Scan barcode
pickleballlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not much of a science reader, but this reads like poetry!
neilrcoulter's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up a copy of The Lives of a Cell from a giveaway shelf just a little before encountering Lewis Thomas in William Zinsser's book Writing to Learn. Reading Thomas is a lot of fun. He employs a relaxed, humorous, slightly ironic tone that makes his perspective on life distinctive. I haven't read another book quite like The Lives of a Cell. Though I can see how it led to the genre of "scientists writing for a popular audience," it remains its own kind of book.
Both the humor and a general theme of the book are seen in this quote from the start of chapter 3:
The science content of this book is kept relatively general, and probably some of the specific research Thomas mentions has by now been superseded by more precise (or even contradictory) studies. For me, though, this is not problematic, because the real star is Thomas's writing style, which is one of a kind.
Both the humor and a general theme of the book are seen in this quote from the start of chapter 3:
Viewed from a suitable height, the aggregating clusters of medical scientists in the bright sunlight of the boardwalk at Atlantic City, swarmed there from everywhere for the annual meetings, have the look of assemblages of social insects. (11)In addition to showing Thomas's ironic point of view, this quote is also a theme that connects his sometimes all-over-the-place musings. Thomas wants to look at the smallest level of life and the largest and see interdependence and connection. Considering various organisms, and even the entire planet, in this way is often intriguing.
The science content of this book is kept relatively general, and probably some of the specific research Thomas mentions has by now been superseded by more precise (or even contradictory) studies. For me, though, this is not problematic, because the real star is Thomas's writing style, which is one of a kind.
kfolezzz's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I am convinced this book is magical. I found it in a little free library in Berkeley, and I completely fell in love upon reading the first three pages. It’s a collection of science, writing essays much like the ones I aspire to write myself, but it was first published in 1974. Surprisingly, most of the insight holds up over time. The inquisitiveness Victoriocity on the wonder is inspiring and makes you see the world as a better place. I gifted it to somebody else to share the love. Normally I get a five star reviews only to those books I want to re-read this book I wanted to pass on to others.
babs_jellymuck's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this book feels like hanging out with Lewis Thomas for a while and being able to look at life through his telescopes and microscopes and magnifying glasses. I compare it to Miss Frizzle's Magic Schoolbus, except with bigger words. I'm actually glad that I am currently enrolled in biology because he was not shy about using the technical terminology for pretty much everything. With a little work and the use of a dictionary I got through it and found the results rewarding. Big words; simple ideas. Beautiful imagery, and I especially loved all of his notes on symbiosis.
*Given to Carol Aguayo
*Given to Carol Aguayo
menfrommarrs's review
5.0
Quite an adventure. The author is obviously passionate about his subject, and makes biology fascinating to the mere layperson.
arctic_benji's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A collection of various essays which start of with more practical biology and later shift towards more philosophical questions.
desirosie's review against another edition
3.0
This is a collection of essays and I read the ones of interest to me.