Natural Obsessions: Striving to Unlock the Deepest Secrets of the Cancer Cell

By Natalie Angier

As dramatic as The Double Hex and as absorbing as The Soul of a New Machine, Natural Obsessions explores the advanced reaches of molecular biology, the nature of the human cell, and the genes that control cancer. It unforgettably portrays some of the best young scientists in the world, the rewards and discouragements of scientific research, and the very process of scientific inquiry.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9780544358348

Natalie Angier

NATALIE ANGIER is a Pulitzer-Prize winning science columnist for The New York Times. She is the author of several books including The Canon, Woman, The Beauty of the Beastly, and Natural Obsessions. She lives outside Washington, D.C.,

Reviews for Natural Obsessions

[elbakerone · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book takes a behind the scenes, or rather behind the benches, look at cancer research labs in the 1980's in the race to discover and understand oncogenes - genes that cause cancer. Laced with unique personalities and fun anecdotes, the science (although dry at times) is presented in a basic form and should give lay people a general understanding of the inner workings of a research lab. However, this book finds a better audience in those that are familiar with cancer research as they will relate to the struggles of the protagonists and will likely recognize the "big name" scientists whose stories are told.