Neurologist writes beautiful essay about what it's like learning he's about to die

Oliver Sacks, a neurologist and revered writer of many New Yorker articles and books, penned an essay in Thursday's New York Times that begins by sharing his recent diagnosis of terminal liver cancer.

But he doesn't stop there.

Sacks has always been a master at sensitively capturing some of the most difficult and puzzling human conditions, and somehow he is able here to turn that lens on himself as he is, in his words, "face to face with dying."

As Sacks, 81, takes stock of his long and prolific career, he explains his renewed commitment "to live in the richest, deepest, most productive way I can," even as he feels a certain sense of detachment and perspective.

His nearly unmatched skill in communicating that perspective to readers in such a moving and cogent way makes his essay that much more poignant to read.

Here's Sacks:

Read his moving essay in full at The New York Times.