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John Brockman

Curious Minds: How a Child Becomes a Scientist Paperback – September 13, 2005

by John Brockman (Editor)

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What makes a child decide to become a scientist?

•For Robert Sapolsky–Stanford professor of biology–it was an argument with a rabbi over a passage in the Bible.
•Physicist Lee Smolin traces his inspiration to a volume of Einstein’s work, picked up as a diversion from heartbreak.
•Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a psychologist and the author of Flow, found his calling through Descartes.

Murray Gell-Mann, Nicholas Humphrey, Freeman Dyson . . . 27 scientists in all write about what it was that sent them on the path to their life's work. Illuminating memoir meets superb science writing in stories that invite us to consider what it is–and what it isn’t–that sets the scientific mind apart.

Editorial Reviews

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“Fascinating . . . An invigorating debate.” –The Washington Post Book World“And intriguing collection of essays . . . full of comical and thought-provoking stories.” –Psychology Today“Quirky, absorbing and persuasive in just the way that good stories are.” –Nature“In this superlative collection . . . scientists–who also happen to be splendid writers–discuss what first attracted them to careers in science. . . . Inspiring.” –Sci Fi Magazine“Revealing accounts and entertaining reading.” –Science News“Compelling . . . rather than revealing a secret formula that produces an adult scientist, this collection proves just how disparate are the ingredients. . . . Idiosyncrasies are, in the end, what gives the collection its kick.” –Discover“Forget algebra camp–a scientist’s life can also begin with Gilligan’s Island or the James Bond movie Thunderball . . . Entertaining stories.” –Popular Science“[An] engrossing treat of a book . . . crammed with hugely enjoyable anecdotes.” –New Scientist

From the Inside Flap

"What makes a child decide to become a scientist?
-For Robert Sapolsky-Stanford professor of biology-it was an argument with a rabbi over a passage in the Bible.
-Physicist Lee Smolin traces his inspiration to a volume of Einstein's work, picked up as a diversion from heartbreak.
-Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a psychologist and the author of "Flow, found his calling through Descartes.
Murray Gell-Mann, Nicholas Humphrey, Freeman Dyson . . . 27 scientists in all write about what it was that sent them on the path to their life's work. Illuminating memoir meets superb science writing in stories that invite us to consider what it is-and what it isn't-that sets the scientific mind apart.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Vintage (September 13, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400076862
ISBN-13: 978-1400076864
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 9 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,000,061 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3876 in Scientist Biographies
- #10710 in Evolution (Books)

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Chuck

Where does a successful adult come from?

January 4, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Although the subtitle uses the terms, Child and Scientist, I think the real topic is how a person develops into a successful, creative adult. I found the book fascinating as I looked for patterns to validate how I raised my own children, or how I was raised, or how anyone should mentor younger people. What I learned was that becoming a scientist or any thinking adult is a mixture of luck, genetics, family influence, peer influence, and social setting. There is no recipe, but there may be patterns for our children and ourselves.

While this was not a well constructed statistical survey, it was a well conceived set of informative essays from interesting, successful folks. Excellent book, great to discuss. Also, the format of many short essays made it easy to read in pieces and reflect.

6 people found this helpful

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red hopeful

This is actually an anthology of articles written by many ...

May 11, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is actually an anthology of articles written by many different scientists about their lives. I had hoped - expected - at least a minimum of analysis. What are the common threads, if any etc.? Does the title reveal the only one? One has to be prepared to draw one's own conclusions.

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redLichen

Really dry read. Everyone's story can be told in ...

July 22, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Really dry read. Everyone's story can be told in an interesting way and that doesn't happen here.
Other than offering a variety of experiences there wasn't a clear answer to the books title "How a child becomes a scientist "

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NYer family

the scientist in all of us

September 19, 2006

Format: Hardcover

As the parent of two school-age children, I loved this book. For all of the current passion for loading our children up with the "best" and "the latest", the best approach is perhaps to simply get out of the way. What struck me about this book was that so many of the scientists profiled made do with very little as children--it wasn't all chemistry sets and parents with advanced degrees. My favorite was the primatologist who was inspired by the Bronx Zoo down the block AND the theme-song from Gilligan's Island ("...the professor and Mary-Ann" convinced him that brains might attract women). There was the woman whose parents wanted her to be a nightclub singer, but the Nancy Drew books she read led her to love investigations. A brain surgeon grew up searching for bullets in the brains of cows that his cowboy-butcher father processed. Indeed some of the scientists don't even find their focus until adulthood (in other words, if your high-schooler doesn't win the Intel science prize, there's still hope). This book made me realize that inspiration is all around my children and the wisest thing I can do is just be supportive.

11 people found this helpful

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Compelling stories about science and life

March 31, 2005

Format: Hardcover

Despite the subtitle of this book, the stories are less a guide to making your child into a scientist and more a series of autobiographical essays.

Sounds boring? Absolutely not.

The writing is alive and vibrant, the stories are funny and poignant. While you might approach this book thinking "I can help my child love science", you'll probably leave thinking "this science stuff sounds interesting, how come I've not tried it?".

As you read you'll find many examples of people who were turned on to a love of discovery because of some adult they met who treated them as a colleague or a collaborator.

Read the book. Buy a microscope, grow sugar crystals and watch fill the eyepiece. Share the experience with your 7 year old daughter. There's magic all around in science, and this book may open your eyes to it.

18 people found this helpful

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Happy

"and as the twig is bent...."

March 14, 2007

Format: Paperback

I have enjoyed this book so much. After reading the New York Times Tuesday Science Section for years, I wished that those writers would gather the stories in the "Scientists" series and put them in a book. In CURIOUS MINDS the personal reiminiscences include surprises such as a woman who loved Nancy Drew and her sleuthing. Richard Dawkins, often in the news now,

loved the Dr. Doolittle books. A good number of women scientists are included. Some of the scientists are from "scientific" families, others from good ole blue collar roots.

2 people found this helpful

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Betty Burks

It Takes a Curious Mind To Be Known!

May 2, 2005

Format: Hardcover

Memory is faulty. "Even when we remember events accurately, we are apt to misidentify their places in the casual tapestry of our lives." It wasn't anything in childhood which influenced psychologist Steven Pinkier to pursue his dreams or career, or take a certain path. I think that fate has some place in what we become and do at a particular phase in our lives. It was in grad school when his interest in language became the focus for his career in vocabulary and grammar, my special interests, too.

Just like a man, when he is confronted with a question or situation he isn't expecting, he just nods -- therefore, no real "thinking" takes place. For a psychology professor, he has a strange way of thinking about truth, changing his viewpoint as the whim hits him. He feels that childhood influences don't steer a "curious mind" in a certain direction. Usually we find our niche in life quite acccidentally.

Most of us don't know what we will become (when suffering through childhood) nor any way to deflect what the future has in store for us. Happenstance has a way of steering us in a direction we might not want to go. We never know when life will throw us a curve ball.

The old hometown is full of transplants and aliens interested only with making big money, not in promoting "curious minds" of children to become scientists. Thomas Wolfe was right, "You can't go home again." Because home is where you are, not the place you were born. That's a myth -- an illusion. Nothing is ever the same. No one is ever there to greet you or welcome you "home."

These essays include stories by Howard Gardner on making a social scientist, Doyne Farmer (physics), Steven Strogatz (math), V. S. Ramachandran (science), no big names, no one I've heard of, but they have been successful enough in their diverse fields to be included in a social science assortment.

John Brockman's books include SPECULATIONS, CREATIVITY, and HOW THINGS ARE, all of which decide who we are as individuals and what we become as adults. He's been busy writing, editing and co-editing. He owns a software agency in New York City. What I am wondering is why he didn't become a scientist with his "curious mind."

3 people found this helpful

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