Ateisten och den heliga staden: Möten och tankar

by George Klein

In this series of 15 essays that won the Letterstedt Prize...the essays range from lucid explanations of biological and genetic processes to personal remembrances and studies of famous scientists to discussions of the complicity of science and medicine in the Nazi extermination camps.

Genres: Philosophy, Essays, Science

248 pages, Unknown Binding

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

George Klein, Georg Klein or Klein György (July 28, 1925) was a Hungarian-Swedish biologist who specialized in cancer research. Klein had also authored a dozen of non-scientific or wide ranging books, of which several are collections of essays.

Klein started a tumor biology center at Karolinska Institute and made a connection there between the Epstein-Barr virus and lymphomas and other cancers. He was awarded the $100,000 prize by the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation for pioneering work on cancer and the human immunity system.

Apart from his scientific work, he had written popular books of which three have been translated to English: The Atheist and the Holy City (1990) (Swedish: Ateisten och den heliga staden), Pietà (1992), a collection of essays on whether life is worth living, and Live Now (1997).

Since settling in Sweden in 1947, Klein has spelled his surname Georg in Swedish and George in English.

Reviews

[Kamilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by George Klein, atheist, helped me, during a profound depression in the mid-1990s, to understand what a spiritual life could be. The cynicism that had made me suffer was dispelled by these simple and deep essays by a scientist with the soul and understanding of an artist and poet.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this set of essays by biologist George Klein. All of these wonderful essays are different kinds of reflections on life.

I was really hooked with the first essay, The Emperor's New Clothes. In it, Klein discusses a journal article that studied people's opinions on studies they read. It found:

1. If one has a high regard for an author, one is inclined to agree with him no matter what he says.

2. If one agrees with a conclusion, one is inclined to have a high regard for the author no matter who he is.

3. If one has little regard for an author, one will not readily agree with him no matter what he says.

4. If one doesn't agree with a statement, one easily develops a low regard for the author no matter who he is.

The amazing thing is how easy it is to see that this kind of attitude is part of everyday life. It's not just a science thing.

In one of the essays, he asks this important question that I love: "Does one lose the ability to identify with the oppressed when ones own life becomes secure?"

In his essay Are Scientists Creative?, he describes (pulling on the work of others) the experience of getting so involved with the subjective experience of individual creativity. You know - that feeling where you get so involved in something that time ceases? The "state of complete concentration accompanied by euphoria and an experience of absolute determination…when the task and the ability to achieve it are completely balanced." This is so true! This "force is far more powerful than any rewards or subconscious urges. We want to experience the pleasure…over and over."

This may actually be my favorite feeling, and it was very cool to to see someone describe it so perfectly.

Blind Will and Selfish DNA was an extremely compelling, fascinating look at existence. I especially love the writing in the first 1 paragraphs.

Finally, in the Atheist and the Holy City, I am fascinated by his view of atheism.

I didn't completely enjoy every essay - but the book was worth reading for those I did.