This review is from: Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher (Paperback)
What can one say if you believe to have found the ‘John Steinbeck’ of science! I totally enjoyed his descriptive readings and perspectives of our magnificient world! Lewis Thomas has done an excellent job interpreting his thoughts on life through the language of science. He blends the two so delicately and precisely, that one starts to forget where the line between real life and scientific theory is drawn. Lewis Thomas found joy in science and it is illustrated in his essays. He manages to show the reader a peek at how a scientist like himself looks at the world.
I have chosen this book as one for all of my ninth grade Honors Biology students to read and report about. The book definitely makes the reader ‘think’…you will not be able to just read one page after the other..one will need to keep a dictionary close by. Thomas uses quite alot of scientific terminology. It is definitely not for the lazy reader. It is for those individuals who read to learn more and enjoy the challenge of new vocabulary to broaden their own horizons in science or language itself. I enjoy giving my students a challenge and that is exactly what this book offers to the young mind.
51 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 starsNot what many expect, but outstanding., May 12, 2000
This review is from: Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher (Paperback)
A group of students and I just finished reading THE LIVES OF A CELL as part of a readings in biology seminar this spring. Once you read the first 3-4 chapters it becomes obvious that there is not a central theme (or is there) for the book.
Contents of this book are a compilation of reflective articles originally published in a medical journal. Chapter topics range all over the place, but they present many topics drawn from biological thought prominent through the mid-1970s — everything from molecular biology to Gaia to sociobiology.
There is a wealth of material here appropriate for discussion among undergraduate students, professionals, and perhaps even science-directed high school students. Each of the 29 chapters are about 3-5 pages long, can be easily digested, and beg to be reflected upon and discussed.
As for the writing, other Amazon reviewers have referred to the writing in this book as being poetic. While I didn’t see so much of that, I was struck by Thomas’ ability to turn a phrase, make a point, and discuss complex biological ideas in a manner that is easily understood. The writing in the book is a definite plus.
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이 귀중한 책을 제본하고자 합니다.
원하시는 분은 댓글로 의사표시를 해주시기 바랍니다.
2월 초에 실행되는 51회 천문우주+뇌과학 시간에 현장에서 수령하도록 할 예정입니다.
서울 경기지방에 거주하시는 회원들은 현장수령을 원칙으로 하고,
지방에 거주하시는 분들은 택배수령을 원칙으로 하겠습니다.
이름 / 전화번호 / 주소 / 수량 순으로 기재해 주십시요.
가격 등은 추후 공지하도록 하겠습니다.
이 책은 Lewis Thomas Prize를 제정한 계기가 될 정도로 과학사에 중요한 의미를 지닌 책입니다.
물론 한글 번역본은 절판되어 어디서도 구하기 힘듭니다.
더군다나 저자인 Lewis Thomas도 1993년에 작고하여 더이상 이 분의 책을 볼 수가 없습니다.
Lewis Thomas Prize는 록펠러 대학이 저자가 작고한 1993년에 제정하였고, 1993년 첫번째 수상자가 저자입니다. 물론 이 상 제정의 계기는 바로 저자의 에세이 모음집인 “The Lives of a Cell(세포라는 대우주)” 입니다.
이 상은 과학자이면서 문학에 큰 업적을 남긴 사람에게 수상합니다.
즉 과학자로서 과학의 새로운 정보만이 아니라 과학의 심미적이고 철학적인 부문을 통해서 과학과 인류사회사이에 교량의 역할을 하며 중요한 문학적 성취를 남긴 사람에게 매년 수여하는 상입니다.
이런 의미의 상을 제정하게 한 책이 ” The Lives of a cell”입니다. 이 책 내용 역시 이런 의미를 지닌 책이란 걸 알 수 있습니다. 이 책에 관하여 박자세 관리자님이 올렸던 글을 참조하시기 바랍니다.\
http://mhpark.co.kr/index.php?document_srl=7317
이 상의 수상자들 명단입니다.
Jacob (for 1994),
1995),
1996)
(for 1999),
2000),
2001),
2002),
(for 2003)
2005),
(for 2006)
(for 2007).
(for 2008).
Rees (for 2009).
What can one say if you believe to have found the ‘John Steinbeck’ of science! I totally enjoyed his descriptive readings and perspectives of our magnificient world! Lewis Thomas has done an excellent job interpreting his thoughts on life through the language of science. He blends the two so delicately and precisely, that one starts to forget where the line between real life and scientific theory is drawn. Lewis Thomas found joy in science and it is illustrated in his essays. He manages to show the reader a peek at how a scientist like himself looks at the world.
I have chosen this book as one for all of my ninth grade Honors Biology students to read and report about. The book definitely makes the reader ‘think’…you will not be able to just read one page after the other..one will need to keep a dictionary close by. Thomas uses quite alot of scientific terminology. It is definitely not for the lazy reader. It is for those individuals who read to learn more and enjoy the challenge of new vocabulary to broaden their own horizons in science or language itself. I enjoy giving my students a challenge and that is exactly what this book offers to the young mind.
A group of students and I just finished reading THE LIVES OF A CELL as part of a readings in biology seminar this spring. Once you read the first 3-4 chapters it becomes obvious that there is not a central theme (or is there) for the book.
Contents of this book are a compilation of reflective articles originally published in a medical journal. Chapter topics range all over the place, but they present many topics drawn from biological thought prominent through the mid-1970s — everything from molecular biology to Gaia to sociobiology.
There is a wealth of material here appropriate for discussion among undergraduate students, professionals, and perhaps even science-directed high school students. Each of the 29 chapters are about 3-5 pages long, can be easily digested, and beg to be reflected upon and discussed.
As for the writing, other Amazon reviewers have referred to the writing in this book as being poetic. While I didn’t see so much of that, I was struck by Thomas’ ability to turn a phrase, make a point, and discuss complex biological ideas in a manner that is easily understood. The writing in the book is a definite plus.
“세포라는 대우주”라는 제목으로 검색해보니 그런 책이 없다고 나오네요. 어디서 찾을 수 있는지 부탁드립니다.
아! 절판 되었다가 새로 번역되다 보니 아직 나오지 않은 책인가 봅니다. 제목도 변경되어 나오나 보지요.
언능 나왔으면 좋겠네요.