Robert Kanigel takes us into the heady world of a remarkable group of scientists working at the National Institutes of Health and the Johns Hopkins University: a dynasty of American researchers who for over forty years have made Nobel Prize- and Lasker Award-winning breakthroughs in biomedical science.
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From Library Journal
Corporate mentors are well known. Less visible are the "mentor chains" that from generation to generation produce eminent scientists. Kanigel traces one such chain in neuroscience and neuropharmacology that accounts for such resarchers as Steve Brodie, Julius Axelrod, Sol Snyder, and Candace Pertall brilliant scientists whose relations are characterized by camaraderie, envy, and frustration. The author's thesis is that participation in elite science through mentor chains provides more than grants, access to laboratories, and awards. It instills the ability to critically and creatively strike at the heart of a research question. An exciting story of discovery that evenly handles the inevitable conflicts. Recommended. Michael D. Cramer, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ. Lib., Blacksburg
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
A beguiling combination of sociological and scientific scholarship, straight reporting and titillating voyeurism.
(Isis )Making extensive use of interviews and anecdote, Kanigel depicts how, in a mentor-to-protege chain starting with James Shannon and moving to Bernard Brodie and then to Julius Axelrod, the legacy of creativity and empirical style has passed to Snyder and then to Pert.
(Science )As compelling as a Jackie Collins novel, though with bigger words.
(Chicago Tribune )
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More About the Author
Robert Kanigel was born in Brooklyn, NY, but for most of his adult life has lived in Baltimore, MD, where he lives today. He has written seven books, on wildly differing subjects. His second, "The Man Who Knew Infinity," was named a National Book Critics Circle finalist, a Los Angeles book Prize finalist, a New York Public Library "Book to Remember," and has been translated into Italian, German, Greek, Chinese, and other languages. His latest book, for which he was named recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, is "On an Irish Island," set on a windswept island village off the coast of Ireland.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While seemingly on a mundane and complicated subject (pharmacology and its researchers), it is an easy read for any layman and very, very interesting (especially on the topic of malaria medications and their discovery and problems)... Very interesting how hitching your star to the right person can make your career...and how pettiness and back-stabbing can be so cruel and counterproductive... A very, very good read for anyone even remotely interested in science...
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By HL Wong
Format:Paperback
Several years ago, my former mentor circulated this book in the lab. Until quite recently, my friends still found me quoting from it while talking about scientific ideas. Now, after reading the book for many times, and studying the characteristics of great mentors around me, I conclude that it's a marvelous book. Anyone who plan to have a bright scientific career should read this book. My only dissatisfaction is the book is so old. I demand a new edition or a sequel! And, I want more examples of such lineage of excellent scientists as described in the book.Surely, it's book that I will share with my student.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was entertaining and germane to all aspiring and current scientists. Your scientific geneology will take on a new meaning and you will never be so proud to work in a field with curresnt mentor-apprintice relationships. After reading this book I found out that through my mentor, I am distantly related to Anne Frued!
By Ravi
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Robert Kanigel is a rare gem. I stumbled on his other book " Srinivasa Ramanujan: The Man Who Knew Infinity" and was completely bewildered by his exceptional detailing and story telling ability. This book is such a rare piece as well. It inspires you and makes you think about all the subtle nuances of inter-personal relationships in academics/research. As a grad student, I was thoroughly inspired by this book. It does a very good job of infusing passion.
After reading this book, I started reevaluating my grad life and decided to move to a different school to work with the right kind of people. Working and surrounding oneself with passionate and dedicated people can make so much difference and this is an excellent book on everything to do with scientific mentoring.
After reading this book, I started reevaluating my grad life and decided to move to a different school to work with the right kind of people. Working and surrounding oneself with passionate and dedicated people can make so much difference and this is an excellent book on everything to do with scientific mentoring.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
How many books are there which talk about scientific mentoring? So very few. This book gives vivid portraits of how top-flight scientists pass down their "research genes" by mentoring their apprentices. This book gives the readers the inside look of the research lives of these prominent scientists and their disciples. Of course, not all things are glorious, but throughout the book, the author brought out the theme again and again that mentoring is essential to the producing of next generation of outstanding achievers.
This book should be read by every bright and ambitious graduate student and postdoc. Do you want to achieve greatness? Do you want to learn how to do great research? Attach yourself to a great scientist! Julius Axelrod, the 1970 Nobel Laureate, has a saying: "99% of the discoveries are made by 1% of the scientists." Sociologist Harriet Zuckerman reported that the single factor that most clearly differentiated Nobel laureates from outstanding but lesser scientists was training with another Nobel laureate. Thus, the importance of mentoring cannot be overstated for a young budding scientist!
This book should be read by every top scientist in the world. Your legacy lies not just in your individual achievement, but also in passing down your "research genes" to the next generation and thus greatly magnifying your legacy.
The author should be applauded for such a monumental work!
This book should be read by every bright and ambitious graduate student and postdoc. Do you want to achieve greatness? Do you want to learn how to do great research? Attach yourself to a great scientist! Julius Axelrod, the 1970 Nobel Laureate, has a saying: "99% of the discoveries are made by 1% of the scientists." Sociologist Harriet Zuckerman reported that the single factor that most clearly differentiated Nobel laureates from outstanding but lesser scientists was training with another Nobel laureate. Thus, the importance of mentoring cannot be overstated for a young budding scientist!
This book should be read by every top scientist in the world. Your legacy lies not just in your individual achievement, but also in passing down your "research genes" to the next generation and thus greatly magnifying your legacy.
The author should be applauded for such a monumental work!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 11
books:
See all 11 books this book cites
9
books
cite this book:
See all 9 books citing this book
- Fair Science (Women in the Scientific Community) by Jonathan R. Cole on page 233, page 237, and page 239
- George Washington (Childhoods of the Presidents) by Arthur Meier Schlesinger Jr. in Front Matter, and page 205
- Civil War (Hotlinks School Study Series) by Julie Brodie in Back Matter
- John Burns (Royal Historical Society Studies in History) by Kenneth D. Brown on page 236
- Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruif on page 21
See all 11 books this book cites
- The Antidepressant Era by David Healy in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine by Candace B. Pert in Back Matter
- Blaming the Brain: The Truth About Drugs and Mental Health by Elliot Valenstein in Back Matter
- Candid Science V: Conversations with Famous Scientists (Pt. 5) by Balazs Hargittai on page 616
See all 9 books citing this book
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