{"product_id":"the-medusa-and-the-snail-more-notes-of-a-biology-watcher-by-lewis-thomas","title":"'The Medusa and the Snail: More Notes of a Biology Watcher' by Lewis Thomas","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-8 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full dark markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eLewis Thomas writes about biology the way some people write about philosophy.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Medusa and the Snail\u003c\/em\u003e collects short essays that move from cells and DNA to hospitals, technology, illness and human behaviour, usually beginning with some small biological fact and then letting it quietly destabilise everything around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThomas is especially good on the productive role of imperfection. To him, DNA matters because it can make mistakes; evolution depends on replication failing just enough. Elsewhere he turns that same suspicion toward medicine and the fantasy that human beings are permanently fragile systems requiring constant intervention. The science is serious but never sealed off from ordinary life: he is interested in what biology does to our ideas of progress, control, health and certainty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very good bit of science writing from the period before popular science largely became either TED Talk optimism or catastrophe pornography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdition \u0026amp; condition: Penguin paperback. Moderate shelf wear and rubbing to covers and edges; internally clean with general age-toning. Binding sound.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"bower studio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46056662925395,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0689\/0268\/2707\/files\/womenintranslation_88.png?v=1787911753","url":"https:\/\/bowerbooks.com\/products\/the-medusa-and-the-snail-more-notes-of-a-biology-watcher-by-lewis-thomas","provider":"bower books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}