On a maverick biologist

Here is a New Yorker story (via A&L Daily) on Alfred Russel Wallace, the contemporary of Darwin,  who, along with Darwin came up with the theory of evolution, and unlike Darwin was not hesitant to make his theories let known. The article traces the life of Wallace from that of an apprentice surveyor to a revered scientist:

Nonetheless, by the end of his long life Wallace had, almost in spite of himself, become enormously famous. Despite trying to turn down an honorary degree from Oxford, membership in the Royal Society, and the Order of Merit (it required a visit to Buckingham Palace and an expensive new suit of clothes that Wallace did not wish to buy), Wallace wound up with just about every honor a great scientist could receive. At his death, he could have been buried in Westminster Abbey, next to Darwin, but his family, knowing his wishes, declined. Instead, they buried him in the local graveyard, which had a better view.

Along the way, his forays into spiritualism, his stand against vaccination and his faith in phrenology are also described. A very interesting read, indeed.

Here is the Alfred Russel Wallace page with tons of resources.

On slow reading and re-reading

Here is a nice piece from Chronicle (via A&L Daily) on the need for slow-reading and re-reading:

The mighty imperative is to speed everything up, but there might be some advantage in slowing things down. People are trying slow eating. Why not slow reading?

…

…the key to reading is rereading. Paradoxically, rereading a literary work is not a quick business, but usually slower than the first time round.

That reminds me a quote from Woody Allen:

“I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia.”

Feminist theory and Joy of science

Thus spake Zuska is running a blog-course called Feminist Theory and the Joy of Science – Just join maadi, swalpa read maadi, thumba enjoy maadi. Link via Philobiblon.

On a tranquil star

Asymptotia and Seed Daily Zeitgeist inform us of the publication of a short story by Primo Levi in New Yorker titled A tranquil star (and, strongly recommend it too).

That reminded me of a poem called The proposing star by Dr. V S Venkatavardan (published a long time ago — in the Letters to the editor column of the Hindu?):

I saw a bright star proposing to another
He was a red giant and she a white dwarf
A million years passed in a while
She still cold at ten thousand degrees Celsius
Not a single kiss in a million years,
And that does not speak well of a star dear
He grew more and more red
She was not willing to go to bed
Then he used his final trick
And exploded as a supernova
And now he and she are together,
And will remain so forever.

Have fun!