I first picked up a Lewis Thomas book at a garage sale. The question that's been plauging me ever since is, "why would anyone want to sell this book?" Thomas is now not only my favorite non-fiction writer, but my favorite writer, period. Why? His books are like conversations with an old friend: witty, interesting, and with many levels. I wouldn't reccommend this book if you really don't like science, but if you have even the slightest interest in science, you should have read "Lives of a Cell" already. Some of the essays can get rather technical, but I always found them to be at least understandable, and always enlightening. The essays are also short, so you can read them convieniently as the time presents itself. Overall, this book is funny, thought-provoking, and wonderful. What more could you ask for (except possibly another Lewis Thomas book)?

This book is a collection of essays written by Thomas covering various subjects. There is no formal structure or scientific process to them. It is more like an intellectual stroll through the park, something you might have a professor mention in passing, elaborated. Being a medical student myself, I found the book extremely interresting, but make no mistake, the vocabulary assumes some sort of degree in biology or biochemistry or medicine.

For those of us used to reading journal articles, this is nothing like one. He doesn't have firm conclusions or hypotheses. He just sort of proposes an idea and lets it float around in our collective consciousness.

The only criticism I have of this book is that Thomas can be repetitive at times. He will reiterate ideas and points and if you are reading the book cover to cover, that fact can be annoying. However, if you read an essay every now and then, stopping to digest the material, I believe you'll find that Thomas has some interesting insights into the world of science.

A group of students and I just finished reading THE LIVES OF A CELL as part of a readings in biology seminar this spring. Once you read the first 3-4 chapters it becomes obvious that there is not a central theme (or is there) for the book.

Contents of this book are a compilation of reflective articles originally published in a medical journal. Chapter topics range all over the place, but they present many topics drawn from biological thought prominent through the mid-1970s -- everything from molecular biology to Gaia to sociobiology.

There is a wealth of material here appropriate for discussion among undergraduate students, professionals, and perhaps even science-directed high school students. Each of the 29 chapters are about 3-5 pages long, can be easily digested, and beg to be reflected upon and discussed.

As for the writing, other Amazon reviewers have referred to the writing in this book as being poetic. While I didn't see so much of that, I was struck by Thomas' ability to turn a phrase, make a point, and discuss complex biological ideas in a manner that is easily understood. The writing in the book is a definite plus.

There are also times in the book where I can imagine Thomas grinning as he wrote, or, perhaps giving the occasional wink! He must have had a wonderful sense of humor.

OK, back to the theme...if there is one...it seems to me that one common theme of several of the chapters has to do with communication -- oral, chemical, behavioral, and genetic. Other possible themes include the fact that humans are "not all that." That we are part of the global system, not running it. Another possibility includes the idea that everything can be an analogy of the way that a cell works -- organelles, membranes, cellular processes, products, and so forth.

This is excellent reading for anyone interested in ideas about life and living. Well written, occasionally humorous, and intruiging.

5 stars!

I was not as enthralled as the other reviewers.
The main articles in this book dealt with music and thermonuclear weapons.
The author is, with reason, a fervent opponent of nuclear weapons; who not? But he must admit that in the field of basic science there have never been cutbacks in the financing of research on thermonuclear weapons!
On the other hand, I agree that it is not easy to write about music. But these texts are not at the same level as, for instance, the brilliant 'Penguin Guide to Compact Discs'. I am also a big fan of Mahler. That's why I bought this book and read it.
I should however quote an important remark by the author : twentieth century science has provided us with a glimpse of something we never really knew before, the revelation of human ignorance.

As a one-time practicing physicist (now just an "arm-chair physicist") and lifetime music lover, I have found this beautifully-written little book irresistible over the 17 years it has been in my library. In 1983, when the original hardcover edition came out, this book was given to me as a gift by someone knowing my musical tastes, figuring that it would be the perfect gift. It turned out to be, but for reasons that are largely non-musical.

As an arm-chair scientist, I've read and enjoyed more than a few popularizations by well-known scientists over the years. These include Richard Feynman with his wry humor in virtually everything he wrote (I number myself among those physicists who "cut their eye teeth" on the Feynman Lectures in Physics), Stephen Hawking, Brian Greene, Carl Sagan, and even Brian Swimme. (The Swimme of "A Walk Through Time" goes down easily, and covers much of the same ground that Thomas does, but in a quite different way; the Swimme of "The Universe is a Green Dragon" is a much harder sell for me due to its hard-pressed attempt to oversimplify.) But for sheer elegance and poetry and breadth of scope, and for essays that provoke thought on the part of the reader, none can hold a candle to Thomas.

Everyone who reads this little masterpiece will have his or her favorites. Here are a few of mine:

In "Things Unflattened by Science" (an essay on unaddressed and/or incomplete challenges that future scientists might well undertake), a paragraph on how biologists might endeavor to better understand what music is, and how it affects the human condition, starting with a rather small-scale assignment to explain the effect of Bach's "The Art of Fugue" on the human mind.

In "Altruism" (an essay on the symbiotic interrelationships among species), how it is that such a condition actually exists, and a challenge to future scientists to better understand how our own species might become more altruistic (and adult) than it presently is.

In "The Attic of the Brain" (a cautionary essay on the risks of psychiatry, most importantly psychoanalysis, in terms of performing "total brain dumps"), the need for all of us to carry around a little clutter in our lives, as insurance against the chance that we might inadvertently lose our ability to retrieve something truly important.

In the title (and final) essay, another cautionary tale, this time on thermonuclear weaponry, the most lucid description I've ever read regarding the true meaning of this music as envisioned by Gustav Mahler. In a few brief but sublime paragraphs, Thomas has captured the essence of this remarkable opus in a way that no musician (and that includes such Mahlerites as Bernstein, Karajan, Klemperer, Rattle and Walter) ever had. Until very recently, that is, with the release a few months back of a staggering performance by Benjamin Zander, conductng the Philharmonia Orchestra. But that is another topic, and another review.

In the seventeen years since the initial publication of this book, quite a bit has changed in our worldview, in some aspects of society and science. But not enough! The observations and challenges that Thomas lays out will endure for centuries, provided only that we endure as well.

Rarely has an author captured both the folly and innate genuis of the human species so perfectly as has Lewis Thomas in this beautifully written book. Highly recommended.

Following in the tradition of Yale's Cardiovascular Health Guide, the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, and the Johns Hopkins Medical Guide to Health After 50, the venerable Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons offers us this latest addition to the health-obsessed consumer craze for complete home medical references. As expected, this book offers only more of the same: a good name, a lot of pages, and a redundant course in layman's medicine. Given the sheer size and weight of the volume (lifting it is an exercise itself), you would expect the entries to have more detail and, well, more specialized terminology. The diagrams which accompany many of the chapters elicit more boredom than information (save for the psychiatric section's tables, which are rather good), and the overall organization of the book sacrifices content for accessibility. I've seen many home medical guides at the bookstore lately, and this one just doesn't stand out in particular. My honest recommendation is that you look past the University's illustrious name and opt instead for the MERCK MANUAL HOME EDITION (paperback version), which for its small size and affordable price is the best home medical guide for the entire family.

Very informative. I suffer from PVC's and try to get my hands on as much info as possible. I found this book to be very helpful in my understanding more on this condition.

In my opinion, Lewis Thomas is the best there is at describing the wonder and beauty of biology. His first book, "The Lives of a Cell" , set the standard against which all other popular writers in biology should be measured. The elegant simplicity of his descriptions of how organisms interact remain as interesting and valid today as when "Lives .. " was first published in 1974. I recently re-read it and found it just as interesting now as I did the first time.
That description also holds for this book, with Thomas once again waxing eloquent, particularly about the absurdity of "limited" nuclear war. His story about the development of Hawaiian Creole is also particularly thought-provoking. The islands were opened up for sugar plantations after 1880 and there was an enormous influx of laborers from many different language backgrounds. They came from China, Japan, Korea, Puerto Rico and the United States and none of these groups could understand any of the others. However, a pidgin language rapidly developed among the children of all groups. This hybrid language was almost completely unintelligible to the adults. Thomas uses this to argue his point that language originated among the children of early humans. The point is highly plausible, as only the minds of children seem to possess the necessary malleability to learn languages quickly.
While I found the book interesting, it is not the page-turning classic that "Lives . . " is. The problem is that so much of this material already appeared in that book. This is unfortunate, for when Thomas is original he is so engaging a writer. Given the ongoing advances in biology, there certainly is no lack of material to write about.

Thomas's collection of essays on life, the universe and pretty darn much everything is suprisingly readable. He puts his theories into poetic prose and makes valid scientific points available in laymen's terms. More than a scientific paper, though, this is a deep peice of philosophy and offers much insight to the human soul. Definately worth reading!

In his final book, David Chandler attempts the impressive feat of rewriting a small part of Revolutionary War history. His style is very popular, and frequently fleshes out details to make them more real for the reader. His thesis -- that Meriwether Lewis (of the Lewis & Clark expedition) was murdered in a conspircy that involved several great men, is necessarily stitched together with facts abetted by circumstantial evidence and conjecture.

It's hard not to like the spirit of the book. it's also hard to ignore that much of the author's case is undocumented and only partially substantiated by footnotes and specific historical detail. What he proposes may very well be correct. Certainly there's enough other interesting information here to make the read worthwhile. (His information on the details of period life is fascinating, like the informal early days of the White House.) One only wishes that the author would have had a chance to buttress is arguments.

One wonders why Meriweather Lewis is buried in a forlorn grave, out of public's sight, just off the Natchez Trace Parkway south of Nashville instead of Arlington Cemetary. Lewis was the John Glenn (the astronaut) of his day! Chandler, the author, broke historical ground in pulling together the intrigues of an intriguing era. The author persuasively shows the possible motives several powerful men may have had in quietly disposing of Lewis. It is significant that the only mention of Lewis being prone to melancholy (suicidal) was a statement by Jefferson. Great reading: International intrigue (Spain), a corrupt General of the Army (Wilkinson), frontier murder, and retired President concerned about his public legacy.

A good book which largely delivers what it promises. However, it is best used in conjunction with a more comprehensive map and/or guide, if you're visiting a particular region. Give it 4.5 stars.

Good Points: 1) The author points out "kid-friendly" features on hikes and gives good descriptions. 2) Most of the hikes have pretty good thumbnail maps

Drawbacks: 1) Introductory map could be better (more detailed) to help reader find trails 2) Some hikes lack thumbnail maps. Why? 3) Abilities of children vary wildly. We found that a "moderate" hike can be strenuous for an inexperienced or out-of-shape child (or adult, for that matter).

Learning about word origins is one of the most interesting hobbies that one can have, in that most of the time you are also tracking the development and movement of ideas. Two of the most astonishing scientific theories that have arisen lately involve the appearance of modern humans. The first is that all of humanity can trace their origin back to a single female. By tracking differences in mitochondrial DNA, which is passed only from the mother, researchers have argued that the evidence points to a single original mitochondrion that begat us all. This spontaneous development of the human ancestor has enormous consequences to the theories of human development.
The second is that nearly all human languages arose from an original language. This idea is just as astounding as the first. By analyzing the patterns of root words, the theory is that most languages are offshoots of a single one designated as Indo European. Stretching the idea even further, as some have done, the argument goes back to a single "point" of origin for language. The idea that communicating via structured grammatical sounds arose in one location and moved outward is amazing. However, it is not implausible by any means. The competitive advantage of any group that could pass ideas quickly and accurately would be enormous.
In this book Thomas traces the origin of many words, with interesting results. For, if we know the origin of a word, we can make an accurate estimate concerning where the idea expressed in the word originated. Furthermore, in some cases, the growth of culture is demonstrated in a word. For example, the word conversation is from a root meaning to move around a neighborhood. Not the telling of a story common to nomadic cultures but the moving from dwelling to dwelling typical of a settled community.
Lewis Thomas is an excellent writer and he handles this topic very well. New ideas pop into human minds all the time and sometimes, the only way we can track them is by following the trail of the words that describe them. This book is a combination of anthropology, history and linguistics and well worth reading.

It is a small book nicely written. But with the price, it scares everybody away. One of the sections in this book is particularly useful for illustrating the technique of implementing non-linear calculation of heat transfer. I learned a great deal from there.

Done in great National Geo style, with stunning photos, this is a great "pocket" guide to the Lewis and Clark Trail. However, with it's lack of maps, it needs to be used in concert with larger, more detailed guides, such as "Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark" by Barbara Fifer, et al. If you are among the many contemplating hitting the Trail, this book will come in handy.

Dissatisfied with her first job at the St. Paul Library, Carol Milford finds assurance in the solid (older) form of Dr. Will Kennicott. The newlyweds establish themselves in Dr. Kennicott's hometown of Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. Here Carol runs head-on into the obstacle of local society. Her struggle to find fulfillment in these small-town surroundings, fighting town gossip, promoting new ideas, grasping at illusions, is the story of Main Street. Lewis' brief foreword anticipates the "malling" of America, and the standardization of our experiences. As Carol becomes more stifled by her surroundings, her anger is palpable, and Lewis' modern sensibility shines through. As an example, in the middle of another banal dinner conversation, "Carol reflected that the carving-knife would make an excellent dagger with which to kill Uncle Whittier." As you read, you will be shocked at how true Lewis' Main Street of 1920 is to our Main Streets of today. Enormously successful on publication, Lewis' best novels (Main Street, Babbitt, Arrowsmith, Elmer Gantry) continue to illuminate this country's psyche. Enjoy a classic, and gain an appreciation of this under-read American master.

Advice for first time readers of Sinclair Lewis: Start with Main Street. I started with Babbitt, a worthy novel, but inferior to Main Street. They share a nimble, though often heavy handed touch of irony, and good characterization; and Mr. Lewis' trenchant social commantary is present in both.

We all know the story: Carol Kennicott (nee Milford), educated at tiny Blodgett College, wants action: She wants to travel and live in a big city where she can see plays and hobnob with intellectuals. She meets future husband Dr. Will Kennicott at a St. Paul dinner party; (Throughout the novel, her feelings toward Will oscillate between admiration for his efficient practice and good nature, and discomfort with his depthless character). Will coaxes Carol onto a train bound for the hamlet of Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. The bulk of the novel, which, considering the context, could be considered picaresque, consists of Carol's haphazard attempts to reform the obdurate, immobile mindsets of the citizens of her new home. Among the improvements Carol suggests are a library board composed of the well read men of the town, and a campaign to renew interest in reading (In a town where the great books are bypassed for the contemporary moralistic, optimistic, and religious authors), and a theater company containing one fine actor and a supporting cast of hams, who bungle through one play (the frivolous "Girl from Kankakee"; poor carol had Shaw or Sophocles in mind. Throughout the novel, Carol evinces a blinding fear of living as a stereotypic denizen of the American Main Street; her fears are intensified by the birth of her son another fetter that could prevent a night train escape from Gopher Prairie), and the loss of several friends (the most notable being Miles Bjornstam, a Swedish horse trader who leaves for Canada after his wife's death) Made desperate by the seeming ineffectuality of her reform efforts, and these fears of decline into a town matron, Carol runs off to Washington D.C. for a period, before returning half broken to Gopher Prairie, tractable while still picturing herself as a maverick.

A five star review does not preclude qualms over a piece of literature. Main Street is truly a marvelous book, but there are flaws. Irony peppered moderately in a story can lend life and humor; too much can overwhelm the reader with a sense that the author has no other crutch than easy, predictable amusement. Also, this being an episodic novel, there sometimes seems to be little tying the book together save for the overpowering contagion of yearning for excitement, reform, and freedom that leaves Carol and others in Gopher Prairie so disappointed. These should not be deterent enough to suggest you steer clear of Main Street, though. As with every marred but overall fantastic booke light breaks the dark for the reader willing to overlook flaws that, were he or she writing the novel, he or she couldn't have ironed out. As glorious a work of literature as it is an historical document, this is a delight for any serious or recreational reader.

Main Street is a classic story demonstrating the fascinating mentality of Midwestern America. It is best personified in the great character study of the beleaguered Carol Kennicott, who left the big city and dreams of culture to exist in mediocrity and banality in the small town of Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. The reader is taken along her tumultuous life in this small town with her husband and family. At times the book is slow and can seem depressing. As a student from the Northeast who moved to the Midwest for college, it genuinely helped me gain a greater understanding as to why people act as they do in the Midwest. While Lewis wrote this book in 1930, his lessons are still applicable today in understanding human social interaction.