The Bourbaki Gambit
“A beautifully ingenious, funny, brilliantly intelligent, and moving tale of very human scientists. A splendid novel.”—Iris Murdoch
 
At the age of 68, distinguished Princeton science professor Max Weiss is bribed into taking an early retirement. Frustratingly aware that his best years are not yet behind him, Weiss devises an inventive revenge in the form of “Dr. Diana Skordylis”—a pseudonym for a partnership among Weiss and three aging colleagues, each with an ax to grind against the scientific community. What the Skordylis group doesn’t anticipate, however, is the unbridled success of their venture: the discovery of PCR, one of the most important breakthroughs in contemporary biomedical science. Professional jealousy soon threatens Diana Skordylis’s life. As the force of ego tests the bonds of collaboration, the reader is treated to a fascinating glimpse inside the worlds of academia and scientific enterprise.
 
“A subtle meditation on scientific personality . . . An odd blend of literature, philosophy, and science writing, as creative as any organic potpourri that Djerassi might have mixed up in his laboratory.”—The Washington Post
 
“This is a novel of ideas, quite literally, yet it flashes with wit and is often quite charming, thanks to well-drawn characters at ease with mind-boggling concepts who talk about them in a down-to-earth way.”—San Francisco Chronicle
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The Bourbaki Gambit
“A beautifully ingenious, funny, brilliantly intelligent, and moving tale of very human scientists. A splendid novel.”—Iris Murdoch
 
At the age of 68, distinguished Princeton science professor Max Weiss is bribed into taking an early retirement. Frustratingly aware that his best years are not yet behind him, Weiss devises an inventive revenge in the form of “Dr. Diana Skordylis”—a pseudonym for a partnership among Weiss and three aging colleagues, each with an ax to grind against the scientific community. What the Skordylis group doesn’t anticipate, however, is the unbridled success of their venture: the discovery of PCR, one of the most important breakthroughs in contemporary biomedical science. Professional jealousy soon threatens Diana Skordylis’s life. As the force of ego tests the bonds of collaboration, the reader is treated to a fascinating glimpse inside the worlds of academia and scientific enterprise.
 
“A subtle meditation on scientific personality . . . An odd blend of literature, philosophy, and science writing, as creative as any organic potpourri that Djerassi might have mixed up in his laboratory.”—The Washington Post
 
“This is a novel of ideas, quite literally, yet it flashes with wit and is often quite charming, thanks to well-drawn characters at ease with mind-boggling concepts who talk about them in a down-to-earth way.”—San Francisco Chronicle
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The Bourbaki Gambit

The Bourbaki Gambit

by Carl Djerassi
The Bourbaki Gambit

The Bourbaki Gambit

by Carl Djerassi

Paperback(Reprint)

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Overview

“A beautifully ingenious, funny, brilliantly intelligent, and moving tale of very human scientists. A splendid novel.”—Iris Murdoch
 
At the age of 68, distinguished Princeton science professor Max Weiss is bribed into taking an early retirement. Frustratingly aware that his best years are not yet behind him, Weiss devises an inventive revenge in the form of “Dr. Diana Skordylis”—a pseudonym for a partnership among Weiss and three aging colleagues, each with an ax to grind against the scientific community. What the Skordylis group doesn’t anticipate, however, is the unbridled success of their venture: the discovery of PCR, one of the most important breakthroughs in contemporary biomedical science. Professional jealousy soon threatens Diana Skordylis’s life. As the force of ego tests the bonds of collaboration, the reader is treated to a fascinating glimpse inside the worlds of academia and scientific enterprise.
 
“A subtle meditation on scientific personality . . . An odd blend of literature, philosophy, and science writing, as creative as any organic potpourri that Djerassi might have mixed up in his laboratory.”—The Washington Post
 
“This is a novel of ideas, quite literally, yet it flashes with wit and is often quite charming, thanks to well-drawn characters at ease with mind-boggling concepts who talk about them in a down-to-earth way.”—San Francisco Chronicle

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780140254853
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date: 10/01/1996
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 5.09(w) x 7.74(h) x 0.64(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Carl Djerassi is an internationally renowned scientist whose books include the novel Marx, Deceased; his autobiography The Pill, Pygmy Chimps, and Degas' Horse; essay, poetry, and short-story collections and two plays. A professor of chemistry at Stanford University, he is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and is one of the few American scientists to have been awarded both the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology.

What People are Saying About This

Iris Murdoch

"A beautifully ingenious, funny, brilliantly intelligent, and moving tale of very human scientist. A splendid novel."

Arthur C. Clarke

"A scientist whose work has traced the very nature of modern society, Carl Djerassi is now making his mark in literature. 'The Bourbaki Gambi', the work of fiction, may very well be compared to Watson's classic 'The Double Helix'. The author reveals, as only an insider can do, how much of scientific research is fueled by human passion."

David Lodge

"In 'The Bourbaki Gambit', Carl Djerassi again demonstrates his unique ability to make modern science both comprehensable and the stuff of absorbant fiction."

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