This is Morton Meyers' fascinating, entertaining, and highly accessible look at the surprising role serendipity played in some of the most importan...
read full description
reviews
Jan 04, 2011
Osho
rated it: 
Meyers's contention is that scientific discoveries of the paradigm-shifting sort are not generally made by rote testing of compounds (for example), but by serendipitous accidents that are recognized as significant. His examples generally, though not always, support this position. It's clear from the degree to which he becomes exercised that cancer research was the impetous for this book.
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 15, 2011
Bonnie
rated it: 
Amazingly well researched, a general introduction into the history of medical research from its earliest beginnings to modern day. He traces how each discovery came about and adds interesting background information that you might otherwise have never known, that make each case an entertaining tale rather than a dry textbook pronouncement you usually find in a medical text.
In the final section of the book, Meyers points to several factors which he believes create an environment unsu More...
In the final section of the book, Meyers points to several factors which he believes create an environment unsu More...
Sep 25, 2007
Jen
rated it: 
This was more a long book of information than I-can't-put-it-down-read. At times, it's interesting. At times, it's sort of boring, but it's an eye opening look at how accidents in the medical field can change the course of modern medicine. For example, penicillin was found by accident. The author also shows how the stict environment of medical research, and how big pharma, are leading to less medical breakthroughs and preventing researchers to follow up on those 'flukes' to find cures.
Feb 03, 2012
Jan 29, 2012
Jan 24, 2012
Dec 28, 2011
Dec 06, 2011
Dec 06, 2011
Oct 03, 2011
Sep 29, 2011
Sep 27, 2011
Sep 19, 2011
Aug 12, 2011
Aug 03, 2011
Aug 02, 2011
Jul 27, 2011
Jun 19, 2011
Dec 15, 2011
Dec 15, 2011
Dec 15, 2011
Apr 25, 2011
Dec 11, 2011
Mar 30, 2011
