An Imagined World : A Story of Scientific Discovery (Ann Arbor Paperbacks)
Editorial Reviews
From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Erica Bauermeister
An Imagined World follows the scientific research of Anna Britt as she explores the connections between cancer and iron (among many other things). June Goodfield, a philosopher of science, weaves together all the bits and pieces of science - the euphoria of insight, the dynamics of an international laboratory, the problem of obtaining funding, the need for exact experiments and an open mind - and creates a mystery that is both suspenseful and comprehensible. Those without a scientific background will need real concentration when it comes to the discussions of Anna Britt's research, but June Goodfield makes sure the technical aspects of the work are both fully explained and well-paced, interspersing scientific explanations with explorations of interpersonal relationships and biographical information. A particularly beautiful addition is Anna Britt's own poetic discussions of her work. Describing the feeling of being alone with her idea, knowing she is one of few who truly understand and believe it, she comments, "It's like walking literally into one of those landscapes of Dali; where the clocks just drip like hanging linen so that you don't even feel the touch of the wind. Everything is still: time is still, the landscape is still; and one feels very alone." In the end, this is a story about people and a process. Through June Goodfield's commentary and Anna Britt's interpretations, science becomes something that is electrifying, consuming, beautiful - and ultimately lonely: "Love is light, warmth and comfort. Understanding is just light." -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14.
Book Description
Brings to life the human and creative nature of scientific discovery to the nonscientist.
An Imagined World: A Story of Scientific Discovery (Ann Arbor Paperbacks),June Goodfield,University of Michigan Press,0472064622,General,Immunology,Medicine,Research,Science,Science/Mathematics,Science / General,Science: General Issues
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