
J. B. S. Haldane (1892-64) Was One Of The Scientific Giants Of The 20th Century. A Polymath Who Made Important Contributions To Sciences Ranging From Physiology To Genetics And Biochemistry, He Was Also A Highly Skilled Writer And An Extraordinary Character - Brilliant, Witty, Idealistic, Funny, And Pugnacious. What I Require From Life Is A Compilation Of His Popular Scientific Essays Written From The 1940s To Last Years Of His Life, That Reflect Not Only His Masterful Ability To Communicate Scientific Understanding, But Also His Deep Commitment To Socialism. The Essays Included Here Fall Into Two Groups; Those Written By Haldane During The 1940s When He Embraced Marxism, And Those Written During His Last Years In India (1957-64), And They Range From An Autobiography In Brief (written Three Years Before His Death), To His Marxist View Of Evolution The Chicken Or The Egg?, To His Poignant Poem Cancer Is A Funny Thing. Edited With An Introduction By Haldane's Last Graduate Pupil, Professor Krishna Dronamraju, This Collection Of Thought-provoking And Beautifully-written Science Writing Also Comes With A Preface Written By The Late Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Who Provides A Personal Perspective On Haldane's Unique Place In 20th Century Science.
This collection investigates the intersection of rigorous scientific inquiry and political ideology through the lens of J.B.S. Haldane's popular essays. Professor Krishna Dronamraju, a former student of Haldane, compiles these writings to demonstrate how a 20th-century polymath reconciled his contributions to genetics and physiology with his commitment to Marxist socialism. The text serves as both a historical record of scientific communication and a personal portrait of a complex intellectual figure.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts recognize this volume as a valuable primary source for understanding the intellectual evolution of one of the 20th century's most prominent scientists. Readers frequently note that the prose remains accessible to non-specialists while providing deep insight into the political motivations behind Haldane's scientific work.
Page Count:
272
Publication Date:
2009-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191567477
ISBN-13:
9780191567476
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