Science as Autobiography - The Troubled Life of Niels Jerne
This biography probes the unusual mind, the dramatic life, and the outstanding scientific work of Danish-born immunologist Niels Jerne (1911-1994). Jerne’s Nobel Prize-winning achievements in the field of immunology place him in the pantheon of great twentieth-century biomedical theorists, yet his life is perhaps even more interesting than his science. Science as Autobiography tells Jerne’s story, weaving together a narrative of his life experiences, emotional life, and extraordinarily creative scientific work.
Without the daring, courageous, and innovative thinkers the past, life as we know it would be completely different; Planes, trains, and automobiles would never have been invented; Earth would be considered the center of the universe; and strep throat, polio, and smallpox would still be incurable diseases. Thankfully, individuals from various backgrounds and situations pushed themselves along the path of discovery and made great contributions to the scientific community, bravely initiating discoveries and broadening the minds of those around them. The "Pioneers in Science" set is a unique eight-volume collection profiling the people behind the science.
Michael Faraday is an exciting subject for a biography: the nineteenth-century British working-class, religious kid who grew up to change our daily lives with his groundbreaking discoveries in electricity and magnetism. Many teens will be interested in his religion and his synthesis of science and Christianity. Unfortunately, the style here is heavy going; it's laboriously detailed and dry, not only about the physics and chemistry but also about Faraday's life. Give this to good readers who need a fresh biography subject, especially those who want to know about the history of science and technology.
In the Portraits in Science series, an intelligent chronicle of Curie's life, from her struggle to educate herself in Russian-occupied Poland to her successes in France; her pioneering work with her husband; and her troubles and triumphs after his death. While Pasachoff provides detailed explanations of Curie's scientific achievements, she paints an equally detailed portrait of Curie as a chemist-celebrity. Pasachoff's resolute concentration on the subject at hand--be it the gossip surrounding the Curies' Nobel Prize or the protocol for isolating radium--allows her to fold an impressive amount of information into a compact text.
Cholera, Chloroform and the Science of Medicine - A Life of John Snow
Although there is little new here for historians, much of this material will probably be new to epidemiologists, especially the information on Snow’s early years and his remarkably self-disciplined upward mobility. The authors also examine links between Snow’s epidemiologic approaches and his work in respiratory physiology, pathology, and experimental science—a laudable attempt to understand his thinking processes. Still, there are disappointments, such as the distancing of Snow as a person and a “Snow-centric” emphasis on what he alone thought and did, omitting much of the context within which his ideas evolved.
