In somewhat disjunctive fashion, an Australian Nobel laureate
(1996) writes about his award, about his own life and research,
about the history of the Nobel Prize and about the flaring
conflicts between religion and science, especially in the United
States. Doherty declares that this is a book for a general
readership-and most of it is. Exceptions include his appendixes
(three scholarly papers) and his chapter on research into the
immune system (his own specialty), which features sentences like
this: "Much of my own research uses mAbs to identify various
proteins on the surface of immune T lymphocytes that allow their
characterisation and separation by flow cytometry." Other segments
range from self-effacing and charming (his accounts of winning the
award, going to Stockholm to receive it) to provocative (science
and religion) to, well, silly. His final chapter, for example,
comprises advice for young scientists ("Think outside the box") and
would do quite nicely as a self-help article in an airline
magazine. We learn a bit about his personal history. His parents
both left school at 15 and were sort of genially agnostic-and big
readers. He began in veterinary studies, then segued into
immunology, where he has made his greatest contributions (he shared
his Nobel with a one-time colleague). The least-appealing segments
deal with how tough it is once you win a Nobel-so many demands on
your time, so many speeches to make, awards to accept. Much more
engaging are his comments about the scientific issues of the
day-stem-cell research, public health concerns (AIDS, new flu
viruses), the intelligent-design debate. Like many non-Americans,
he is somewhat bemused by the deep strain of religious
fundamentalism in the U.S. Looking for common backgrounds among
Nobel-winners, he finds only a few. He favors strong systems of
education and wonders if the U.S. will continue its scientific
supremacy, as the forces of anti-intellectualism in the country
appear to be strengthening. At times amiable and light but with
some brain-straining segments, as well. (Kirkus Reviews)
In "The Beginner's Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize," Doherty
recounts his unlikely path to becoming a Nobel Laureate. Beginning
with his humble origins in Australia, he tells how he developed an
interest in immunology and describes his award-winning, influential
work with Rolf Zinkernagel on T-cells and the nature of immune
defense. In prose that is at turns amusing and astute, Doherty
reveals how his nonconformist upbringing, sense of being an
outsider, and search for different perspectives have shaped his
life and work.
Doherty offers a rare, insider's look at the realities of being
a research scientist. He lucidly explains his own scientific work
and how research projects are selected, funded, and organized; the
major problems science is trying to solve; and the rewards and
pitfalls of a career in scientific research. For Doherty, science
still plays an important role in improving the world, and he argues
that scientists need to do a better job of making their work more
accessible to the public.
Throughout the book, Doherty explores the stories of past Nobel
winners and considers some of the crucial scientific debates of our
time, including the safety of genetically modified foods and the
tensions between science and religion. He concludes with some
"tips" on how to win a Nobel Prize, including advice on being
persistent, generous, and culturally aware, and he stresses the
value of evidence. "The Beginner's Guide to Winning the Noble
Prize" is essential reading for anyone interested in a career in
science.
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