The Pill, Pygmy Chimps, And Degas' Horse: The Remarkable Autobiography Of The Award-winning Scientist Who Synthesized The Birth-control Pill

by Carl Djerassi

The inventor of the pill and antihistamines describes how he synthesized cortisone and the pill at the age of twenty-eight, and chronicles his career and his metamorphosis into a socially conscious scientist. 15,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Biography, Science, Chemistry, Nonfiction, Autobiography

336 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1992

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A/A+, excellent, much more memorable than his novels. This is the place to start, if you are interested in the life and career of this remarkable chemist, who died in 2015. I should definitely reread it soon! An engaging writer who led a VERY interesting life, and an award-winning scientist who had interests well beyond academic science. One of my scientific heroes!

See https://www.djerassi.com/carl.html for the original cover blurbs for this book. Such as
"Carl Djerassi, who is a scientist, artist, philosopher and mensch all in one, has produced the very best of scientific autobiography...Read this book." --Stephen Jay Gould

[Cat. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subtitle of this books is "The Remarkable Autobiography of the Award-Winning Scientist Who Synthesized the Birth Control Pill." Too long to fit in a title line!

So, I didn't read every word of this. When he started with molecular chemistry, or lab-speak, I skipped a few pages till it looked more like he was discussing silk shirts, or art collections. The guy is a fascinating person, however. He was born in the 1930s to an upper-class Jewish family living in in Vienna and Bulgaria and was fortunate enough to leave. His parents survived the war as well.

Much of this book is about his career as a biochemist in industry, and as awfully-dull as that sounds, it's not. Yes, I skipped around (laziness!), but I read at least 85% of the book. He's a good writer, and he mixes in just the right amount of personal detail with a sense of what life was like in industry in the 50s and 60s. The whole story covers science as a cultural loci, the purchase of silk for making shirts, learning English, the unusual relationship of his parents, the dichotomy between industry and academia, his wives, his children including the suicide of his daughter.

Pretty interesting book. Funny, rather egotistical, but intelligent dnd witty guy. Oh, that all scientists could write this well!

[Frrobins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just did not click with me. The flow was rather disjointed. There were parts I found very interesting and then other parts that I really had to slog through. I was rather interested in his thoughts on birth control but it was taking too long to get through. I got about 100 pages in and it didn't hold my interest enough to continue.

[Steve Vaughn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This man is fascinating. His invention ranks with the printing press and automobile for the change it wrough and is wreching on society.

It is interesting how he starts out very technically oriented and evolves focus on teaching and art

[Charmayne]

For a book originally published in 1992, Carl Djerassi had incredibly prescient insight about what restricting access to abortion and reproductive health services would do, and lays out his thoughts within these pages. More than this though, is the account of a fascinating individual: accomplished scientist, innovative professor, author and literary experimenter, and a man who fostered and supported a community of artists. I was drawn to this book because of our shared alma mater (Kenyon College) and interest in sexual health, but found even more reason to be intrigued by this multipotentialite.

[Sherry Tamone · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting account of a highly successful chemist (developer of the Pill) writer, and human being. I enjoyed the later part of the book in which the author acknowledges the futility of population control in the absence of reproductive awareness, education, and birth control. His marriage to the writer Diane Middlebrook was news to me and I am inspired to read some of her biographies next.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful autobiography of the scientist who synthisized the birth control pill and other chemical compounds. Good writer, very intersting life with an enduring impact on the world.

[Mickey Porter]

A fascinating scientist's biography.

[Shannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating.
http://bababrinkman.bandcamp.com/albu...
Recommend track 8 as an aperitif to this book