The Serengeti Rules Explains how to Make Enough Elephants
“Monod’s tie was loose, and he looked tired and worried. After a long silence he told Ullman, ‘I think I have discovered the second secret of life’”(Carrol 69).
These words capture the essence of scientific discovery. What Jaques Monod figured out in his lab was indeed groundbreaking in the realm of biology, but today, what he discovered is a normal part of biology textbooks. When studying science now we sometimes forget that all of these theories and laws were once unknown. We forget that each of these seemingly commonly known concepts such as DNA or food webs were once shocking to people. But this passage also captures part of Monod’s story, which is almost as interesting as what he discovered.
This passage exemplifies one thing that I love about The Serengeti Rules: it doesn’t simply list off scientific theories and concepts but tells stories of discovery. One of these is the story of Charles Elton who, on a trip to the Arctic Circle, “was so drunk when the landing party of seven finally went ashore… he arrived sitting on top of a load of baggage singing at the top of his lungs”(Carrol 34). Elton went on to make brilliant insights into the way ecosystems function. Not to mention the story of Jaques Monod, a biologist turned resistant group member in WW2. As he rose to higher positions in the French Forces of the Interior, he took on many tasks including ordering executions. After the war, “Monod picked up right where he’d left off… the logical appeal of enzyme adaptation irresistible”(Carrol 60). These expertly woven stories make this book perfect for those who like not only science but also history.
The Serengeti Rules enhances these stories with immersive scenes, for example, the author paints a sympathetic picture when he writes, “The Ternigen and pitched and rolled on the heaving icy Barens Sea and twenty-year-old Oxford University zoology student Charles Elton heaved along with it” (Carrol 32). These vivid pictures enhance the story and help readers relate to these scientists instead of viewing them as a person read about in a textbook. Instead of a distinguished scientist, we see Elton as a poor, seasick young man. The image the author creates in readers' minds allows them to put themselves in the shoes of Charles Elton and Jaques Monod which makes their narratives much more compelling.
The book also covers such a wide range of intriguing topics from the ecosystems to single cells. The author makes connections between “how our cells or bodies 'know' to increase or decrease the production of some substance” and “why a population of elephants on the savanna is increasing or decreasing"(Carrol 11). The Serengeti Rules also shows great depth when explaining these topics. Instead of staying at the surface level of problems, it dives deep into the inner workings of diseases, the fight or flight response, and the metabolism of bacteria. Overall, I enjoy that this book is layered. It is a science book that contains more than just science. Together, the compelling narratives, fascinating topics, and startling insights make for an engaging and informative book.
Works Cited
Carroll, Sean. The Serengeti Rules: The Quest to Discover How Life Works and Why It Matters. 1st Edition, Princeton University Press, 2016.
It's very interesting when non-fiction, especially science or biology, tells the whole story and not just the discovery. I think it makes these famous scientists a lot more human, and the idea of making discoveries like this a lot more attainable. I've never really read non-fiction science books for fun before but this one sounds great, I'll check it out!
ReplyDeleteScience has always been a rigid subject that seemed so far away from my reach, as finding connections between the scientific concepts from textbooks and the reality seemed far-fetched. Fortunately, I think this book will prove me wrong. I believe that, by incorporating real-life incidents with the scientific discoveries, the Serengeti Rules will draw a bridge between my life and science as well as introducing me into a new side of science. Thanks for introducing the book!
ReplyDeleteI think humanizing these textbook figures really helps us understand the struggle and effort required to come up with these theories. It really makes us think twice about taking the knowledge we have today about cells, bacteria, diseases, and other biological concepts for granted. I would also agree that books that are not just purely scientifically centered, that also incorporate other ideas really help make learning about science more fun. This book sounds like a fascinating story of science and history, and I would love to read it!
ReplyDeleteThis non-fiction book almost sounds like a thriller. The connection between science and history is not one I often see, and I find especially interesting the fact that the book tells the entire story of the discovery. The plot sounds amazing and the biological explanations of the discoveries sound fascinating. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteZoology is one of my favorite topics, because I often get to see examples of various behaviors with visuals. I tend to like hearing the backstory behind scientific theories or concepts, and I think this book is a good start to learning about science via reading again, after a relatively long break.
ReplyDeleteI frequently read non-fiction science books, but this sounds like it adds a unique aspect to typical boring scientific books. the way it's made more human and relatable sounds very interesting.
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