Letters to a Young Scientist
ByEdward O. Wilson
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Readers` Reviews
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
german
Wilson is unquestionably a remarkable scientist who deserves much praise for his work, esp., island biogeography modeling and concepts. However, I found this book and his Consilience not very engaging. I came away from both with few new insights on the topics. But, given the undeniable accomplishments of Wilson, I remain hopeful about any new book he might author in the future.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
amanda clapp
As its title implies, Edward Wilson's "Letters to a Young Scientist" (2013) is cast in the form of 20 letters addressed to young people who are considering science as a career. The book says a great deal about science and study, but it is much more. The book teaches that a person should have passion for what he or she chooses to make of life, whether in science or in another field. The book teaches about science and about the value of hard work and persistence. Thus, this short book can be read with pleasure not only by budding scientists but by general readers as well. I am retired and never seriously considered science as a career choice. Still, I want to discuss what I learned from Wilson's thinking.
Wilson's accomplishments over a life devoted to science make his ideas worth considering. In a career of over 50 years as a biologist, most of which he spent teaching at Harvard, he has written prolifically both for lay readers and for scientists. He has founded the disciplines of sociobiology as well as the discipline of biogeography. Wilson won two Pulitzer Prizes, the Crawfoord Prize for ecology, and many other awards. He is also the world's leading authority on ants. In the "Letters", for example, he discusses a work that he wrote over an eight-year period late in his career: "Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant Hyperdiverse Ant Genus" (2003).Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Ant Genus This is obviously a work for specialists.
It is unsurprising that Wilson relies on his own experience for much of the advice he gives in the Letters. His most important advice comes at the outset of the book and is reiterated many times. Wilson emphasizes the importance of passion and desire to a budding scientists. He writes:
"My confessional instead is intended to illustrate an important principle I've seen unfold in the careers of many successful scientists. It is quite simple; put passion ahead of training. Feel out in any way you can what you most want to do in science, or technology, or some other science-related profession. Obey that passion as long as it lasts. Feed it with the knowledge the mind needs to grow. Sample other subjects, acquire a general education in science, and be smart enough to switch to a greater love if one appears. But don't just drift through courses in science hoping that love will come to you. Maybe it will, but don't take the chance. As in other big choices in your lfe, there is too much at stake. decision and hard work based on enduring passion will never fail you."
Regardless of a person's career goal and regardless of the individual's stage in life, passion for what one does is critical for meaningful activity. Wilson illustrates his advice with discussion of his own life, beginning with his youthful fascination with biology and nature, including snakes, butterflies, and ants. He is a person who did with his life what he was born to do. After recounting experiences of his boyhood searching for insects, Wilson writes, "I've gone into this boyhood story to make a point that may be relevant to your own career trajectory. I have never changed."
Wilson also discusses the importance of the entreprenurial spirit even for a field such as science with includes ambition, the ability to engage in many projects of various sizes at the same time, ambition to succeed, and the willingness to take risks. He again illustrates entrepreneurship in science with many examples from his own experience as a biologist and from his experience working with other scientists.
Besides advice which has application beyond young people and beyond science, Wilson has much to say about scientific work itself. He describes the relationship between science and math, the tension between individual creativity and teamwork in science, the importance of mentorship, and much more. Wilson makes much of the importance of creativity, likening scientific accomplishment to the work of a poet, informed with background and hard work.
I remain most impressed with Wilson's patient lifelong work learning about ants. He writes that when he began his career, there were perhaps a dozen specialists on ants in the world. From studying ants, Wilson broadened his focus to include ecology, evolutionary biology, sociobiology, and consilience -- synthesizing knowledge from various fields. But ants remained central. Wilson writes to prospective scientists of his massive study of "Pheidole" (a large genus of ants) that I mentioned above:
"You may think of my story of ants as only a narrow slice of science, of interest chiefly to the researchers focused on it. You would be quite right. But it is nonetheless at a different level from an equally impassioned devotion to, say, fly fishing, Civil War battlegrounds, or Roman coins. The findings of its lesser grails are a permanent addition to knoweldge of the real world. They can be linked to other bodies of knowledge, and often the resulting networks of understanding lead to major advances in the overall epic of science."
Wilson's Letters offer a great deal to young people interested in devoting their lives to science. The book also taught me, and will teach other non-scientific readers, much about science, scientific discovery, and the love of science. In its discussion of passion and commitment, exemplified in Wilson's life, the book has a universal message for people at all stages of life.
Robin Friedman
Wilson's accomplishments over a life devoted to science make his ideas worth considering. In a career of over 50 years as a biologist, most of which he spent teaching at Harvard, he has written prolifically both for lay readers and for scientists. He has founded the disciplines of sociobiology as well as the discipline of biogeography. Wilson won two Pulitzer Prizes, the Crawfoord Prize for ecology, and many other awards. He is also the world's leading authority on ants. In the "Letters", for example, he discusses a work that he wrote over an eight-year period late in his career: "Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant Hyperdiverse Ant Genus" (2003).Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Ant Genus This is obviously a work for specialists.
It is unsurprising that Wilson relies on his own experience for much of the advice he gives in the Letters. His most important advice comes at the outset of the book and is reiterated many times. Wilson emphasizes the importance of passion and desire to a budding scientists. He writes:
"My confessional instead is intended to illustrate an important principle I've seen unfold in the careers of many successful scientists. It is quite simple; put passion ahead of training. Feel out in any way you can what you most want to do in science, or technology, or some other science-related profession. Obey that passion as long as it lasts. Feed it with the knowledge the mind needs to grow. Sample other subjects, acquire a general education in science, and be smart enough to switch to a greater love if one appears. But don't just drift through courses in science hoping that love will come to you. Maybe it will, but don't take the chance. As in other big choices in your lfe, there is too much at stake. decision and hard work based on enduring passion will never fail you."
Regardless of a person's career goal and regardless of the individual's stage in life, passion for what one does is critical for meaningful activity. Wilson illustrates his advice with discussion of his own life, beginning with his youthful fascination with biology and nature, including snakes, butterflies, and ants. He is a person who did with his life what he was born to do. After recounting experiences of his boyhood searching for insects, Wilson writes, "I've gone into this boyhood story to make a point that may be relevant to your own career trajectory. I have never changed."
Wilson also discusses the importance of the entreprenurial spirit even for a field such as science with includes ambition, the ability to engage in many projects of various sizes at the same time, ambition to succeed, and the willingness to take risks. He again illustrates entrepreneurship in science with many examples from his own experience as a biologist and from his experience working with other scientists.
Besides advice which has application beyond young people and beyond science, Wilson has much to say about scientific work itself. He describes the relationship between science and math, the tension between individual creativity and teamwork in science, the importance of mentorship, and much more. Wilson makes much of the importance of creativity, likening scientific accomplishment to the work of a poet, informed with background and hard work.
I remain most impressed with Wilson's patient lifelong work learning about ants. He writes that when he began his career, there were perhaps a dozen specialists on ants in the world. From studying ants, Wilson broadened his focus to include ecology, evolutionary biology, sociobiology, and consilience -- synthesizing knowledge from various fields. But ants remained central. Wilson writes to prospective scientists of his massive study of "Pheidole" (a large genus of ants) that I mentioned above:
"You may think of my story of ants as only a narrow slice of science, of interest chiefly to the researchers focused on it. You would be quite right. But it is nonetheless at a different level from an equally impassioned devotion to, say, fly fishing, Civil War battlegrounds, or Roman coins. The findings of its lesser grails are a permanent addition to knoweldge of the real world. They can be linked to other bodies of knowledge, and often the resulting networks of understanding lead to major advances in the overall epic of science."
Wilson's Letters offer a great deal to young people interested in devoting their lives to science. The book also taught me, and will teach other non-scientific readers, much about science, scientific discovery, and the love of science. In its discussion of passion and commitment, exemplified in Wilson's life, the book has a universal message for people at all stages of life.
Robin Friedman
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
doray
This book was an enjoyable enough read and I think would be a good gift for graduating high school seniors planning on pursuing further academics/a future career in science. It has a few gems of information, but often buried under Wilson's not so thinly-veiled interests and love of talking about ants to make his point. I did like the over-riding theme of never giving up, particularly as he displayed with the example of Corrie Saux. As an older conservationist, it was also enjoyable to read about the old days when Wilson and people like him, could move upward through the ranks of academia and conservation employment based solely on their love, interests, and self-taught knowledge of a natural or scientific subject. I wonder how many amazing Darwin-esque scientists the world will never know due to current GREs and high GPA requirements.
How to Draw Fantastic Dragons and Fantasy Creatures :: The Handfasted Wife (The Daughters of Hastings) :: Wives and Daughters (Penguin Classics) by Elizabeth Gaskell (1997-01-01) :: Wives and Daughters (Wordsworth Classics) :: The Bone People: A Novel (Penguin Ink)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
caroline buchanan
Review of "Letters to a Young Scientist" by Edward O. Wilson, W.W. Norton & Co., 245 pp.
By Mark J. Palmer
Associate Director
International Marine Mammal Project
Earth Island Institute
www.DolphinProject.org
"Charming" is not a word one would normally associate with a book about how to be a scientist. But Edward O. Wilson's new book, "Letters to a Young Scientist", is indeed charming, as well as by turns inspirational and practical.
To cut to the chase: If you have a child who is interested in a career in science, or if you know a young person already launched on the pathway, buy them this book.
Overall, Dr. E.O. Wilson encourages students to "find their passion" in science and follow it. Students are more likely to stick with and succeed in scientific studies in which they are very keenly excited and eager to learn.
Dr. Wilson focuses on ants as a profession, but his contributions to science embrace a range of original concepts applicable to biology on many, many levels, including development of the theories of island biogeography, population biology, sociobiology, and evolutionary biology, that have become pivotal to our understanding of how the natural world, and even human behavior, works.
In "Letters to a Young Scientist", he writes of our need for young, enthusiastic scientists; recommends ways to overcome hurdles; explains the process of science from a real-world perspective; and adds cautions a scientist needs to be aware of. It is like getting a series of letters from a wise uncle.
When I was in high school, we learned the process of science as starting with a hypothesis, going on to experimentation, then matching results with expectations to come to a conclusion. Pretty dry stuff. Dr. Wilson instead uses several examples from his own experience to show how science really works. The hypothesis portion is usually pretty messy but involves lively thinking, and Dr. Wilson urges one to hone in as specific as possible to the question one is asking. He shows how various experiments, from complex to very simple, can elucidate answers. One needs to be very clever in setting up the experiments. He encourages free flights of fancy, but emphasizes that science is a discipline based on facts, built up over time.
Dr. Wilson addresses a common worry early in the book: What about the math? He emphasizes that you do not necessarily need to be a master mathematician to work in science. If one is weak on math, Dr. Wilson's very practical solution is: Get a collaborator who knows math (as Dr. Wilson illustrates he has done on several occasions).
Some of Dr. Wilson's advice is counter-intuitive (and therefore very valuable). He suggests that scientists not get hung up on mastering one type of technology or machinery for their science. Why? Because technology is evolving so fast now, a student may wind up intimately knowing the equivalent of the 21st century typewriter when everyone else is moving on to the equivalent of word processors.
Know your subject as well as you can, as Dr. Wilson explains that even low level students can become world experts on a phase of science, as he did with ants very early in his career. As noted above, Dr. Wilson is one of those specialists who have been able to elucidate much broader theories of biology through his work with ants and other invertebrates. He sets a good example and exhorts young scientists to keep their minds open. Specialization is a key to success in science, but a broader perspective will come with time and understanding.
He further encourages young scientists to find mentors that can help them in their career (noting several who helped him early on, and he includes his own collaboration with younger students who no doubt benefit from his help). He encourages the young scientist to follow up and build on previous work - a fundamental process of "standing on the shoulders of giants" in Sir Isaac Newton's famous phrase.
While "Letters to a Young Scientist" includes many examples of biological studies that Dr. Wilson is engaged in (he apparently spends a large amount of time messing with the minds of his ants), the book is just as good and inspirational for those interested in careers in physics, astronomy, chemistry, health sciences, or molecular biology. His examples and his advice are simple but very effective as well as applicable to all fields of science.
Come to think of it, this book would benefit many science teachers, too, in how to engage students and enliven lectures.
Yes, this is the kind of book I wish I had when I was starting out working on a science career (with a sharp early detour into environmental activism, I should add). This little book, with a cover photo of an iridescent green rainforest canopy, is a gem that the young scientist will treasure.
By Mark J. Palmer
Associate Director
International Marine Mammal Project
Earth Island Institute
www.DolphinProject.org
"Charming" is not a word one would normally associate with a book about how to be a scientist. But Edward O. Wilson's new book, "Letters to a Young Scientist", is indeed charming, as well as by turns inspirational and practical.
To cut to the chase: If you have a child who is interested in a career in science, or if you know a young person already launched on the pathway, buy them this book.
Overall, Dr. E.O. Wilson encourages students to "find their passion" in science and follow it. Students are more likely to stick with and succeed in scientific studies in which they are very keenly excited and eager to learn.
Dr. Wilson focuses on ants as a profession, but his contributions to science embrace a range of original concepts applicable to biology on many, many levels, including development of the theories of island biogeography, population biology, sociobiology, and evolutionary biology, that have become pivotal to our understanding of how the natural world, and even human behavior, works.
In "Letters to a Young Scientist", he writes of our need for young, enthusiastic scientists; recommends ways to overcome hurdles; explains the process of science from a real-world perspective; and adds cautions a scientist needs to be aware of. It is like getting a series of letters from a wise uncle.
When I was in high school, we learned the process of science as starting with a hypothesis, going on to experimentation, then matching results with expectations to come to a conclusion. Pretty dry stuff. Dr. Wilson instead uses several examples from his own experience to show how science really works. The hypothesis portion is usually pretty messy but involves lively thinking, and Dr. Wilson urges one to hone in as specific as possible to the question one is asking. He shows how various experiments, from complex to very simple, can elucidate answers. One needs to be very clever in setting up the experiments. He encourages free flights of fancy, but emphasizes that science is a discipline based on facts, built up over time.
Dr. Wilson addresses a common worry early in the book: What about the math? He emphasizes that you do not necessarily need to be a master mathematician to work in science. If one is weak on math, Dr. Wilson's very practical solution is: Get a collaborator who knows math (as Dr. Wilson illustrates he has done on several occasions).
Some of Dr. Wilson's advice is counter-intuitive (and therefore very valuable). He suggests that scientists not get hung up on mastering one type of technology or machinery for their science. Why? Because technology is evolving so fast now, a student may wind up intimately knowing the equivalent of the 21st century typewriter when everyone else is moving on to the equivalent of word processors.
Know your subject as well as you can, as Dr. Wilson explains that even low level students can become world experts on a phase of science, as he did with ants very early in his career. As noted above, Dr. Wilson is one of those specialists who have been able to elucidate much broader theories of biology through his work with ants and other invertebrates. He sets a good example and exhorts young scientists to keep their minds open. Specialization is a key to success in science, but a broader perspective will come with time and understanding.
He further encourages young scientists to find mentors that can help them in their career (noting several who helped him early on, and he includes his own collaboration with younger students who no doubt benefit from his help). He encourages the young scientist to follow up and build on previous work - a fundamental process of "standing on the shoulders of giants" in Sir Isaac Newton's famous phrase.
While "Letters to a Young Scientist" includes many examples of biological studies that Dr. Wilson is engaged in (he apparently spends a large amount of time messing with the minds of his ants), the book is just as good and inspirational for those interested in careers in physics, astronomy, chemistry, health sciences, or molecular biology. His examples and his advice are simple but very effective as well as applicable to all fields of science.
Come to think of it, this book would benefit many science teachers, too, in how to engage students and enliven lectures.
Yes, this is the kind of book I wish I had when I was starting out working on a science career (with a sharp early detour into environmental activism, I should add). This little book, with a cover photo of an iridescent green rainforest canopy, is a gem that the young scientist will treasure.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
deshbandhu sinha
Book Review: Letters to a Young Scientist by Edward O. Wilson
When I first heard about this book, I naively thought that it was about Edward Osborne Wilson's personal letters to a particular young scientist. As I opened the book I realised I was wrong! Its actually a selection of 20 supposed letters to the reader whom he assumes is a young scientist. However, most people reading the book will be older and obviously fans of E.O. Wilson who have read some or most of his other books. The current book is a small paperback of 240 pages, but Wilson packs a lot of interesting stuff in it, especially tales of his adventures with the six-legged creatures known as ants.
The book opens with the first chapter stating that the world needs biologists- badly! This chapter contains all kinds of snippets but the most useful one is the one pointing the reader to the Encyclopedia of Life website (www.eol.org). Wilson states that half of the world’s biota has been listed on this website. This is true but subjects that I am interested in such as Australian plants and insects have no other data added except for their names. Therefore there’s really hundreds of years of work ahead for biologists just simply adding correct details about taxonomy and biology to this website! Wilson outlines various reasons why taxonomy and systematics are declining but doesn't state that one reason in many countries is the lack of financial support from their governments. It is obvious that Wilson and/or his colleagues can obtain millions of dollars for grants for scientific projects in the USA, but unfortunately, not many countries are as rich as the USA!
Most of the book concerns Wilson and his ant research so primarily the book is actually autobiographical in nature. Wilson does for a moment concentrate on problems of rivalry and competition with other scientists. This is one important factor why people get turned off by science as soon as they realize that its just too damn competitive! That is why Wilson chose a scientific research area (viz. ant taxonomy and ecology) where there were few other scientists involved when he was going to undertake postgraduate research. In fact, there were apparently only about 12 people researching the topic when Wilson started. One of these was an academic by the name of Dr W.L. Brown. William L. Brown, Jr. (1 June 1922 to 30 March 1997), was one of the great ant biologists of the 20th century. His first scientific paper, published in 1943, described a new ant species, Monomorium viride, which he discovered during one of his many boyhood treks through the New Jersey Pine Barrens. In the years that followed, Brown produced 273 scientific publications, 223 of which were about ants. A premier naturalist, Brown was arguably the most well-traveled field biologist of the 20th century. During his career he assembled extraordinarily important insect collections from North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the South Pacific, the Malay archipelago, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. Brown’s research transformed the fields of ant systematics and taxonomy, and significantly influenced evolutionary and systematic theory. Another one of Wilson's colleagues mentioned in this book is Robert Macarthur. Robert Helmer MacArthur (7 April 1930 – 1 November 1972) was a Canadian-American ecologist who made a major impact on many areas of community and population ecology. He unfortunately died at an early age from renal cancer.
Wilson is a traditional scientist who by necessity needs to have anything or everything proven in black and white before he believes in it. For instance, he is a confirmed atheist who believes that mankind evolved from apes or ape-like ancestors. For me this theory or belief is the greatest slur on humanity. Wilson states that there are thousands of ancient human fossils in existence, proving the evolution of mankind from ancestors in Africa but this is just not so. There are definitely thousands of neat complete fossils of dinosaurs and other primitive creatures such as molluscs and trilobites but not of humans. Earlier on, scientists believed that chimpanzees were our closest ancestors based on DNA analyses. Then it was gorillas and now more recently, other scientists have stated from their detailed DNA researches that humans are not closely related to either chimps or gorillas! Now, who are we to believe?! The reality is that there are no evolutionary links between apes and mankind.
I like E.O. Wilson as a scientist and his sincerities regarding the environment, even though he is wrong about a number of things. And he doesn’t believe in aliens either despite massive and mounting evidence for them. In my opinion, there’s probably more evidence for aliens visiting Earth, the Moon and Mars over millions of years than there is for the evolutionary theory that humans as well as chimps and gorillas, evolved from monkeys!. Maybe he is walking a narrow tightrope and doesn't want to offend many people in this book.
In one chapter Wilson relates the story where he came to Australia to find an ancient ant by the scientific name of Nothomyrmecia macrops. He could not find it despite a great trip to the deserts of south-western Australia because the ant proved to be nocturnal in habits whereas most ant species are active during the day. Also I should add that he was dealing with an aspect of the Australian fauna which is totally different from anything encountered elsewhere.
There’s some things in this book which I have not read about Wilson before, such as his IQ (Intelligence Quotient) which he stated was only 123. Oh come on Edward, anyone who can write massive books such as Sociobiology (2000), The Ants (1990), Insect Societies (1971) and the revisionary tome on the ant genus Pheidole (2003), definitely must have a higher IQ!!
Wilson “big-notes” himself regarding the Explorers Club medal, but I am sure that he deserves it! When he was only 19 years old he travelled into the wilds of Papua New Guinea. Even today, anyone who dares venture into that hot, humid and repressive place and returns unscathed, definitely deserves a medal!
One curious part of the book is chapter 13 which deals with a woman by the name of Corrie Saux Moreau (by chance is she related to the mad scientist out of the HG Wells classic story- i.e. The Island of Dr Moreau?). This woman undertook an amazing PhD degree at Harvard University on the phylogenetic relationships of various ant genera. Another amazing thing about her is that she is covered in colorful ant tattoos even on her buttocks! Only in America!
Its all well and good that Wilson wants more scientists (badly!) but he does not explain how difficult it is, at least in Australia, to get a scientific job even after the hard, long slog at University (degrees of which is no longer free anywhere!). Then theres the scientific “old boy” clubs at Universities and Museums to contend with! No wonder science is falling into the abyss, even in the USA!
Its really a great, easily read little book on E.O. Wilson’s life outlining his ant and general ecological research. Wilson and his co-writers and editors have done a great job as usual although there is no index which would have been extremely useful to locate subjects and characters covered in the book! I recommend Letters to a Young Scientist, although this is nowhere near the best book by Edward Osborne Wilson.
Dr Trevor J. Hawkeswood
Author: Beetles of Australia (1987), Spiders of Australia (2003) and Light and Dark (2013)
When I first heard about this book, I naively thought that it was about Edward Osborne Wilson's personal letters to a particular young scientist. As I opened the book I realised I was wrong! Its actually a selection of 20 supposed letters to the reader whom he assumes is a young scientist. However, most people reading the book will be older and obviously fans of E.O. Wilson who have read some or most of his other books. The current book is a small paperback of 240 pages, but Wilson packs a lot of interesting stuff in it, especially tales of his adventures with the six-legged creatures known as ants.
The book opens with the first chapter stating that the world needs biologists- badly! This chapter contains all kinds of snippets but the most useful one is the one pointing the reader to the Encyclopedia of Life website (www.eol.org). Wilson states that half of the world’s biota has been listed on this website. This is true but subjects that I am interested in such as Australian plants and insects have no other data added except for their names. Therefore there’s really hundreds of years of work ahead for biologists just simply adding correct details about taxonomy and biology to this website! Wilson outlines various reasons why taxonomy and systematics are declining but doesn't state that one reason in many countries is the lack of financial support from their governments. It is obvious that Wilson and/or his colleagues can obtain millions of dollars for grants for scientific projects in the USA, but unfortunately, not many countries are as rich as the USA!
Most of the book concerns Wilson and his ant research so primarily the book is actually autobiographical in nature. Wilson does for a moment concentrate on problems of rivalry and competition with other scientists. This is one important factor why people get turned off by science as soon as they realize that its just too damn competitive! That is why Wilson chose a scientific research area (viz. ant taxonomy and ecology) where there were few other scientists involved when he was going to undertake postgraduate research. In fact, there were apparently only about 12 people researching the topic when Wilson started. One of these was an academic by the name of Dr W.L. Brown. William L. Brown, Jr. (1 June 1922 to 30 March 1997), was one of the great ant biologists of the 20th century. His first scientific paper, published in 1943, described a new ant species, Monomorium viride, which he discovered during one of his many boyhood treks through the New Jersey Pine Barrens. In the years that followed, Brown produced 273 scientific publications, 223 of which were about ants. A premier naturalist, Brown was arguably the most well-traveled field biologist of the 20th century. During his career he assembled extraordinarily important insect collections from North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the South Pacific, the Malay archipelago, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. Brown’s research transformed the fields of ant systematics and taxonomy, and significantly influenced evolutionary and systematic theory. Another one of Wilson's colleagues mentioned in this book is Robert Macarthur. Robert Helmer MacArthur (7 April 1930 – 1 November 1972) was a Canadian-American ecologist who made a major impact on many areas of community and population ecology. He unfortunately died at an early age from renal cancer.
Wilson is a traditional scientist who by necessity needs to have anything or everything proven in black and white before he believes in it. For instance, he is a confirmed atheist who believes that mankind evolved from apes or ape-like ancestors. For me this theory or belief is the greatest slur on humanity. Wilson states that there are thousands of ancient human fossils in existence, proving the evolution of mankind from ancestors in Africa but this is just not so. There are definitely thousands of neat complete fossils of dinosaurs and other primitive creatures such as molluscs and trilobites but not of humans. Earlier on, scientists believed that chimpanzees were our closest ancestors based on DNA analyses. Then it was gorillas and now more recently, other scientists have stated from their detailed DNA researches that humans are not closely related to either chimps or gorillas! Now, who are we to believe?! The reality is that there are no evolutionary links between apes and mankind.
I like E.O. Wilson as a scientist and his sincerities regarding the environment, even though he is wrong about a number of things. And he doesn’t believe in aliens either despite massive and mounting evidence for them. In my opinion, there’s probably more evidence for aliens visiting Earth, the Moon and Mars over millions of years than there is for the evolutionary theory that humans as well as chimps and gorillas, evolved from monkeys!. Maybe he is walking a narrow tightrope and doesn't want to offend many people in this book.
In one chapter Wilson relates the story where he came to Australia to find an ancient ant by the scientific name of Nothomyrmecia macrops. He could not find it despite a great trip to the deserts of south-western Australia because the ant proved to be nocturnal in habits whereas most ant species are active during the day. Also I should add that he was dealing with an aspect of the Australian fauna which is totally different from anything encountered elsewhere.
There’s some things in this book which I have not read about Wilson before, such as his IQ (Intelligence Quotient) which he stated was only 123. Oh come on Edward, anyone who can write massive books such as Sociobiology (2000), The Ants (1990), Insect Societies (1971) and the revisionary tome on the ant genus Pheidole (2003), definitely must have a higher IQ!!
Wilson “big-notes” himself regarding the Explorers Club medal, but I am sure that he deserves it! When he was only 19 years old he travelled into the wilds of Papua New Guinea. Even today, anyone who dares venture into that hot, humid and repressive place and returns unscathed, definitely deserves a medal!
One curious part of the book is chapter 13 which deals with a woman by the name of Corrie Saux Moreau (by chance is she related to the mad scientist out of the HG Wells classic story- i.e. The Island of Dr Moreau?). This woman undertook an amazing PhD degree at Harvard University on the phylogenetic relationships of various ant genera. Another amazing thing about her is that she is covered in colorful ant tattoos even on her buttocks! Only in America!
Its all well and good that Wilson wants more scientists (badly!) but he does not explain how difficult it is, at least in Australia, to get a scientific job even after the hard, long slog at University (degrees of which is no longer free anywhere!). Then theres the scientific “old boy” clubs at Universities and Museums to contend with! No wonder science is falling into the abyss, even in the USA!
Its really a great, easily read little book on E.O. Wilson’s life outlining his ant and general ecological research. Wilson and his co-writers and editors have done a great job as usual although there is no index which would have been extremely useful to locate subjects and characters covered in the book! I recommend Letters to a Young Scientist, although this is nowhere near the best book by Edward Osborne Wilson.
Dr Trevor J. Hawkeswood
Author: Beetles of Australia (1987), Spiders of Australia (2003) and Light and Dark (2013)
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kary
Note: A somewhat longer version of this review was originally posted in my blog:
[...]
Dr. Edward O. Wilson is one of my favorite scientists and science writers and he is equally gifted in both careers.
I think that the title of his latest book, "Letters to a young scientist" is a tad inaccurate for three main reasons, the first one because some of his advice and wisdom can be used by scientists in general, not just the "young" (whatever that means... (:-)...). Also, as others have pointed out, a significant portion of the book is framed in an autobiographical way. Furthermore, other reviewers have pointed out that the book is not really about advice as opposed as about "...what worked for E.O. Wilson" and I kind of see it, but I also believe that the book goes beyond that. It is a wonderful read.
The first part, "The Path to Follow" is mostly about choosing a scientific career, with an emphasis in the biological sciences. The prologue itself gives a reassuring (if you are in the sciences) "...you know what you are doing; congratulations!" that powerfully drives the message in just a few pages (I will let you read it by yourself). He then makes the case for making a passion for science as being more important than formal training, at least while choosing a specific path.
Dr. Wilson does not shy away from controversy in his books, and this one is no exception. He has gotten a lot of flak for Chapter 2, titled "Mathematics". Some people (predictably, mathematicians) took offense at the main message of the chapter, which seems to be that to become a good, even great scientist you do not need to have any special ability to master advanced math. I think I know why his statement was so much maligned, he was simply misinterpreted, as I do not believe that he meant math in itself, like calculus, statistics, etc., but rather the really advanced math that is non-negotiable for physics and allied disciplines, and he is the first to state so. He even talked about the advantages of associating with mathematically-oriented people.
Moreover, he narrated how he took a calculus course as a tenured professor alongside some of his own students form other courses. Let me tell you, the admission in itself, as well as the act, takes guts. I am a tenured professor myself and I vowed to never take another exam for as long as I lived when I passed my PhD qualifying examinations... (:-)...).
Still, some mathematically-minded people were predictably offended and agitated for Wilson's statements and went on the sadly predictable first line of attack by emphasizing that essentially "...Wilson is in his 80s so he is old, his ideas are old and must be wrong..." attitude, an attitude which by the way, I find despicable. Personally I think that Wilson is right, when you read his words appropriately and objectively.
Parts II and III are my favorite parts of the book simply because they are so inspiring! In Part II, "The Creative Process" among other things he talks about what science is and scientists as explorers. Part III "A life in Science" explores the role of mentors and risk in a scientific career, as well as explicitly stating the importance of "knowing your craft". This latter advice is the one piece of advice I wish somebody had given me some 30 years ago. Also, he mentions in passing his "consilience" ideas on how the sciences can influence all aspects of human nature, including the arts, a concept that I am not so sure about, but only time will tell.
This was a 4 1/2 start book. In my opinion the weakest part of the book is Part IV "Theory and the Big Picture". With the exception of Chapters 15 and 16, the rest of the chapters are even more autobiographical that advice-centered and describe some theories, not what a theory is per se.
Part V "Truth and Ethics" contains my very favorite sentence of the book (page 248): "Original discoveries, to remind you, are what count the most. Let me put that more strongly: they are all that counts. They are the silver and gold of science".
Read this book. Please... (:-)...
[...]
Dr. Edward O. Wilson is one of my favorite scientists and science writers and he is equally gifted in both careers.
I think that the title of his latest book, "Letters to a young scientist" is a tad inaccurate for three main reasons, the first one because some of his advice and wisdom can be used by scientists in general, not just the "young" (whatever that means... (:-)...). Also, as others have pointed out, a significant portion of the book is framed in an autobiographical way. Furthermore, other reviewers have pointed out that the book is not really about advice as opposed as about "...what worked for E.O. Wilson" and I kind of see it, but I also believe that the book goes beyond that. It is a wonderful read.
The first part, "The Path to Follow" is mostly about choosing a scientific career, with an emphasis in the biological sciences. The prologue itself gives a reassuring (if you are in the sciences) "...you know what you are doing; congratulations!" that powerfully drives the message in just a few pages (I will let you read it by yourself). He then makes the case for making a passion for science as being more important than formal training, at least while choosing a specific path.
Dr. Wilson does not shy away from controversy in his books, and this one is no exception. He has gotten a lot of flak for Chapter 2, titled "Mathematics". Some people (predictably, mathematicians) took offense at the main message of the chapter, which seems to be that to become a good, even great scientist you do not need to have any special ability to master advanced math. I think I know why his statement was so much maligned, he was simply misinterpreted, as I do not believe that he meant math in itself, like calculus, statistics, etc., but rather the really advanced math that is non-negotiable for physics and allied disciplines, and he is the first to state so. He even talked about the advantages of associating with mathematically-oriented people.
Moreover, he narrated how he took a calculus course as a tenured professor alongside some of his own students form other courses. Let me tell you, the admission in itself, as well as the act, takes guts. I am a tenured professor myself and I vowed to never take another exam for as long as I lived when I passed my PhD qualifying examinations... (:-)...).
Still, some mathematically-minded people were predictably offended and agitated for Wilson's statements and went on the sadly predictable first line of attack by emphasizing that essentially "...Wilson is in his 80s so he is old, his ideas are old and must be wrong..." attitude, an attitude which by the way, I find despicable. Personally I think that Wilson is right, when you read his words appropriately and objectively.
Parts II and III are my favorite parts of the book simply because they are so inspiring! In Part II, "The Creative Process" among other things he talks about what science is and scientists as explorers. Part III "A life in Science" explores the role of mentors and risk in a scientific career, as well as explicitly stating the importance of "knowing your craft". This latter advice is the one piece of advice I wish somebody had given me some 30 years ago. Also, he mentions in passing his "consilience" ideas on how the sciences can influence all aspects of human nature, including the arts, a concept that I am not so sure about, but only time will tell.
This was a 4 1/2 start book. In my opinion the weakest part of the book is Part IV "Theory and the Big Picture". With the exception of Chapters 15 and 16, the rest of the chapters are even more autobiographical that advice-centered and describe some theories, not what a theory is per se.
Part V "Truth and Ethics" contains my very favorite sentence of the book (page 248): "Original discoveries, to remind you, are what count the most. Let me put that more strongly: they are all that counts. They are the silver and gold of science".
Read this book. Please... (:-)...
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kim finney
This is an instruction booklet, and an autobiography of author Edward O. Wilson’s life in the sciences. No matter how you approach the book it is with great insight on how Wilson tackles an issue and only through failures does he find success. He tries to impart this methodology to young scientists all the while relating stories on how he originally got into science by studying ants around his yard in Alabama. Arguably the best chapter in the book is entitled “What is Science” and fittingly it has Charles Darwin’s picture in the front page of the chapter. It shows how a hypothesis is made about how ants know a member of the nest is dead and then take it to an ant cemetery. What is the chemical that is secreted that signals to the rest of the nest of the dead of an ant? Wilson proposes a hypothesis and tests it only to have it fail. But in the failure he realizes the processes that turn a hypothesis into a fact. The book is light-hearted at times, but always shows how science explains what mythology attempted to do in ancient times. Not his best book, but well worth the read and a quick read.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
nidhi dhaliwal
Unfortunately, after browsing it, I can't recommend it to students as a book of advice. As reminiscences of an eminent scientist's life, maybe. The unreformed sexism bleeds through everywhere, and while I'm sure Dr. Wilson believed he was talking to the whole world, he's really talking to half of it -- and thinking it's the whole world.
Hypothetical scientists here are "he" -- or, as an occasional afterthought, "[or she]". A lone female student he actually discusses in the book is turned down on an important collaboration project as inexperienced (does he investigate bias, no; also, how had he recommended her?); he reports she's demure and serene, helpful to others, we hear about her tats, and we get to hear about her marital status. We're two steps away here from "good heavens, Miss Sakamoto, you're beautiful!" If you search for "she" in the text, you get this episode, brief mention of two other scientists, and Nature. Nature is "she", in the Rutherfordian sense.
Despite the fact that a whopping proportion of women grad students in science report harassment and assault while doing field research, there is no discussion of bias or harassment, which are significant realities in the lives of young scientists if they are women. Or people of color. Or immigrants. Essentially if they're not Wilson's imagined audience. Nor is there any word to that imaginary audience of clean-cut young men about how things have changed, and how they cannot comport themselves as he and his colleagues once did, and why that is a good thing. Likewise there's no talk of family life: what will having children mean for your work? In Wilson's world, there's a wife to take care of these things -- it might mean you'd best climb that ladder faster, but otherwise your work goes on undisturbed. I suspect wives don't have enough of that and leave, either, in Wilson's world -- or if they do, there's no such thing as shared custody: one simply loses or leaves behind the children, as Einstein did.
I also don't know how much of his scientific advice really pertains to young scientists of any kind today -- he's speaking from a much more leisurely and far less competitive scientific world, and he doesn't seem to be aware of massive student debt as a thing that young people arrive carrying in graduate school. They actually have to get jobs when they get out. And as I browsed the chapters I thought what a nice historical document this was: My Time in Science. Frankly, I don't know how much of it was really generalizable even at the time. Don't fixate on the technology? Well, all right -- but for some people, the technology was inextricable from the career. All along. That's just not the kind of scientist Wilson was.
I suppose it's a good reminder of when you ought to stop handing out advice to young people, and perhaps instead invite a conversation, with them leading, and telling you about their worlds and what they see as the news. And you not being so quick off the mark to say, "Oh, that was always like that." Maybe it wasn't quite like that. Maybe at its heart it's about something different now. If they want a book called "What It Used to Be Like", though, I think we can handle that.
Hypothetical scientists here are "he" -- or, as an occasional afterthought, "[or she]". A lone female student he actually discusses in the book is turned down on an important collaboration project as inexperienced (does he investigate bias, no; also, how had he recommended her?); he reports she's demure and serene, helpful to others, we hear about her tats, and we get to hear about her marital status. We're two steps away here from "good heavens, Miss Sakamoto, you're beautiful!" If you search for "she" in the text, you get this episode, brief mention of two other scientists, and Nature. Nature is "she", in the Rutherfordian sense.
Despite the fact that a whopping proportion of women grad students in science report harassment and assault while doing field research, there is no discussion of bias or harassment, which are significant realities in the lives of young scientists if they are women. Or people of color. Or immigrants. Essentially if they're not Wilson's imagined audience. Nor is there any word to that imaginary audience of clean-cut young men about how things have changed, and how they cannot comport themselves as he and his colleagues once did, and why that is a good thing. Likewise there's no talk of family life: what will having children mean for your work? In Wilson's world, there's a wife to take care of these things -- it might mean you'd best climb that ladder faster, but otherwise your work goes on undisturbed. I suspect wives don't have enough of that and leave, either, in Wilson's world -- or if they do, there's no such thing as shared custody: one simply loses or leaves behind the children, as Einstein did.
I also don't know how much of his scientific advice really pertains to young scientists of any kind today -- he's speaking from a much more leisurely and far less competitive scientific world, and he doesn't seem to be aware of massive student debt as a thing that young people arrive carrying in graduate school. They actually have to get jobs when they get out. And as I browsed the chapters I thought what a nice historical document this was: My Time in Science. Frankly, I don't know how much of it was really generalizable even at the time. Don't fixate on the technology? Well, all right -- but for some people, the technology was inextricable from the career. All along. That's just not the kind of scientist Wilson was.
I suppose it's a good reminder of when you ought to stop handing out advice to young people, and perhaps instead invite a conversation, with them leading, and telling you about their worlds and what they see as the news. And you not being so quick off the mark to say, "Oh, that was always like that." Maybe it wasn't quite like that. Maybe at its heart it's about something different now. If they want a book called "What It Used to Be Like", though, I think we can handle that.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
nazneen hossain
The world's greatest authority on ants started out collecting snakes and black widow spiders. His book is ostensibly for a young scientist contemplating a career, but the writing is so engaging it becomes an appropriate book for any reader. The only real pre-requisite is an inquiring mind.
And a mind free to fail in mathematics. What a revelation. It's been an article of faith with nearly everyone that real scientists could diagram an equation across a blackboard in one fell swoop. Not so, the world's leading pioneer in biodiversity tells us. Most successful scientists may be, in matters of mathematics, semi literate. And be further re-assured in the knowledge that mathematical ability is partly hereditary. So if you flunked algebra, can you blame mom and dad for not giving you the equation gene? Time for the inconvenient truth. Missing innate math abilities can be offset by study(yuck) and practice (double yuck). That "F" in geometry might be your fault after all! But who really cares, real mathematical ability is necessary in very few career fields. Teaching, no. Operating a particle accelerator, probably. In short, if you have it flaunt it. If you don't have mathematical fluency, there are fields of scientific inquiry that will welcome you anyway. What a hopeful message.
Wilson next offers common sense advice in career planning. Stay away from the glitz and glitter. If huge grant fundings and famous personalities inhabit your intended career field, avoid it like the plague. This works in selecting restaurants too. In Rutland, Vermont I opened the doors of places teeming with smart, hip well paid up and comers. Closed the door and walked out immediately on the grounds that those people are there to meet and greet. The food is probably overpriced and you will be underfed. Off the main drag however, I stumbled into a place called Kong Chow Fusion. Weird name, no one in the place, a mere 6 people, regulars no doubt, crowded into a corner booth. Something said "this is it." I was right, the place served up the best beef lo mein I've ever eaten.
Passion for a subject trumps skill, according to Wilson, because with passion, you will master the skills. Absent passion, you will flit from field to field adrift, moving where the glitterati go, seeking to draft in behind them and siphon off some of their energy as your own. Avoid this at all costs, Wilson advises.
Now, I can feel the author taking serious heat on this one because on page 170, we get: "however much the humanities enrich our lives... they also limit thought to that which is human." One possible counter argument, the humanities are, as the name implies, the very thing which makes us human. Here we go with science vs art,art vs science. It's a battle the likes of which has been around for centuries. Good luck to anyone with a possible answer, although perhaps we don't even need an answer because this is a book that can take you from the rain forests of the the store to the Museum of Natural History in New York in the blink of an eye.
Enjoy the journey.
And a mind free to fail in mathematics. What a revelation. It's been an article of faith with nearly everyone that real scientists could diagram an equation across a blackboard in one fell swoop. Not so, the world's leading pioneer in biodiversity tells us. Most successful scientists may be, in matters of mathematics, semi literate. And be further re-assured in the knowledge that mathematical ability is partly hereditary. So if you flunked algebra, can you blame mom and dad for not giving you the equation gene? Time for the inconvenient truth. Missing innate math abilities can be offset by study(yuck) and practice (double yuck). That "F" in geometry might be your fault after all! But who really cares, real mathematical ability is necessary in very few career fields. Teaching, no. Operating a particle accelerator, probably. In short, if you have it flaunt it. If you don't have mathematical fluency, there are fields of scientific inquiry that will welcome you anyway. What a hopeful message.
Wilson next offers common sense advice in career planning. Stay away from the glitz and glitter. If huge grant fundings and famous personalities inhabit your intended career field, avoid it like the plague. This works in selecting restaurants too. In Rutland, Vermont I opened the doors of places teeming with smart, hip well paid up and comers. Closed the door and walked out immediately on the grounds that those people are there to meet and greet. The food is probably overpriced and you will be underfed. Off the main drag however, I stumbled into a place called Kong Chow Fusion. Weird name, no one in the place, a mere 6 people, regulars no doubt, crowded into a corner booth. Something said "this is it." I was right, the place served up the best beef lo mein I've ever eaten.
Passion for a subject trumps skill, according to Wilson, because with passion, you will master the skills. Absent passion, you will flit from field to field adrift, moving where the glitterati go, seeking to draft in behind them and siphon off some of their energy as your own. Avoid this at all costs, Wilson advises.
Now, I can feel the author taking serious heat on this one because on page 170, we get: "however much the humanities enrich our lives... they also limit thought to that which is human." One possible counter argument, the humanities are, as the name implies, the very thing which makes us human. Here we go with science vs art,art vs science. It's a battle the likes of which has been around for centuries. Good luck to anyone with a possible answer, although perhaps we don't even need an answer because this is a book that can take you from the rain forests of the the store to the Museum of Natural History in New York in the blink of an eye.
Enjoy the journey.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
chuck lipsig
E.O. Wilson struggled with math? This and other revelations about how he made his way from being a kid in depression era public schools in Mobile, Alabama to being a preeminent scientist and professor at Harvard University provide just the kind of encouragement that budding scientists need to aim for the stars and not succumb to the siren song of business school or law degrees.
This book is well written, but concise and plainly written enough to hold the attention of young readers while still lending itself to enjoyment by readers all along the age spectrum.
I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in succeeding in their chosen profession, whether or not it is scientific in nature.
This book is well written, but concise and plainly written enough to hold the attention of young readers while still lending itself to enjoyment by readers all along the age spectrum.
I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in succeeding in their chosen profession, whether or not it is scientific in nature.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
formless bobo
Spent the day reading [B]E. O. Wilson's - Letters to a Young Scientist[/B] which I received as a Christmas present.
4/5 stars -- excellent overview and insight into a career as a scientist. He explores the preparation, advancement and on-going career based on his own (extraordinary) experience from a boy collecting insects to one of the most respected entomologists in the world.
A short easy read. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in science.
4/5 stars -- excellent overview and insight into a career as a scientist. He explores the preparation, advancement and on-going career based on his own (extraordinary) experience from a boy collecting insects to one of the most respected entomologists in the world.
A short easy read. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in science.
Please RateLetters to a Young Scientist