What do you think?
Rate this book
An Arrow's Arc: Journey of a Physician-Scientist
“This is a wonderful account of a nonpareil physician-scientist and, in recent decades, a creator of drug therapies and a lifesci macher. Carl Nathan illuminates his memoir with great storytelling and deeply considered reflections (regularly summed up in pithy ‘life lessons’) on how his person and his personal journey prepared, and propelled, him. Like Carl, I am a scientist whose asthma and serial pneumonias meant swapping a lot of childhood companionship for finding out young how rewarding adventures of the mind can be. An Arrow’s Arc belongs on your bookshelf right next to Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! ”
—Professor K. Barry Sharpless, PhD, Scripps Research Institute, two-time winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry As a physician and renowned medical researcher, Carl Nathan has been at the forefront of discoveries in microbiology and immunology. In An Arrow’s Arc , he reflects on how his youthful experiences and passions moved him toward medicine and science, and how his five decades as a doctor and scientist have, in turn, shaped him. As a child, Nathan struggled with severe asthma, and he saw breast cancer take his mother’s life during his senior year of college, on the very same day he was accepted to Harvard Medical School. These experiences, among others, fueled his abiding interest in medicine and his determined efforts to understand how the immune system duels with cancer and infectious diseases. While a half-century dedicated to his patients and to biomedical research provided Dr. Nathan with a hard-won biological perspective on death’s role in life, he’s known since he was young that he could die at any time. He calls this a liberating thought, a gift, a call to action. Full of warmth and wisdom, An Arrow’s Arc is a beautiful reminder to all of us “that now is the time to love, to wonder, and to build.”
—Professor K. Barry Sharpless, PhD, Scripps Research Institute, two-time winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry As a physician and renowned medical researcher, Carl Nathan has been at the forefront of discoveries in microbiology and immunology. In An Arrow’s Arc , he reflects on how his youthful experiences and passions moved him toward medicine and science, and how his five decades as a doctor and scientist have, in turn, shaped him. As a child, Nathan struggled with severe asthma, and he saw breast cancer take his mother’s life during his senior year of college, on the very same day he was accepted to Harvard Medical School. These experiences, among others, fueled his abiding interest in medicine and his determined efforts to understand how the immune system duels with cancer and infectious diseases. While a half-century dedicated to his patients and to biomedical research provided Dr. Nathan with a hard-won biological perspective on death’s role in life, he’s known since he was young that he could die at any time. He calls this a liberating thought, a gift, a call to action. Full of warmth and wisdom, An Arrow’s Arc is a beautiful reminder to all of us “that now is the time to love, to wonder, and to build.”
308 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2024
5 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 31, 2024
I'm biased reading this, as I went into this book already having deep respect for both the character and scientific brilliance of Carl Nathan. This book was a deeply moving and thoughtful journey with more poetic tendencies than I expect from scientist writers. I love how Carl weaves together the stories of so many others on his path and celebrates their contributions. As someone who also lost a parent in early adulthood I can really relate to his perspectives on grief and death.
April 9, 2024
"An Arrow's Arc" by Dr. Carl Nathan is a captivating memoir that weaves together the threads of a profound life in both science and the arts. Through its pages, Nathan takes us on a journey from the innocence of his childhood to the complexities of his groundbreaking work in medical research. What sets this memoir apart is not just the story it tells, but how it is told. Dr. Nathan's skill as a writer is evident in every sentence, blending narrative and poetic beauty with the precision of a seasoned researcher.
For those who appreciate the art of writing as much as the science of living, "An Arrow's Arc" is a must-read. Nathan proves that the heart of a poet and the mind of a scientist can coexist, offering readers a unique perspective on life that is both insightful and incredibly moving. This book is a remarkable achievement, showcasing not only the author's personal and professional milestones but also his extraordinary talent as a storyteller.
For those who appreciate the art of writing as much as the science of living, "An Arrow's Arc" is a must-read. Nathan proves that the heart of a poet and the mind of a scientist can coexist, offering readers a unique perspective on life that is both insightful and incredibly moving. This book is a remarkable achievement, showcasing not only the author's personal and professional milestones but also his extraordinary talent as a storyteller.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews