Fabulous Science: Fact and Fiction in the History of Scientific Discovery by John Waller
Fabulous Science: Fact and Fiction in the History of Scientific Discovery by John Waller
Oxford University Press | 2002 | English | ISBN: 0192804049 | 321 pages | PDF | 2MB
Oxford University Press | 2002 | English | ISBN: 0192804049 | 321 pages | PDF | 2MB
Waller presents 13 mythical stories in total, starring such scientific icons as Louis Pasteur, Gregor Mendel, Charles Darwin and Alexander Fleming. In most cases, the scientists that were directly involved are shown to manipulate reality to edify their own myths. In the other, maybe more interesting, cases, the myth was created without the participant's intervention. Each story is well researched and the bibliographic sources are listed and correctly credited. For me, each plot was completely unexpected, illuminative and interesting. Waller's CV includes a Masters in human biology, and this explains his proficiency in the complex subjects of biology and medicine. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history and social structure of science.