Lives of a
Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher
I picked up this book expecting it to be a sort-of story
book about cells. What i didn't realize is that it is a
compilation of essays written in the New England Journal of
Medicine between the years of '71 and '73 by Lewis Thomas
(who I have no professional knowledge of). Each chapter is
a different essay written halfway between prose and poetry
that appeared in an edition of the NEJM. Seemingly
unrelated, each chapter brings the world of the cell into
tangible sensations and visions, having them being
anthropomorphic and shown some semblance of organized
action, such as the human race has on the planet Earth.
One one of the most striking chapters was on the topic of
sound, not language. Showing that even in its simplest
form, cells, plants, even termites make sounds, that may
have nothing to do with conveyance of information, but have
much to do with their interaction with the world. Another
grand chapter likened humans to cells and the earth to an
organism. Lewis basically said that it was the job of the
planet to sprout life in order to bring that life elsewhere
and basically spread 'our' Earth (genetics) to other places
and maybe combat others who were spreading 'their Earth'
across the cosmos.
This is definitely not a book that one should read in one
sitting. It is meant to be picked up every so often, in an
odd mood, with a cup of Earl Grey or Chamomile and read for
pleasure and mind expansion, not for trailblazing speed
reading.