Overview

Science does not offer a quiet life. Imagination, creativity, ambition, and conflict are as vital and abundant in science as in artistic endeavours. In this delightful collection of essays, Nobel Laureate Max Perutz writes about the pursuit of scientific knowledge, which he sees as an enterprise providing not just a few facts but cause for reflection and revelation.This book contains detective stories, tales of conflict and battle, a woman's love affair with crystals, a man's gruesome fascination with poison gas, perils both phantom and real, and entertaining glimpses of Perutz's own long and exceptional life. Perutz views science as a passionate enterprise and the pursuit of knowledge as a sortie into the unknown: these essays explore a remarkable range of topics, both scientific and personal, with the lucidity and precision that he brought to his own pioneering work in protein crystallography.

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9780198590279

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Reviews

The essays are beautifully written, with flashes of wit and humour ... I read this as a bedtime book ... when I finally found that there was no more to read, I felt quite disappointed - no more chocolates in the box! * Nature Medicine * This is a wholly captivating book; it has warmth, wit, and style, and not a dull sentence. I urge you to read, enjoy, and learn. * Walter Gratzer, Nature * I Wish I Made Your Angry Earlier is a joy to read and captures some wonderful insights into the lives of a number of key scientists during their pursuit of knowledge. * Education in Chemistry, September 2000 * If you are interested in science and what makes scientists tick, you will find great enjoyment in this book ... What a wonderful bedside read. This is a book to treasure. * Food Technology in New Zealand, August 1999 * A splendidly varied and totally readable collection of articles, some new and some previously published elsewhere, but all the better for being drawn together in one volume ... I enjoyed the book straight through on a long flight; it would also be ideal for dipping into. Either way, the sort of book you are sorry to finish. * Ron Fraser, Microbiology Today, February 2000 * Review from previous edition Perutz introduces the giants of 20th-century science gracefully, writing with the lucidity and precision that he brought to his work on proteins. There is something for everyone here. * John L. Casti, Santa Fe Institute, New Mexico, New Scientist, 29/05/99 *

Review from previous edition Perutz introduces the giants of 20th-century science gracefully, writing with the lucidity and precision that he brought to his work on proteins. There is something for everyone here. John L. Casti, Santa Fe Institute, New Mexico, New Scientist, 29/05/99 A splendidly varied and totally readable collection of articles, some new and some previously published elsewhere, but all the better for being drawn together in one volume ... I enjoyed the book straight through on a long flight; it would also be ideal for dipping into. Either way, the sort of book you are sorry to finish. Ron Fraser, Microbiology Today, February 2000 If you are interested in science and what makes scientists tick, you will find great enjoyment in this book ... What a wonderful bedside read. This is a book to treasure. Food Technology in New Zealand, August 1999 I Wish I Made Your Angry Earlier is a joy to read and captures some wonderful insights into the lives of a number of key scientists during their pursuit of knowledge. Education in Chemistry, September 2000 This is a wholly captivating book; it has warmth, wit, and style, and not a dull sentence. I urge you to read, enjoy, and learn. Walter Gratzer, Nature The essays are beautifully written, with flashes of wit and humour ... I read this as a bedtime book ... when I finally found that there was no more to read, I felt quite disappointed - no more chocolates in the box! Nature Medicine

`Review from previous edition Perutz introduces the giants of 20th-century science gracefully, writing with the lucidity and precision that he brought to his work on proteins. There is something for everyone here.' John L. Casti, Santa Fe Institute, New Mexico, New Scientist, 29/05/99 `A splendidly varied and totally readable collection of articles, some new and some previously published elsewhere, but all the better for being drawn together in one volume ... I enjoyed the book straight through on a long flight; it would also be ideal for dipping into. Either way, the sort of book you are sorry to finish.' Ron Fraser, Microbiology Today, February 2000 `If you are interested in science and what makes scientists tick, you will find great enjoyment in this book ... What a wonderful bedside read. This is a book to treasure.' Food Technology in New Zealand, August 1999 ` I Wish I Made Your Angry Earlier is a joy to read and captures some wonderful insights into the lives of a number of key scientists during their pursuit of knowledge.' Education in Chemistry, September 2000 `This is a wholly captivating book; it has warmth, wit, and style, and not a dull sentence. I urge you to read, enjoy, and learn.' Walter Gratzer, Nature `The essays are beautifully written, with flashes of wit and humour ... I read this as a bedtime book ... when I finally found that there was no more to read, I felt quite disappointed - no more chocolates in the box!' Nature Medicine

Author Information

Max Perutz, FRS, was Director of the Medical Research Council Laboratory for Molecular Biology from its foundation in 1962 until 1979, and remained a member of the scientific staff there until his death in February 2002. In addition to many other awards and honours, he received, with John Kendrew, the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1972 for the first solution of the structure of proteins.

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