The Medusa and the Snail
The Medusa and the Snail
Nonfiction | Essay Collection | Adult | Published in 1979
Book Brief
160
Essay Collection • Nonfiction
1979
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Dr. Lewis Thomas, President of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, presents in his essay collection The Medusa and the Snail (1974) varied topics such as selfhood, disease, and human cloning, often reinforcing symbiotic relationships between man and nature. The title essay, “The Medusa and the Snail,” uses a jellyfish and sea slug’s evolving bond as a metaphor for mortality. The collection underscores the importance of mistakes in human evolution.
Contemplative
Informative
Mysterious
Inspirational
Serene
Reviews & Readership
1,942 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Reviews of The Medusa and the Snail by Lewis Thomas highlight his engaging prose and profound insights into the natural world, celebrating his ability to make complex scientific ideas accessible. Readers appreciate his wit and philosophical reflections. Criticisms focus on occasional overly dense sections and a lack of cohesive narrative. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read The Medusa and the Snail?
A reader who delights in exploring the natural world through poetic and philosophical reflections would enjoy Lewis Thomas's The Medusa and the Snail. Fans of Rachel Carson's The Sense of Wonder or Loren Eiseley's The Immense Journey will find similar joy in Thomas's lyrical and insightful essays on biology and human experience.
1,942 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
160
Essay Collection • Nonfiction
1979
Adult
18+ years
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