We Are All Stardust
by Stefan Klein
2020-08-29 21:44:13
âThe dazzling clutch of scientific minds caught in mid-thought here makes for a read that provokes thought in its turn. Delights abound.â âNature âWhat distinguishes scientists, in your eyes?â âStefan Klein âFirst a...
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âThe dazzling clutch of scientific minds caught in mid-thought here makes for a read that provokes thought in its turn. Delights abound.â âNature âWhat distinguishes scientists, in your eyes?â âStefan Klein âFirst and foremost, curiosity.â âRoald Hoffmann, Nobel Prizeâwinning chemist When Stefan Klein, an acclaimed journalist, sits down to talk with 18 of the worldâs leading scientists, he finds theyâre driven by, above all, curiosity. When they talk about their work, they turn to whatâs next, to what they still hope to discover. And they see inspiration everywhere: From the sports car that physicist Steven Weinberg says helped him on his quest for âthe theory of everythingâ to the jazz musicians who gave psychologist Alison Gopnik new insight into raising children, they reveal how their paradigm-changing work entwines with their lives outside the lab. We hear from extraordinary natural and social scientists, including: Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins on ego and selflessness Primatologist Jane Goodall on chimpanzee behavior Neuroscientist V. S. Ramachandran on consciousness Geographer Jared Diamond on chance in history Anthropologist Sarah Hrdy on motherhood And cosmologist Martin Rees on how âultimately we ourselves are stardust.â â[Kleinâs] interview subjects explain their science clearly and display their passions vividly, making this an engaging introduction to a great breadth of scientific topics.â âAmerican Scientist âA very welcome volume that will expose readers to all manner of topics that are likely new to them in a manner that focuses first on the lively personalities of the scientists while slowly diving into their work. Surprises abound . . . and the bookâs diversionary aspect cannot be overrated. Truly enjoyable.â âBooklist
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