Free Radicals: The Secret Anarchy of Science 1st Edition

by Michael Brooks (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-1468306712

ISBN-10: 1468306715

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Scientists have colluded in the most successful cover-up of modern times. They present themselves as cool, logical, and levelheaded, relying exclusively on facts and passionless interpretations of painstakingly researched results.

But the truth is scientists will do anything--take drugs, follow mystical visions, lie, and even cheat--to make a discovery. In Free Radicals, physicist and journalist Michael Brooks seamlessly weaves together true stories of the "mad, bad and dangerous" (The Times) men and women who have revolutionized the scientific world into a fast-paced and thrilling exploration of the real process behind discovery. Brooks also traces the cover-up back to its source: the scientific establishment's reaction to the public fear of science after World War II. He argues that it its high time for science to come clean about just how bold and daring scientists really are.

Free Radicals: The Secret Anarchy of Science

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At the Edge of Uncertainty: 11 Discoveries Taking Science by Surprise by Michael Brooks Hardcover $15.77
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13 Things that Don't Make Sense: The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time by Michael Brooks Paperback $14.08
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An exuberant tour through the world of scientists behaving badly." --The New York Times

"Fascinating . . . Free Radicals reminds readers that scientific advances sometimes require creativity and vision." --Philadelphia Inquirer

"Insightful." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Michael Brooks, who holds a PhD in quantum physics, is the author of Free Radicals and 13 Things that Don’t Make Sense. He is a consultant at New Scientist and has a biweekly column for New Statesman.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: The Overlook Press; 1 edition (June 25, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1468306715
ISBN-13: 978-1468306712
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 14 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,345,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6554 in Books > Science & Math > History & Philosophy
- #27016 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History
- #35316 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics

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Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars

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It's about science both good and bad

ByMike F.on July 11, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Not much to say. It's about science both good and bad. Thought it would be much more exciting, inspirational or informative.

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Five Stars

Bymarc cookon March 13, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Another great Michael Brooks science
book anyone can understand and enjoy

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Riveting read!

ByDr. Kieran Fitzgerald Fitzgeraldon December 13, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Full of insight and exciting scientific history of significant breakthroughs in science, better than 13 things that don't make sense.

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Pushing a sensationalist title too far...

ByQuasiparticleon June 26, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I wanted to like this book. I am a practicing physicist at a well-respected laboratory and am quite aware of the humanity behind the science-- the drama and the creativity as well as the conservatism and thinking-in-the-box inertia. In this book I get the sense the Brooks is acting as a bit of a sensationalist in pushing his 'secret anarchist' notion on a public that, I fear, is already distrustful of scientists.

Brooks seems to constantly reiterate the notion that truly innovative work is done outside the strictures of a tightly confining scientific establishment, yet the support he furnishes seems to be a lot of unrelated anecdotes about maverick scientists and the stodgy establishment types who are either fame whores or too dull to recognize innovation when they see it.

What should not be a surprise is that science is done by a wide range of personalities and like many other communities, has its leaders and innovators and as well as those who are happy to live and work in the middle behaving well within the norm. Just like other work environments you get people being jerks to each other, acting out of spite and jealousy, but you also have generous, giving types who are interested in pushing their communities forward.

I guess this book rubbed me the wrong way because it seemed to try to push a cute, sensationalist title a little too far. There are several examples in the scientific community where high impact work was done by boring, nice people who didn't have important connections and weren't shunned or mistreated as in the anecdotes that Brooks describes. These kinds of stories are maybe too boring to sell books, but the thesis that Brooks hangs this whole book around is empty and not productive to the discourse between the scientific public and the community.

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Real Science

ByGlenda Lassiteron October 10, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Very interesting overview of scientists and their more human side. This is the perspective of scientists not usually written about.

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Info that's not widely known

ByKindle Customeron September 6, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Gives a different view of science that we don't generally think about and causes us to be more circumspect in choosing what to embrace and what to question

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An Eye Opener

ByChris Osieckion August 31, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Not going to write my own book to review this one. It was a very interesting account of the world of science.

It is interesting to see that what goes on in scientific research is more like the TV show "House" than "Marcus Welby".

The PR campaign that the scientific community has promoted has really worked in conveying a view of what goes on as something much
different than reality. A true "reality distortion field".

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What goes on in Science does NOT ....

BySam SanthoshVINE VOICEon July 10, 2011

Format: Paperback

What really goes on in the world of Science? Except for the rare evil scientist shown in movies, normally scientists are portrayed as cool, logical, level headed personalities - maybe slightly timid but nevertheless those who follow the rules. Now in "Free Radicals", Michael Brooks shows how wrong this picture is.

According to Brooks, in Science anything goes. The competition is so tough and the prizes so valuable that no punches are pulled. Drugs, lies, fraud, politics - all are part of the game. He exposes famed personalities from Newton to Einstein - showing how human they all are; and how the successful ones never hesitated to break the rules. Most of us have heard of Newton's famous statement on '..standing on the shoulders of giants', but we would not have heard of his skill of stomping down other scientists!. Any literate person would have heard of Einstein and his E=MC2 equation, but it is unbelievable to hear that he could not fully prove it in spite of eight attempts!!

Well researched and narrated in a fast pace, this book beats most fiction novels. I was enthralled at the stories, though in the beginning some of the `exposes' did give me a shock. But as I proceeded in the book it was clear that the author's intentions were honorable - the objective was not to deride the scientists but show that they are human just like the rest of us. Being an expert in one discipline does not make a person super human - nor does that expertise translate into other areas. I was also surprised at how `close minded' experts are and how difficult is for new ideas to break though - even in a field which is supposed to foster open thinking.

Brooks goes on to explain how to encourage more youngsters to get into Science and exhorts the Scientists to play a more activist role in causes that they believe in. Highlighting scientists like Carl Sagan, Brooks shows the important role that Scientists can play in formulating public opinion. However Brooks seems to get a little carried away on the benefits of drugs like marijuana or LSD to expand the mind's horizons - I am not convinced whether that was as important as he makes out.

I should hasten to add that the book is just not a bunch of `hot' stories. Excellently weaved through these stories, the author brings out beautifully a number of scientific breakthroughs and their impact on society. This is a science book that one can gift to any youngster to read!. It would also not hurt scientists to read it either.

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Most recent customer reviews

I cannot think of anything more destructive, today

I cannot think of anything more destructive, today, than an accomplished physicist who authors a book under the guise of relaying scientific knowledge to the public in confidence...Read more

Published 1 month ago by Mary

Read this book for science writing at its best

An excellent book written by a quantum physicist who has fairly deep knowledge in several other fields. Most importantly, Michael Brooks writes beautifully.Read more

Published 2 months ago by C. Payne

Tales of Renegade Scientists

In this most engaging book, the author recounts various stories about scientists in various fields who simply did not follow what we would expect to be normal protocol in science.Read more

Published on July 9, 2014 by George Poirier

What a Shame

Its an amazing paradox that a science writer can talk about the history of science and how consensus can and does stifle scientific dissent..Read more

Published on July 16, 2013 by michael williams

Sometimes the truth hurts...

This review contains only my opinions.

From what I know about this book's thesis, it seems to be an extremely valid expose.Read more

Published on July 28, 2012 by a reviewer

Skepticism, Cynicism

Incisive yet each page is filled with human frailties that apply to every profesion or vocation. Its sole claim to fame is to defame (not humanize) almost every scientist and...Read more

Published on August 31, 2011 by herb515

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