At first I wasn’t sure if this would be for me, since I can’t bear to read books that include animal experimentation. Then I read how the author is an animal lover and I decided to trust her. If Mary Roach liked this, I’m in. And I’m so glad I did. Written in an approachable style, there are plenty of anecdotes for people who like “silly" science. But there is so much more, exploring the huge implications that these experiments have had in the world. Do I want to know how long an elephant pees? Absolutely! Do I care about its technological applications? Not really, but the people holding the pursestrings do and, as a taxpayer I also understand that. So I was thrilled when I learned how animal venom may have saved countless lives (and not just through anti-venoms), or how the one animal I can’t stand to even look at, cockroaches, may save me a delay at the airport in the future. The cases feature a lot of people from different times. Some of them are long dead and we cannot ask them about what moved them. Most, though, are still alive and working and don’t mind sharing their experiences with the author. It’s surprising to learn that not all of them are scientists (or at least not biologists or zoologists). With regards to the welfare of the critters, most of the contemporary scientists make a big effort to treat them right. The people in the past were not so inclined, but the author is not explicit about it so, even if it’s sad, it’s not graphic. A lot of the experiments are not for the faint of heart (cutting a dead whale’s flipper comes to mind); but this book is so worth reading. If you, like me, have never lost the curiosity to learn about the world, this is for you. If you, also like me, scream at government waste and question why we need to spend so much money, this will also provide answers. A truly great read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Basic Books.

This is about all one could want of popsci: silly, compelling, well-written, and with solid science behind it. The pacing is just about perfect for the subject matter. An excellent nightstand read.

It was the enthusiastic endorsement by the most readable of science writers, Mary Roach, that admittedly drew me to this book.

But it was the conversational, informative and inquisitive style of writing by author, Carly Anne York, that had me reading to the very last page.

In the current political climate, this book is needed more than ever. Not just for us everyday citizens of the world but those that make and can ultimately hinder potential cures and advances in the scientific world. From how penicillin was discovered to the current use of robotics that draws its inspiration from a whale's anatomy, it's all found in the pages of this engaging book.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Basic Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


#TheSalmonCannonandtheLevitatingFrog #NetGalley

This book was a delightful example of what good sci. comm. should be. It took various studies that had been ridiculed at one point or another and showed how they were useful. Any Ph. D. candidate in research sciences should be required to read this book as an example of how to explain things to laypeople, a skill many are lacking in.

Rarely has a book on science felt so vital and timely to me. This has fantastic examples of research that felt silly or ridiculous at the time but was later used for incredible scientific breakthroughs that have become essential to daily human existence. This should be required reading before any cuts to federal grants/funding by both government employees, elected officials, and the people supporting these budget cuts. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book. Dr. York tells great stories about what she describes as research driven by curiosity, which I think is a great description of basic or pure research. She also explains the tangible contributions this research has made to society, making a great case for the importance of this type of research. The writing is clever and certainly made me chuckle a few times. All the science is excellently explained and Dr York does a great job of sharing her enthusiasm for the research. This book was an absolute pleasure to read. Thank you to Netgalley and Basic Books for the advance reader copy.