The Joy of Science: Excellence and Its Rewards

The vague outline of a book based on ca se histories of suc- cessful scientists emerged slowly in discussions with col- leagues during a decade of exhausting research associated with the creation of an earlier book titled Winning the Games Scien- tists Play. The perception grew to overwhelming proportions that success in science is closely linked to pleasure in the prac- tice of science, but that this simple observation had rarely been emphasized within or outside scientific circles.
Since these insights could not be encompassed satisfactor- ily in the earlier book, the logical solution was to develop a second book emphasizing the broader horizons of successful careers of scientists. A few sampie chapters were drafted and floated past carefully selected colleagues. The response could not be described as wildly enthusiastic, but good sense dicta ted that the project be continued. Extensive field research was nec- essary to test the basic premises and the initial perceptions. The best data and the most brilliant insights were gained dur- ing late evening cocktail parties at professional meetings. Other good insights were acquired during "twilight sleep" while particularly boring scientific papers were being pre- sented in dimly lit session rooms at those same meetings.
However, much of the factual base for the book was accumu- lated through detailed conversations resulting in oral case his- tories gathered over aperiod of several years. The present doc- ument thus has a reasonable quantitative foundation, although its factual base could hardly be described as "statistically robust."
As the following pages will attest, this book is dearly, obviously, and emphatically not an attempt at autobiography; rather it is a tale told by an innocent, sometimes gullible observer of scientists in their preferred habitats. It is an account of some of the reasons for success in science, based on exten- sive scrutiny of those who seem to be contributing to knowl- edge and enjoying their profession.
Books of this kind are of course based on perceptions- which can vary greatly from one observer to another. This is a sagittal section of the scientific world as seen by one inhabi- tant, with its successes and its joys in neat arrays. Similarities to perceived worlds of other analysts may be only coincidental.
I want to thank all the brave but securely anonymous sci- entists who contributed to the conceptual and factual base of this book-by example or by prolonged discussions, usually long after their normal bedtimes.