Free Radicals: The Secret Anarchy of Science

( 1 )

Overview

The thrilling exploration of the secret side of scientific discovery —proving that some rules were meant to be broken scientists have colluded in the most successful cover-up of modern times. They present themselves as cool, logical, and level-headed, when the truth is that they will do anything —take drugs, follow mystical visions, lie and even cheat —to make a discovery. They are often more interested in starting revolutions than in playing by the rules. In Free Radicals, bestselling author Michael Brooks ...

See more details below
Hardcover
$18.54
BN.com price
(Save 33%)$27.95 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Hardcover)
  • All (28) from $3.96   
  • New (16) from $13.83   
  • Used (12) from $3.96   
Free Radicals: The Secret Anarchy of Science

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for Web

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook)
$14.99
BN.com price

More About This Book

Overview

The thrilling exploration of the secret side of scientific discovery —proving that some rules were meant to be broken scientists have colluded in the most successful cover-up of modern times. They present themselves as cool, logical, and level-headed, when the truth is that they will do anything —take drugs, follow mystical visions, lie and even cheat —to make a discovery. They are often more interested in starting revolutions than in playing by the rules. In Free Radicals, bestselling author Michael Brooks reveals the extreme lengths some of our most celebrated scientists —such as Newton, Einstein, and Watson and Crick —are willing to go to, from fraud to reckless, unethical experiments, in order to make new discoveries and bring them to the world's attention.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Daily Telegraph
A salutary reminder that scientists are as human and fallible as anyone else.
BBC
A call to arms . . . Not some idealistic crusade; it has important implications.
Kirkus Reviews
New Statesman columnist Brooks (13 Things That Don't Make Sense: The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time, 2008, etc.) delves into the rough-and-tumble world of scientific research. The stereotypical scientific researcher is a staid investigator, grinding away at his experiments while assiduously following the rules of the scientific method. As Brooks demonstrates, however, many of the leading lights of science were merely flawed human beings and not above bending or breaking rules in their quests for knowledge. His book lays bare the messy stories behind some of the greatest discoveries in scientific history. At least one Nobel Prize winner, he writes, is upfront about taking illegal drugs for inspiration. Some researchers, including the inventor of the cardiac catheter, recklessly used themselves as test subjects. Several legends of science, including Albert Einstein, even ignored or fudged research data that didn't fit with their theories; others callously betrayed research partners to claim sole credit for major discoveries. While Brooks condemns many of the more egregious injustices and unethical behaviors, he also asserts that outside-the-box thinking is not necessarily a bad thing and is indeed a necessity to push the boundaries of knowledge. "If we want more scientific progress," he writes, "we need to release more rebels, more outlaws, more anarchists." To that end, he makes a solid case for overhauling some longtime traditions, such as the see-no-evil discouragement of activism among scientists and the politics-laden peer-review system for scientific journals. Though Brooks dwells a bit much on the drug angle--much of the epilogue, for example, concerns his unsuccessful attempt to confirm if a famous DNA researcher used LSD--the overall narrative is enjoyable and insightful. A page-turning, unvarnished look at the all-too-human side of science.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781590208540
  • Publisher: Overlook Press, The
  • Publication date: 4/26/2012
  • Pages: 320
  • Sales rank: 301,342
  • Product dimensions: 5.60 (w) x 8.54 (h) x 1.12 (d)

Meet the Author

Michael Brooks, who holds a PhD in quantum physics, is an author, journalist, and broadcaster. He is a consultant at New Scientist, a weekly magazine with over three quarters of a million readers worldwide, has a biweekly column for the New Statesman, and is the author of the bestselling non-fiction title 13 Things That Don't Make Sense. His writing has also appeared in the Guardian, the Observer, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Playboy. He has lectured at New York University, The American Museum of Natural History, and Cambridge University. Visit michaelbrooks.org

Read More Show Less

Table of Contents

Prologue 1

1 How it Begins 15

Dreams, drugs and visions from God

2 The Delinquents 41

Rules are there to be broken

3 Masters of Illusion 75

Evidence isn't everything

4 Playing with Fire 101

No pain, no gain

5 Sacrilege 133

Breaking taboos is part of the game

6 Fight Club 163

There's no prize for the runner-up

7 Defending the Throne 192

Machiavelli would be proud

8 In the Line of Fire 216

Life on the barricades

Epilogue 242

Acknowledgements 261

Notes and sources 263

Index 301

Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3
( 1 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 6, 2012

    Interesting read

    Fascinating look at the people behind the science .It shows how quickly being "right" equals forgiveness for any transgressions in achieving the result.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)