Principles of development
- 560 pages
- 20 hours of reading
Lewis Wolpert Books
Lewis Wolpert was a distinguished developmental biologist whose work illuminated the fundamental processes of embryonic development. He pioneered concepts explaining how cells communicate positional information, crucial for understanding how organisms take shape. Beyond his scientific contributions, Wolpert was a passionate science communicator, advocating for rationality and empirical evidence as the most effective means of understanding the world. His writings also bravely explored the personal experience of depression, offering a unique blend of scientific insight and human vulnerability.
"This is a clear and engagingly written book," declared Nature, "recommended certainly to nonspecialists, but also to developmental biologists." Its exploration of how single cells multiply and develop offers an accessible look at a difficult subject. Easy-to-understand descriptions of experimental studies offer fascinating insights into aging, cancer, regeneration, and evolution. 1993 edition.
How We Live and Why We Die
- 256 pages
- 9 hours of reading
In the tradition of the classic Lives of a Cell, but with the benefit of the latest research, an internationally acclaimed embryologist demonstrates how human life derives from a single cell and then grows into a body, an incredibly complex society made up of billions of them.
Malignant Sadness
- 224 pages
- 8 hours of reading
'An excellent book, the most objective short account I know of all the various approaches to depression.' Anthony Storr Several years ago, Lewis Wolpert had a severe episode of depression.
Developmental Biology: A Very Short Introduction
- 132 pages
- 5 hours of reading
The development of a single fertilized egg into a fly, an elephant, or a human baby is one the most remarkable near-miracles achieved by nature. This Very Short Introduction, written by the distinguished developmental biologist Lewis Wolpert, gives a concise account of, and explores, one of the liveliest areas of scientific research.
Six impossible things before breakfast
- 288 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Lewis Wolpert investigates the nature of belief and its causes. He looks at belief's psychological basis and its possible evolutionary origins in physical cause and effect.
The exploration of belief takes center stage as Lewis Wolpert investigates why many Americans hold onto improbable ideas, from angels to alien abductions. He examines the psychological underpinnings of belief and its evolutionary significance, analyzing how belief manifests in children, the religious, and those with psychiatric disorders. Wolpert raises thought-provoking questions about the necessity of belief in human society, challenging readers to consider whether it is an essential aspect of our existence or if a life without belief is achievable.