The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher
1978 · book
Anticipates the kind of writing that will appear more frequently as scientists take on poetic language in order to communicate human truths too mysterious for old-fashioned commonsense. Elegant, suggestive & clarifying, Thomas' humane vision explores the world & examines the complex interdependence of all things. Extending beyond the usual limitations of biological science & into a vast world of hidden relationships, this book explores in personal, poetic essays to topics such as computers, germs, language, music, death, insects & medicine. He writes, "Once you have become permanently startled, as I am, by the realization that we are a social species, you tend to keep an eye out for the pieces of evidence that this is, by & large, good for us." The lives of a cell Thoughts for a countdown On societies as organisms A fear of pheromones The music of This sphere An earnest proposal The technology of medicine Vibes Ceti The long habit Antaeus in Manhattan The MBL Autonomy Organelles as organisms Germs Your very good health Social talk Information Death in the open Natural science Natural man The Iks Computers The planning of science Some biomythology On various words Living language On probability and possibility The world's biggest membrane Reference Notes