination is present in us all, a vital part of the human condition.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Oliver Sacks |
| Published | 1990 |
| Pages | 326 |
| Genres | Science, Psychology, Non-Fiction, History, Biography & Memoir |
| Average Rating | 3.85 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 15,777 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Catering to Nobody?
Catering to Nobody is categorized as Science, Psychology, Non-Fiction, History. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is Catering to Nobody worth reading?
Based on 15.8K reader ratings, Catering to Nobody has an average score of 3.85 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is Catering to Nobody?
Catering to Nobody has 326 pages.
Who wrote Catering to Nobody?
Catering to Nobody was written by Oliver Sacks. It was first published in 1990.
What is the ISBN for Catering to Nobody?
The ISBN-13 for Catering to Nobody is 9780553584710.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
