When Science Goes Wrong: Twelve Tales from the Dark Side of Discovery

by Simon LeVay

Book Overview

Brilliant scientific successes have helped shape our world, and are always celebrated. However, for every victory, there are no doubt numerous little-known blunders. Neuroscientist Simon LeVay brings together a collection of fascinating, yet shocking, stories of failure from recent scientific history in When Science Goes Wrong . From the fields of forensics and microbiology to nuclear physics and meteorology, in When Science Goes Wrong LeVay shares...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452289327
• ISBN13: 9780452289321
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Plume Books
• Length: 287 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Awesome book

If you're like me and two of your greatest loves are books about science and reading about natural disasters and calamities... seek help. Seriously. It's just not right to have that particular set of amusements. But while you are in one of those old-fashioned "Girl: Interrupted" style mental wards, making fun of the girl who hides chickens under her bed, you should pick this book up and read it. Don't get me wrong, you don't want to let Whoopi Goldberg catch you because she knows you're not really and truly crazy the way Angelina Jolie is and eventually she'll let you out if you don't give her reason not to, but still... if that compulsive liar can read the Oz books, you can certainly tuck this bad boy away. I guess the reason why I like this book can be summed up in one neat and tidy phrase: even scientists can be dumbasses sometimes. Like let's say for instance that you are a nuclear physicist and you know all about the harmful effects of radiation. Do you: a. conduct an experiment with a radioactive isotope using all kinds of lead shielding and so on, or b. conduct it using your hand and a screwdriver? Actually, that particular incident is *not* in the book; however, the twelve tales that are there are equally stupid. I just don't want to give them away because, well, it'll ruin some of the fun for you. One final note: I am pretty sure that Simon LeVay is not related to founder of the modern Satanist movement Anton LeVay (well, he is an evolutionist so he's going straight to hell lololololol!!!!). If he was, I'm pretty sure the first line of the book would be something like "I AM THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS'S BROTHER BOW BEFORE ME", not something about a mortuary (and no, I am not going to give away why he mentions a mortuary).

Science and Human Failings

This is a fascinating book. The author describes twelve instances, one per chapter, where scientists' work has resulted in some form of disaster. The scientific fields in which such incidents are presented include medical/biological disciplines, earth sciences, nuclear sciences, space science and psychology. In many of these cases the author shows how a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. It is clear from this book that the many scientific advances that we hear about regularly are peppered by a few serious fiascoes -often involving human error. The only way that I can envisage improving this book (or a sequel) is to include a few simple sketches or diagrams in the chapters where detailed descriptions of physical items are presented; this would greatly help the reader to better visualize that particular item and thus possibly better understand the nature of the disaster. The writing style is clear, friendly, accessible, authoritative and quite engaging. This book can be enjoyed by anyone, but science buffs as well as those who are particularly interested in the potential shortcomings of the science/human interface may appreciate it the most.

My growing reading list from "The Daily Show"

It seems like the majority of books I am reading these days are authors who are on "The Daily Show". I really enjoyed this book. I usually read fiction but these vignettes are so surreal that it is hard to believe they actually happened.

A good book to read

It's a type of book that keep you saying "That really happen". A good buy.

Outstanding read

A most enjoyable book. I read other books of this author and have always been fascinated by his literary style, but in this book the author outdid himself. Because the stories told in this book lend themselves to mix personal and scientific aspects, they read like a thriller, but a highly informative one. The chapters span a wide range of topics relating to science, engineering and technology, so that there is something for everybody. However, despite the variety of subjects covered, there is a clear unifying theme: scientists, and people with highly technical occupations, are as human as everybody else. They make mistakes, are moved by noble and less noble motives, and have careers to worry about. In each chapter the author effortlessy switches between the description of technical issues and the emotions and conflicts of the people around that issue. It is this mixture that makes the book so enjoyable and accessible to everyone. Technical details are never presented as dry facts, but always firmly attached to some key event in the story, and personal details are always offered to provide a natural context for the more technical aspects. One aspect of this book which I really appreciated is that it got me interested in things which, at first look, seemed not terribly exciting, like Mary Tudor's study of stuttering in orphans, which took place in pre World War 2 Iowa. As the story in question and the characters became more developed I could see the orphanage and Mary Tudor in my mind, and started asking myself questions on ethics and motives which trascended the specific topic. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an inquisitive mind. The author has an impeccable reputation for his thourough research, and he clearly conducted an impressive series of interviews in developing the material for this book. Combined with his mastery of the English language this led to an excellent product, which makes for a very satisfying read.