Scan barcode
ursulamonarch's review
2.0
Overall I found this collection to be very frustrating. As others have noted, the "answer" to "how a child becomes a scientist" from this book seems to be "have parents who are scientists." Additionally, out of the 27 essays, only 6 seem to be written by women, and underrepresented minorities are definitely underrepresented here. Many of the essays included objectification of women (often citing the idea of "getting girls" to be a motivator to become a famous scientist), although I will note that Lynn Margulis also called herself "boy crazy," so maybe some of this is just scientists recounting their growth, including puberty.
Having said that, a few of the essays were really well written and thought provoking, and the contributors are big names. I'd recommend picking out a few of interest if you happen upon this book; my favorite was probably VS Ramachandran.
Having said that, a few of the essays were really well written and thought provoking, and the contributors are big names. I'd recommend picking out a few of interest if you happen upon this book; my favorite was probably VS Ramachandran.
cameliarose's review
3.0
I picked up Curious Minds: How a Child Becomes a Scientist at our local library book sale, because I like to read about science, scientists and parenting. This is a collection of short autographical essays from an assortment of accomplished scientists (mostly psychologists and physicists), a few famous (Steven Pinker and Richard Dawkins), others less so but all authors of books.
What strikes me first is that many scientists in the book made a great effort to exam objectively their childhood and the journey to become a scientist. Some even educate readers to take memoirs with a grain of salt, because, as science has proved, memories are malleable. No melodrama as you might expect in memoirs of some other professions.
After reading the whole collection, it is still hard to tell how a child becomes a scientist. Perhaps having a curious mind is the prerequisite of becoming a scientist, but how curious is curious? And how many curious people who actually become a scientist? Is it because of the genes? Parenting influence? Yet both parental nudging and parental freedom could have the same outcome. Or fate? Can random events change the entire course of one's life? Some think they do. J. Doyne Farmer said: "A good deal of our lives is determined by chance, and in my life there is one of the best examples."
Ok, now we are back to this Nature vs Nurture debate.
The style various from one piece to another, so as the writing quality. Some dry, some emotionally moving, some joyful, some serious. My two favorites: A Childhood Between Realities by Jaron Lanier; The Everyday Practice of Physics in Silver City, New Mexico by J. Doyne Farmer. Steven Pinker's How We May Have Become What We are is disappointing, too dry and too preachy.
The collection includes several women. It is not hard to notice that women scientists face more obstacles than men in their scientific career. Alison Gopnik wrote: "And I think young women shouldn't feel that they are defying the odds if they try to combine motherhood and a scientific career. I was lucky, but children--and science--should't have to rely on luck."
What strikes me first is that many scientists in the book made a great effort to exam objectively their childhood and the journey to become a scientist. Some even educate readers to take memoirs with a grain of salt, because, as science has proved, memories are malleable. No melodrama as you might expect in memoirs of some other professions.
After reading the whole collection, it is still hard to tell how a child becomes a scientist. Perhaps having a curious mind is the prerequisite of becoming a scientist, but how curious is curious? And how many curious people who actually become a scientist? Is it because of the genes? Parenting influence? Yet both parental nudging and parental freedom could have the same outcome. Or fate? Can random events change the entire course of one's life? Some think they do. J. Doyne Farmer said: "A good deal of our lives is determined by chance, and in my life there is one of the best examples."
Ok, now we are back to this Nature vs Nurture debate.
The style various from one piece to another, so as the writing quality. Some dry, some emotionally moving, some joyful, some serious. My two favorites: A Childhood Between Realities by Jaron Lanier; The Everyday Practice of Physics in Silver City, New Mexico by J. Doyne Farmer. Steven Pinker's How We May Have Become What We are is disappointing, too dry and too preachy.
The collection includes several women. It is not hard to notice that women scientists face more obstacles than men in their scientific career. Alison Gopnik wrote: "And I think young women shouldn't feel that they are defying the odds if they try to combine motherhood and a scientific career. I was lucky, but children--and science--should't have to rely on luck."
More...