I don't think I would ever describe myself as a man of science – not that I would describe myself as a man of god either, maybe a man of letters, or of ice cream – but I certainly have a healthy (geddit?) respect for science in all walks of life. This includes medicine, despite the slightly mixed treatment I've had lately for a variety of things. I try to avoid taking things unless I need to – I want it to work when I do. Having suffered from a bout of cold/flu/general mehness, I've been dosing up on everything I can and it seems to have been a success.
That success can be attributed to figures like Martin Arrowsmith, fictional scientist and title character in Sinclair Lewis' Arrowsmith. He undoubtedly is a man of science, dedicated to his job at the expense of all else, even his wife, who is in her own quiet and subdued way, his tower of strength. He concentrates on his work, rather than getting dragged into the politics of university departments, finding solace in that above all else. Shedding a lot of light on the scientific establishment, its workings, pressures and culture, it paints an interesting picture of man caught between his work and the rewards it might bring.
One one hand, he is self-absorbed, tireless and dedicated, focusing on his work rather than being tempted by the trappings of fame and wealth when he stumbles upon a major cure for disease. As an insight into this world, it's easy to see why it has been widely admired, it focuses on the pressures put on individuals and the ethical dilemmas they face. It's well crafted and written, though it would say I found it interesting more than truly absorbing or engaging. Lewis actually refused the Pulitzer Prize he won for the novel on the basis that he felt it was awarded on fashion rather than literary merit, but I think it has stood the test of time, which is arguably the only prize worth winning.
Book number: 78
Title: Arrowsmith
Author: Sinclair Lewis
Category: Pulitzer Prize winners
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