My Favorite Book

I have always had a theory about science. There is science that feels nice (it answers an important question, it fits neatly into what is known and even moves the needle a bit in the right direction) and then there is grand science (it can give you chills, makes you feel like you just took a dunk in an ice cold bath and gives you at the same time as much elation as trepidation). As a young scientist there is a clear benefit to nice science, it allows you to test hypothesis in a clear cut fashion, learn valuable techniques and go home at the end of the day feeling as if you have accomplished something. In the philosophy of science, which version will make a bigger impact over a period of hundreds of years? What does impact actually mean here? I don't pretend to know the answer. What I do know is that there is something about breaking convention that is intriguing.

No doubt going from still to abstract art broke all rules it literally made us FEEL something different. Were new neural circuits formed that never had connected upon visualizing this never yet seen type of art work? Ultimately the feeling that I am contemplating is somewhat indescribable but what I love about science the most. That 1% chance that you will see, understand, or experience something in the lab that cracks all convention. Are you going to be trained to even perceive it as a whisper or as a loud thunder storm?

What is a better way towards discovery of any kind? Small but yet significant incremental steps or a giant leap over a large span of time? This is the topic of the book that I feel in love with. My own personal beliefs (and I mean my OWN, without any generalization) is the giant leap. It will certainly make you suffer more, perhaps landing you in a black hole where nothing yet exists. If you are interested in this question, please read this book, "The Nature of Scientific Revolution" by Thomas Khuns. A person that is very special to me recommended it and it has really changed my view of life. I hope that it also does for you. There is a 50th year anniversary that was just published. I bought everyone in my lab a copy of it to read!

My dream is to buy a signed first edition from 1962.