Intuition

I bought a book called Intuition by Allegra Goodman a few days ago at the Harvard Bookstore. Its cover touts it as a New York Times Bestseller and Notable Book of the Year. On the back, my eye caught on one reviewer's comment, " How could an outsider, someone who has not been bathed in the culture and mores of science, get it so right?" As I've mentioned in other entries, I've found it fascinating how artists can present a world so clearly, and even more interesting when the world is not their own.

I started reading it that afternoon on my commute back to the dorms. I soon realized that it might not be the best book to be reading at the moment, as it portrayed some of the very real struggles of scientists. The frustration of experiments, the desire to succeed coupling with insurmountable obstacles. Fortunately, it soon delved into the possibility of the postdoc's (the main character) very dramatic success.

In complete agreement with the reviewer, I am astounded by the shrewdness of the author's observations about science. Her descriptions of lab interactions and general culture are amazingly accurate. She mentions the importance of volleyball as the researcher's pasttime. Today we had a fire alarm go off, and every single lab brought their own volleyball out to the yard, snatching the chance to take a break from science and play ball. Imagine, a whole yard filled with ball-playing scientists.

Soon following the volleyball mention, I read "Feng headed through grand doors adorned with gold friezes of animal, insect, and plant life: giant wasps, ants, bees, mushrooms, elands. ..Cliff scooped up an icy snowball. He took careful aim and pelted one of the brass rhinoceroses that guarded the building..."

And I realized, hey! That's my building! That's where I'm working! What a strange book. It feels so real.