Letters to a Young Scientist
Author(s): Edward O. Wilson
Inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, Edward O. Wilson has distilled sixty years of teaching into a book for students, young and old. Wilson threads these twenty-one letters, each richly illustrated, with autobiographical anecdotes that illuminate his career - both his successes and his failures - and his motivations for becoming a biologist. At a time when our survival is more than ever linked to our understanding of science, Wilson insists that success in the sciences does not depend on mathematical skill but rather a passion for finding a problem and solving it. From the collapse of stars to the exploration of rain forests and the oceans' depths, Wilson instills a love of the innate creativity of science and a respect for the human being's modest place in the planet's ecosystem, in his readers.
General Information
- :
- : W. W. Norton & Company, Incorporated
- : W. W. Norton & Company, Incorporated
- : 0.149
- : 01 May 2014
- : 185mm X 142mm X 45mm
- : United States
- : 01 May 2014
- : books
Other Specifications
- : Edward O. Wilson
- : Paperback
- : 614
- : English
- : 570
- : 256
- : 12 illustrations
- : 12 illustrations
More About The Product
"He [Wilson] makes science accessible and enthralling. His Letters to a Young Scientist is a joy." Patrick Neale, Booksellers' Choice: May 2013, The Bookseller "...offers an array of poignant and often philosophical messages aimed at inspiring and enthusing the next generation of scientists." Geographical Magazine "Skilfully and elegantly written..." New Scientist "Appealing and inspiring, rather than authoritative and formulaic, because it focuses on the variable nature of our motivations and origins, this book traces all experience, progress and directions back to raw curiosity." Times Higher Education "His [Wilson's] lifelong study has unveiled hugely significant facts about the fascinating social structure of ants and life generally, and he has written beautifully about it." The Guardian "...engaging and inspiring short book." The Biologist "... a great book that will be an inspiration for any young person considering whether a career in natural sciences is the path to follow." Nexus Institute "An approachable amalgam of hard-headed advice and high-minded inspiration." The Independent
Edward O. Wilson, a professor emeritus at Harvard University, is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Ants, the bestselling novel Anthill (ISBN 978 0 393 33970 3), The Social Conquest of Earth (ISBN 978 0 87140 363 6), The Superorganism (ISBN 978 0 393 06704 0) and From So Simple a Beginning (ISBN 978 0 393 06134 5).