Thomas: The Lives of a Cell
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This is a famous collection even after 30 years in print, but I'm not quite sure why. I've heard the book touted as though it's a classic of science popularization, but it's not—these essays are not primarily didactic.In fact, I think the subtitle, "Notes of a Biology Watcher", is surprisingly accurate: they seem to be ruminations on topics of the day as they caught Thomas' interest. They do, nevertheless, provide insights into the inner workings of science, largely because they are writings about science by an unusually eloquent scientist. | This is a famous collection even after 30 years in print, but I'm not quite sure why. I've heard the book touted as though it's a classic of science popularization, but it's not—these essays are not primarily didactic.In fact, I think the subtitle, "Notes of a Biology Watcher", is surprisingly accurate: they seem to be ruminations on topics of the day as they caught Thomas' interest. They do, nevertheless, provide insights into the inner workings of science, largely because they are writings about science by an unusually eloquent scientist. | ||
| - | Regardless of my equivocations they certainly made for compelling reading. I read them in small doses, two or three an evening, and I found myself looking forward | + | Regardless of my equivocations they certainly made for compelling reading. I read them in small doses, two or three an evening, and I found myself looking forward to finding out what came next. I think it was less the topics and more Thomas' writing that stoked my anticipation. They were always a pleasant way to spend ten or fifteen minutes in a quiet place. |
Some themes seemed to be on Thomas' mind most of the time: cells, ant colonies, and symbiosis. I found myself wondering whether my impression was correct that either the cell or the anthill was mentioned in each essay, such was the importance they had for Thomas as handy, multi-purpose metaphors. | Some themes seemed to be on Thomas' mind most of the time: cells, ant colonies, and symbiosis. I found myself wondering whether my impression was correct that either the cell or the anthill was mentioned in each essay, such was the importance they had for Thomas as handy, multi-purpose metaphors. | ||
