Review
[A] perceptive book about science and its civic value, arriving as the White House renews its acquaintance with empiricism. Varmus recounts his laboratory career and tenure as director of the National Institutes of Health, then surveys topical issues like stem-cell research. One implication of this book is that far from disconnecting politics and science, we should find better ways of linking them.--Peter Dizikes
Book Description
In "The Art and Politics of Science" a Nobel prize-winning cancer biologist, leader of major scientific institutions and veteran of the American science policy wars reflects on his remarkable career. A year into his graduate studies in literature at Harvard University, Harold Varmus discovered he was drawn instead to medicine and eventually found himself at the forefront of cancer research at the University of California, San Francisco. In this warm, engaging memoir, Varmus considers a remarkable life's work and also shares his perspective from the trenches of politicised battlegrounds ranging from budget fights to stem-cell research, global health to science publishing. Beyond evidence of Varmus' penetrating intellect, self-deprecating humour and the deep joy he takes in science, "The Art and Politics of Science" offers a stimulating reminder to people in all walks of life about the fascinating-and central-role of science in our world.
About the Author
* Nobel prize-winning HAROLD VARMUS is the president of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the former director of the National Institutes of Health.
