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49 reviews for:
As Vidas da Célula - Apontamentos de Um Observador dos Factos Biológicos
Lewis Thomas
4.04 AVERAGE
49 reviews for:
As Vidas da Célula - Apontamentos de Um Observador dos Factos Biológicos
Lewis Thomas
4.04 AVERAGE
It seemed like the author was attempting to mix science and art. I liked the idea, but never once did this book grab me
Thomas seems like the type of person who raises his hand during a lecture to say “this is more of a comment than a question…” before offering a surface level analysis of the subject, completely convinced that others are in awe of his intellect. I read The Medusa and The Snail first and wasn’t impressed, but I figured that since it was his less popular book, this one would be the first tier essays. Despite being 150 pages long, it took me more than a month to finish because I dreaded going back to his vague stoner philosophy and unearned elitism.
“Bro, do you ever think about how we’re all like ants and the whole world is like our anthill? Pretty heavy. Anyway, let me explain to you why there haven’t been any good musicians since Beethoven and why I’m like this generation’s Montaigne”
-Lewis Thomas, probably
I was most engaged with his writing when he was leaking pseudoscience (eg, Grammar is biologically programmed into us, so a person raised speaking English will be genetically different from their identical twin who was raised speaking Arabic), because at least then I was feeling something. Remembering he was a respected doctor has made me lose some trust in the medical establishment.
Although I’m frustrated, I’m more disappointed that such a wonderful idea as recognizing the magic and spirituality in science has been executed so poorly. Reading the other positive reviews shows how deep this desire is, and I wish Lewis hadn’t fumbled so poorly.
For a better book that covers similar ideas, try Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller
“Bro, do you ever think about how we’re all like ants and the whole world is like our anthill? Pretty heavy. Anyway, let me explain to you why there haven’t been any good musicians since Beethoven and why I’m like this generation’s Montaigne”
-Lewis Thomas, probably
I was most engaged with his writing when he was leaking pseudoscience (eg, Grammar is biologically programmed into us, so a person raised speaking English will be genetically different from their identical twin who was raised speaking Arabic), because at least then I was feeling something. Remembering he was a respected doctor has made me lose some trust in the medical establishment.
Although I’m frustrated, I’m more disappointed that such a wonderful idea as recognizing the magic and spirituality in science has been executed so poorly. Reading the other positive reviews shows how deep this desire is, and I wish Lewis hadn’t fumbled so poorly.
For a better book that covers similar ideas, try Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
Stay for some of the most elegant, lucid writing I've found on medicine and biology. Leave the amateur sociology and linguistics behind.
I read this book in high school and it rocked my world. I re-read it periodically.
Ugh, what a precious, beautiful book. Given that this was written in the early '70s, I am blown away by how relevant much of this writing is to today. Though we have advanced in the sciences since Lewis Thomas devoted his time to writing these essays, majority feel like they surpass time. What is most incredible about this book, however, is the style of writing. Many of these essays go into hard science concepts and verbiage, but the wording is poetic, intricate, and personal. Many essays had my eyes watering with appreciation for the way that Thomas captured many overlooked and misunderstood concepts. As someone with a background in biology and a deep love for the sciences AND poetry, this book is truly a masterpiece. It is such a joy to read a book about science that crosses so many bridges and captures the true beauty, value, and mystery of our natural world and the way we've tried to understand it. This is a must-read for anyone who loves or appreciates either science or poetry, but especially for those who love both.
Beautifully written. Much of it seems prophetic considering when it was written.
I was expecting a bit...more. The writing is pompous and affected and full of "whoah dude, what if?!" stoner-like moments. The ideas are nice but could be conveyed better and clearer. I don't feel like I wasted my time reading but I rolled my eyes at least once every two essays.
Great thought-provoking book about humans and the organisms that exist in and around us and how we affect or are affected by them. Interesting and informative essays about a whole bunch of biological topics. Great read.