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I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right
An energetic and impassioned work of popular science about scientists who have had to fight for their revolutionary ideas to be accepted—from Darwin to Pasteur to modern day Nobel Prize winners.
For two decades, Matt Kaplan has covered science for the Economist. He’s seen breakthroughs often occur in spite of, rather than because of, the behavior of the research community, and how support can be withheld for those who don’t conform or have the right connections. In this passionately argued and entertaining book, Kaplan narrates the history of the 19th century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis, who realized that Childbed fever—a devastating infection that only struck women who had recently given birth—was spread by doctors not washing their hands. Semmelweis was met with overwhelming hostility by those offended at the notion that doctors were at fault, and is a prime example of how the scientific community often fights new ideas, even when the facts are staring them in the face.
In entertaining prose, Kaplan reveals scientific cases past and present to make his case. Some are familiar, like Galileo being threatened with torture and Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó being fired when on the brink of discovering how to wield mRNA–a finding that proved pivotal for the creation of the Covid-19 vaccine. Others less so, like researchers silenced for raising safety concerns about new drugs, and biologists ridiculed for revealing major flaws in the way rodent research is conducted. Kaplan shows how the scientific community can work faster and better by making reasonably small changes to the forces that shape it.
For two decades, Matt Kaplan has covered science for the Economist. He’s seen breakthroughs often occur in spite of, rather than because of, the behavior of the research community, and how support can be withheld for those who don’t conform or have the right connections. In this passionately argued and entertaining book, Kaplan narrates the history of the 19th century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis, who realized that Childbed fever—a devastating infection that only struck women who had recently given birth—was spread by doctors not washing their hands. Semmelweis was met with overwhelming hostility by those offended at the notion that doctors were at fault, and is a prime example of how the scientific community often fights new ideas, even when the facts are staring them in the face.
In entertaining prose, Kaplan reveals scientific cases past and present to make his case. Some are familiar, like Galileo being threatened with torture and Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó being fired when on the brink of discovering how to wield mRNA–a finding that proved pivotal for the creation of the Covid-19 vaccine. Others less so, like researchers silenced for raising safety concerns about new drugs, and biologists ridiculed for revealing major flaws in the way rodent research is conducted. Kaplan shows how the scientific community can work faster and better by making reasonably small changes to the forces that shape it.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 24, 2026
118 people are currently reading
10246 people want to read
About the author
Matt Kaplan
4 books48 followersMatt Kaplan is a science correspondent at the Economist and has been responsible for the newspaper’s coverage of biology for nearly two decades. His writing has also appeared in National Geographic, New Scientist, Nature, and the New York Times. He is the author of The Science of Monsters and Science of the Magical, and co-author of David Attenborough’s First Life: A Journey Through Time. He completed a thesis in Paleontology at Berkeley, and one in science journalism at Imperial College, London. In 2014 he was awarded a Knight Fellowship to study at MIT and Harvard. Born in California, he currently lives in England.
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November 18, 2025
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an uncorrected digital galley of I Told You So! Scientists who were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for being Right by Matt Kaplan with an expected publication date of February 24, 2026, in return for an honest review. As a contrarian by nature this is a topic that is one of my favorite subject matters, and I can think of at least four other books that I have read of a similar nature.
The author, Matt Kaplan, is a trained paleontologist that left the world of academia for journalism and has been a science correspondent for The Economist covering biology for 20 years. Kaplan knows the subject manner and is able to tell his stories in a way that is easily understood by a non-scientific reader [myself, for example]. The book has a major theme that established scientists often do a variety of despicable things to maintain the status quo. The reason for this is manyfold: new ideas might result in loss of status, or bias against woman or scientists from less prestigious backgrounds or training. Science is supposed to work by challenging ideas and trying to replicate previous work. Kaplan argues that many advances in medicine have been delayed because of this tendency to minimize new ideas. A subplot to the book is that how research is funded, and reported, has the effect of minimizing new ideas. If you have been previously published, if you come from a renowned university, etc., you are more likely to get new funding or to have your papers published. Kaplan ends the book with a number of suggestions of how publications and funding can overcome these problems.
His case is made by retelling a number of stories, both contemporary and historical. The story of Katalin Kariko is up to the minute. A Hungarian born researcher at University of Pennsylvania, she was harassed, demoted, and fired because she was not getting funded or published. Of course, lack of support from the university had something to do with that. Her research which she had to complete elsewhere was instrumental to the Covid vaccinations and she received the Nobel prize in medicine in 2023. Fortunately for us, her treatment at UPenn did not prevent her breakthrough. Other scientists, who we may never know, have not been so lucky.
A scientist from more historical times, Iganz Semmelweis, also Hungarian, made ground breaking discoveries regarding childbed fever [puerperal fever] in the 1800s. He never truly was recognized or his work acknowledged because the medical establishment harassed and scorned his work. Pasteur is also discussed, particularly with regards to his work on rabies; but sadly he is an example of a scientist that would lie and cheat, in order to get recognition. The story of Galileo from even earlier time is briefly sketched out.
I rated I Told You So! 4 stars, and recommend that anyone interested in the topic of how science actually gets done read this book. I intend to buy a copy for family members that are an MD/PhD and a biomedical researcher once this is published. I took off a star, mostly because of the book’s organization. The author, continuously goes back and forth revisiting his key stories. I found the structure difficult to understand at times. The draft that I read did not have any chapter titles, and it was unclear what the structure of the book’s premise was throughout.
Some of the other books that are in this vein, that I also recommend include:
• Paul Offit’s Pandora’s Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong
• Marty Makary’s Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets it Wrong and What it Means for our Health
• Alice Domurat Dreger’s Galileo’s Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and the Search for Justice in Science
The Offit and Makary books are organized with a story per chapter which is a structure that I easily understood. I do not remember the structure of the Dreger book. Despite this quibble, and understanding that this might be changed in the final product, I definitely recommend Kaplan’s book.
The author, Matt Kaplan, is a trained paleontologist that left the world of academia for journalism and has been a science correspondent for The Economist covering biology for 20 years. Kaplan knows the subject manner and is able to tell his stories in a way that is easily understood by a non-scientific reader [myself, for example]. The book has a major theme that established scientists often do a variety of despicable things to maintain the status quo. The reason for this is manyfold: new ideas might result in loss of status, or bias against woman or scientists from less prestigious backgrounds or training. Science is supposed to work by challenging ideas and trying to replicate previous work. Kaplan argues that many advances in medicine have been delayed because of this tendency to minimize new ideas. A subplot to the book is that how research is funded, and reported, has the effect of minimizing new ideas. If you have been previously published, if you come from a renowned university, etc., you are more likely to get new funding or to have your papers published. Kaplan ends the book with a number of suggestions of how publications and funding can overcome these problems.
His case is made by retelling a number of stories, both contemporary and historical. The story of Katalin Kariko is up to the minute. A Hungarian born researcher at University of Pennsylvania, she was harassed, demoted, and fired because she was not getting funded or published. Of course, lack of support from the university had something to do with that. Her research which she had to complete elsewhere was instrumental to the Covid vaccinations and she received the Nobel prize in medicine in 2023. Fortunately for us, her treatment at UPenn did not prevent her breakthrough. Other scientists, who we may never know, have not been so lucky.
A scientist from more historical times, Iganz Semmelweis, also Hungarian, made ground breaking discoveries regarding childbed fever [puerperal fever] in the 1800s. He never truly was recognized or his work acknowledged because the medical establishment harassed and scorned his work. Pasteur is also discussed, particularly with regards to his work on rabies; but sadly he is an example of a scientist that would lie and cheat, in order to get recognition. The story of Galileo from even earlier time is briefly sketched out.
I rated I Told You So! 4 stars, and recommend that anyone interested in the topic of how science actually gets done read this book. I intend to buy a copy for family members that are an MD/PhD and a biomedical researcher once this is published. I took off a star, mostly because of the book’s organization. The author, continuously goes back and forth revisiting his key stories. I found the structure difficult to understand at times. The draft that I read did not have any chapter titles, and it was unclear what the structure of the book’s premise was throughout.
Some of the other books that are in this vein, that I also recommend include:
• Paul Offit’s Pandora’s Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong
• Marty Makary’s Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets it Wrong and What it Means for our Health
• Alice Domurat Dreger’s Galileo’s Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and the Search for Justice in Science
The Offit and Makary books are organized with a story per chapter which is a structure that I easily understood. I do not remember the structure of the Dreger book. Despite this quibble, and understanding that this might be changed in the final product, I definitely recommend Kaplan’s book.
November 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This isn’t my usual go to genre, but as a total mood reader, I sometimes get pulled into nonfiction and I Told You So! by Matt Kaplan definitely caught my interest. The mix of science and the history of scientific discovery really pulled me in. You definitely have to read with an open mind, but Kaplan does such a great job of keeping things clear and approachable. I never felt lost or overwhelmed by the science, it was fascinating and easy to follow. One of my favorite parts was the endnotes! They added so much depth and had me looking up topics online just to learn more. Overall, if you enjoy nonfiction or have even a slight interest in science, I’d highly recommend picking this one up. It’s smart, engaging, and full of “wow, I didn’t know that” moments. Thanks to @StMartinsPress for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. Pub Date: February 26,2026
#SMPEarlyReaders #BookReview #NonfictionReads #ScienceBooks #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #BookLovers #HistoryOfScience #SmartReads #BookCommunity #ReadersChoice
This isn’t my usual go to genre, but as a total mood reader, I sometimes get pulled into nonfiction and I Told You So! by Matt Kaplan definitely caught my interest. The mix of science and the history of scientific discovery really pulled me in. You definitely have to read with an open mind, but Kaplan does such a great job of keeping things clear and approachable. I never felt lost or overwhelmed by the science, it was fascinating and easy to follow. One of my favorite parts was the endnotes! They added so much depth and had me looking up topics online just to learn more. Overall, if you enjoy nonfiction or have even a slight interest in science, I’d highly recommend picking this one up. It’s smart, engaging, and full of “wow, I didn’t know that” moments. Thanks to @StMartinsPress for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. Pub Date: February 26,2026
#SMPEarlyReaders #BookReview #NonfictionReads #ScienceBooks #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #BookLovers #HistoryOfScience #SmartReads #BookCommunity #ReadersChoice
March 27, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for granting me a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
What I thought this book would be A history of scientists who were ridiculed, exiled, and imprisoned for devising unpopular theories that were later proven right.
What this book turned out to be A scatterbrained analysis of all the ways the science field is broken, interspersed with personal anecdotes, awkward humor, and way too much time allotted to puerperal fever.
I Told You So (cue bango) is neither a history book nor a science book, but rather a long expose on how sociopathic the average scientist is. There’s some value here as a work of journalism, I suppose, along with a dash of psychology. But unless you’re extremely interested in how doctors spent hundreds of years refusing to accept that they were unwittingly spreading lethal disease to new mothers, then you’re not going to find much information pertaining to what this book purports to be about. (Dear booksellers: please stop doing that.)
What I thought this book would be A history of scientists who were ridiculed, exiled, and imprisoned for devising unpopular theories that were later proven right.
What this book turned out to be A scatterbrained analysis of all the ways the science field is broken, interspersed with personal anecdotes, awkward humor, and way too much time allotted to puerperal fever.
I Told You So (cue bango) is neither a history book nor a science book, but rather a long expose on how sociopathic the average scientist is. There’s some value here as a work of journalism, I suppose, along with a dash of psychology. But unless you’re extremely interested in how doctors spent hundreds of years refusing to accept that they were unwittingly spreading lethal disease to new mothers, then you’re not going to find much information pertaining to what this book purports to be about. (Dear booksellers: please stop doing that.)
April 3, 2026
This is a book of popular science written by an author who served as a science correspondent at The Economist for over two decades. It takes a look at the psychology of resistance to scientific discoveries, describing scientists who persevered and ultimately were proven correct. Kaplan notes that breakthroughs often occur in spite of the behavior of the research community, who would normally be bound to follow the scientific method and (one would think) would be more accepting of progress.
One of the book’s key cases involves Ignaz Semmelweis, the Hungarian physician whose discovery in the 1840s that doctors washing their hands could largely eliminate childbed fever. His ideas were dismissed by a medical community unwilling to accept that they had directly caused so many women's deaths. In a more recent example, Kaplan covers biochemist Katalin Karikó, whose research into mRNA was continually rejected and underfunded but eventually became the basis for the Covid-19 vaccine.
The book is accessible and entertaining. It is also sad to think how many people died due to the human tendency to resist change or protect turf. Kaplan outlines practical solutions such as not disclosing authorship when awarding research funding. My takeaway from the book is that science as a method is the best tool we have, while science as a social institution is as prone to ego and politics as any other human endeavor.
One of the book’s key cases involves Ignaz Semmelweis, the Hungarian physician whose discovery in the 1840s that doctors washing their hands could largely eliminate childbed fever. His ideas were dismissed by a medical community unwilling to accept that they had directly caused so many women's deaths. In a more recent example, Kaplan covers biochemist Katalin Karikó, whose research into mRNA was continually rejected and underfunded but eventually became the basis for the Covid-19 vaccine.
The book is accessible and entertaining. It is also sad to think how many people died due to the human tendency to resist change or protect turf. Kaplan outlines practical solutions such as not disclosing authorship when awarding research funding. My takeaway from the book is that science as a method is the best tool we have, while science as a social institution is as prone to ego and politics as any other human endeavor.
November 22, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I Told You So! by Matt Kaplan is an accessibly written science history book about some of the counter thinkers in a few scientific disciplines…who all found themselves victorious in their new discoveries. The author makes several selections, from the classic Galileo to the current Katia Karikò and her contributions to mRNA technology.
Kaplan has a talent for mining the great annals of science for several interesting subjects for the story. He casts a wide ranging net, from hand-washing to Dinosaur DNA. This shows that this is a persistent phenomenon across the scientific fields and that it’s happened throughout scientific history. The book is meticulously cited, with robust references and personal interviews with some of the books living subjects.
Kaplan is also very aware of the reasons why scientific innovation may not get advanced. Besides the major “people are scared of what they believe being changed” he does give ample time talking about personal vendettas and biases against gender, religion, migrant status, etc. I thought that he was very generous in his coverage of the different reasons why people can be hesitant to change, even if they think of themselves as very facts and innovation oriented.
The narrative flow of this book is worth mentioning. Rather than a chapter per scientist as some pop science texts seem to favor, the author tries to do an overlapping ongoing narrative that pulls between the scientists. It’s an ambitious choice that I liked in theory, but details can get lost between the shingling of the past and the present.
For me, my main criticism of the book is the author’s own presence looms very large throughout the story. He’s making glib remarks in footnotes, and adding his own personal anecdotes. The author’s intrusions don’t add much to the story except to remind us that 1. The author is very smart. 2. The author’s a journalist now, but like, A SMART ONE. If you like a story where the author disappears into the fact and the story, this isn’t it. While at times I thought that some of his insight as a personal interviewer or scientific journal reader was helpful, I felt he overused his own character.
I would give this book a 4/5 as arranged currently. I really do think a story style that was more linear in the narrative with maybe comparative chapters after the fact would have been a more straightforward read. I think that if you aren’t someone who enjoys having to keep track of a large number of dates and events, you may not rate it so highly. But as a historical/pop science option I thought it was a well done read that was very interesting (and somewhat exasperating, on behalf of our scientists.)
I Told You So! by Matt Kaplan is an accessibly written science history book about some of the counter thinkers in a few scientific disciplines…who all found themselves victorious in their new discoveries. The author makes several selections, from the classic Galileo to the current Katia Karikò and her contributions to mRNA technology.
Kaplan has a talent for mining the great annals of science for several interesting subjects for the story. He casts a wide ranging net, from hand-washing to Dinosaur DNA. This shows that this is a persistent phenomenon across the scientific fields and that it’s happened throughout scientific history. The book is meticulously cited, with robust references and personal interviews with some of the books living subjects.
Kaplan is also very aware of the reasons why scientific innovation may not get advanced. Besides the major “people are scared of what they believe being changed” he does give ample time talking about personal vendettas and biases against gender, religion, migrant status, etc. I thought that he was very generous in his coverage of the different reasons why people can be hesitant to change, even if they think of themselves as very facts and innovation oriented.
The narrative flow of this book is worth mentioning. Rather than a chapter per scientist as some pop science texts seem to favor, the author tries to do an overlapping ongoing narrative that pulls between the scientists. It’s an ambitious choice that I liked in theory, but details can get lost between the shingling of the past and the present.
For me, my main criticism of the book is the author’s own presence looms very large throughout the story. He’s making glib remarks in footnotes, and adding his own personal anecdotes. The author’s intrusions don’t add much to the story except to remind us that 1. The author is very smart. 2. The author’s a journalist now, but like, A SMART ONE. If you like a story where the author disappears into the fact and the story, this isn’t it. While at times I thought that some of his insight as a personal interviewer or scientific journal reader was helpful, I felt he overused his own character.
I would give this book a 4/5 as arranged currently. I really do think a story style that was more linear in the narrative with maybe comparative chapters after the fact would have been a more straightforward read. I think that if you aren’t someone who enjoys having to keep track of a large number of dates and events, you may not rate it so highly. But as a historical/pop science option I thought it was a well done read that was very interesting (and somewhat exasperating, on behalf of our scientists.)
February 24, 2026
Going into I Told You So!, I expected the book to be formatted by each chapter being focused on a specific scientist, or scientific/medical theory, instead Kaplan mainly focused on one physician, Ignaz Semmelweis, and his research on reducing deaths caused by puerperal fever in the mid 1800’s. Interspersed throughout the book, Kaplan includes glimpses of other physicians and some modern day individuals. How Kaplan included these scientists threw me off based on Kaplan randomly changing to someone else, in a different time period, out of nowhere. Aka, giving me reader whiplash.
I was also left extremely disappointed that Kaplan didn’t even utter the word epidemiology once in his entire book, even though epidemiological concepts (e.g., looking at how disease spreads, preventative health measures, germ theory) was the biggest focus of his book.
Overall, I Told You So! was an okay read, and held my interest but the main flaw was in how the book was marketed. The cover, and synopsis leads the reader to believe that multiple individuals will be discussed but truly the book spends 75% of its focus on Semmelweis, who was important, but there are so many other people in history that deserved time in the spotlight.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me a free advanced readers copy.
I was also left extremely disappointed that Kaplan didn’t even utter the word epidemiology once in his entire book, even though epidemiological concepts (e.g., looking at how disease spreads, preventative health measures, germ theory) was the biggest focus of his book.
Overall, I Told You So! was an okay read, and held my interest but the main flaw was in how the book was marketed. The cover, and synopsis leads the reader to believe that multiple individuals will be discussed but truly the book spends 75% of its focus on Semmelweis, who was important, but there are so many other people in history that deserved time in the spotlight.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me a free advanced readers copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a very fascinating read for me. I usually read fiction, romance etc... , but I always liked reading books for learning. I learned alot from this book, I learned that birds behaved according to their coloring, about politics , history, paleontologist, and dinosaurs, up to covid-19, and female scientists. It is a read ,I think everyone will find fascinating. I always did love science and this book was much full of science and history.
I find the audiobook help make the book itself, more interesting and easier to listen to because alot of the words in the book itself I had no idea to hoe pronounce and I wouldn't even attempt it. But the audiobook was indeed wonderful and very helpful.
I received the audiobook as an arc from net gallery
I find the audiobook help make the book itself, more interesting and easier to listen to because alot of the words in the book itself I had no idea to hoe pronounce and I wouldn't even attempt it. But the audiobook was indeed wonderful and very helpful.
I received the audiobook as an arc from net gallery
March 27, 2026
eBook - 4 Stars
This book was so good!
A great mix of science and historical scientific discovery [I knew of Semmelweis, but not his whole story and this part of the book was the most fascinating to me], this book shows how often [initially] well-meaning Dr.'s/scientists will lie, steal, and cheat to get ahead/gain recognition/claim glory, as well as walk all over those that they deem inferior to themselves, while others work their whole lives and never see the spotlight, but still continue to research, learn, and work long hours to be able to help heal those who need it; this part of the book made me want to scream out loud [Pasteur was SO guilty of the lie-steal-cheat camp, and I will never look at him the same way again] in frustration for those who get bullied, ignored, fired, and yet STILL stand back up, dust themselves off, and try again in any way possible. The scientific world [as well as all of us around them] need to do WAY better.
The science at times bogged me down, but it was never enough to deter me from finishing this and I truly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it to anyone who loves science [even abstractly], and a good story.
Audiobook - 5 Stars
Sean Pratt is in my top ten of favorite narrators and I was thrilled to see that he was going to be narrating this book. He does an excellent job and really makes the book come alive and brings real character to all the people mentioned in the book. I highly recommend the audiobook and this narrator!
I was invited to read/review this by the publisher [St. Martin's Press] and I thank them, Matt Kaplan, Sean Pratt - Narrator, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so good!
A great mix of science and historical scientific discovery [I knew of Semmelweis, but not his whole story and this part of the book was the most fascinating to me], this book shows how often [initially] well-meaning Dr.'s/scientists will lie, steal, and cheat to get ahead/gain recognition/claim glory, as well as walk all over those that they deem inferior to themselves, while others work their whole lives and never see the spotlight, but still continue to research, learn, and work long hours to be able to help heal those who need it; this part of the book made me want to scream out loud [Pasteur was SO guilty of the lie-steal-cheat camp, and I will never look at him the same way again] in frustration for those who get bullied, ignored, fired, and yet STILL stand back up, dust themselves off, and try again in any way possible. The scientific world [as well as all of us around them] need to do WAY better.
The science at times bogged me down, but it was never enough to deter me from finishing this and I truly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it to anyone who loves science [even abstractly], and a good story.
Audiobook - 5 Stars
Sean Pratt is in my top ten of favorite narrators and I was thrilled to see that he was going to be narrating this book. He does an excellent job and really makes the book come alive and brings real character to all the people mentioned in the book. I highly recommend the audiobook and this narrator!
I was invited to read/review this by the publisher [St. Martin's Press] and I thank them, Matt Kaplan, Sean Pratt - Narrator, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2026
*4.5 stars
CW:
Kaplan does a stellar job at chronicling different scientists, both of antiquity and of our modern times, and the struggles that come with scientific break through. As someone who was not raised with any emphasis in science (thank you religious schooling 🙄), I have a lot to learn still. Kaplan’s writing kept me invested and I learned things I was never taught in school!
I think everyone should read this! The political nature of being awarded grants; the cutthroat antics of scientists who needed to be “first”; and the anger of a world unwilling or scared to change had me on the age of my seat.
I will definitely be purchasing a copy when this releases physically.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!
CW:
Kaplan does a stellar job at chronicling different scientists, both of antiquity and of our modern times, and the struggles that come with scientific break through. As someone who was not raised with any emphasis in science (thank you religious schooling 🙄), I have a lot to learn still. Kaplan’s writing kept me invested and I learned things I was never taught in school!
I think everyone should read this! The political nature of being awarded grants; the cutthroat antics of scientists who needed to be “first”; and the anger of a world unwilling or scared to change had me on the age of my seat.
I will definitely be purchasing a copy when this releases physically.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!
January 5, 2026
Definitely an interesting read! It was so fun learning about the early history of medicine and the pushback doctors received for going against established practices vs. modern day versions of the science community being closed minded. Science has always been my favorite subject and I feel like this book does well by not being boring or a drag to read. Many nonfiction books can be yawn inducing or just straight confusing but the author does a good job at making the book suitable for more people than just science nerds.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2026
When I saw the title of this book, I was immediately intrigued. Being a woman in engineering, I felt that this would be right up my alley. I was expecting each chapter to contain a story about a particular scientist. What I got was chapters full of tons of people…current day Americans, 19th century Europeans, and everyone in between all mixed together. They were thrown in a blender and came out as a smoothie, and I could not tell the ingredients (ok…scientists) apart. I had to reread so many sections, I finally had to give up. I still have no idea what caused the puerperal fever in the 1800s, so I’m just going to google it.
February 21, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, considering it’s a nonfiction read about science. But the author did a fantastic job making this incredibly readable and interesting.
I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, considering it’s a nonfiction read about science. But the author did a fantastic job making this incredibly readable and interesting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press (eARC) and Macmillan Audio (ALC) for providing me with advanced copies.
This was an interesting read but not really what I expected. I went in without reading the synopsis and just by the cover caption, I assumed that this would be about historic scientific figures from a few centuries ago. But, it was a mix of modern and historic scientists. I learnt a lot of info that I hadn't heard of before. The book also wasn't split into chapters by scientists, rather had parallel comparisons of their work which was done quite well. I had two major issues with this book. From midway through the book it mostly became a rant about research funding and grants and how the current fund allocation system causes problems. I agree with these views but that's not what I was reading this book for. The author also keeps talking about himself and his work too much which took me out of the flow at times. Apart from these, I really liked the book. It was definitely well written. I would recommend this to anyone looking to read/learn about some scientific history.
The narrator did a great job with this book. I did like the expressions he put into this book.
This was an interesting read but not really what I expected. I went in without reading the synopsis and just by the cover caption, I assumed that this would be about historic scientific figures from a few centuries ago. But, it was a mix of modern and historic scientists. I learnt a lot of info that I hadn't heard of before. The book also wasn't split into chapters by scientists, rather had parallel comparisons of their work which was done quite well. I had two major issues with this book. From midway through the book it mostly became a rant about research funding and grants and how the current fund allocation system causes problems. I agree with these views but that's not what I was reading this book for. The author also keeps talking about himself and his work too much which took me out of the flow at times. Apart from these, I really liked the book. It was definitely well written. I would recommend this to anyone looking to read/learn about some scientific history.
The narrator did a great job with this book. I did like the expressions he put into this book.
March 26, 2026
The book is informative and well intended but the structure is strange. The whole book is about Ignaz Semmelweis, a pioneer of modern medicine who link hospitalar infection and bad higiene. Semmelweis’ tale is told in a fractured way, crammed between stories of a bunch of scientists of different time periods. All the names and different scientific breakthroughs can be a bit confusing and Semmelweis saga loses momentum. The ending is somewhat stranger: the author finishes Semmelweis story quickly and proceeds to recommend policies to improve scientific funding. In the end, the book provides good information but I think structuring the book differently would improve it.
December 8, 2025
This is a wonderful book about scientists and their revolutionary ideas and how they had to fight to get them accepted by mainstream science. It mainly focuses on the fight to defeat a particularly horrible illness that killed women after childbirth but there are many other stories sprinkled in between sections about that.
If there’s one thing that nonfiction books about scientists have taught me is that they can be incredibly stubborn and fixed in their ways. Once they know that a thing is right it’s right dang it I don’t care what “evidence” you have saying I’m wrong. I mean they do have the ability to change but oh man are you going to have to fight for it. Doctors can be worse. Who would have thought it would take them so long to realize that hey, maybe we should be cleaning our hands and our instruments and our clothes. Maybe this years old gore is bad for people? Maybe I shouldn’t touch a dead body and then immediately deliver a baby?
Overall I really liked this book. It’s well researched, paced; and written. There was a ton of info in here that I didn’t know about and learning about it was a really good time. Recommend for all fans of nonfiction and readers in general.
If there’s one thing that nonfiction books about scientists have taught me is that they can be incredibly stubborn and fixed in their ways. Once they know that a thing is right it’s right dang it I don’t care what “evidence” you have saying I’m wrong. I mean they do have the ability to change but oh man are you going to have to fight for it. Doctors can be worse. Who would have thought it would take them so long to realize that hey, maybe we should be cleaning our hands and our instruments and our clothes. Maybe this years old gore is bad for people? Maybe I shouldn’t touch a dead body and then immediately deliver a baby?
Overall I really liked this book. It’s well researched, paced; and written. There was a ton of info in here that I didn’t know about and learning about it was a really good time. Recommend for all fans of nonfiction and readers in general.
December 3, 2025
Really enjoyed this! I loved the format of having one grander narrative and main contributors to the narrative, but then interspersing new landmarks of the topic and important historical figures as it went on; it really provided a more engaging and digestible reading experience. I find a lot of non-fiction to stray either too textbook or the opposite which is too anecdotal, and I felt like this book really nailed the balance of incorporating both methods and meshing the styles of storytelling together well.
I think the grander topic maybe could’ve used a more concise conclusion, but other than that I think this is a great non-fiction read for anyone who loves to learn about new topics and major underdogs in history.
I think the grander topic maybe could’ve used a more concise conclusion, but other than that I think this is a great non-fiction read for anyone who loves to learn about new topics and major underdogs in history.
March 2, 2026
4.5/5 Stars
Timely and necessary reading
Thank you to NetGalley, Matt Kaplan, and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
CW: Animal cruelty, misogyny, medical content, confinement, mental illness, suicide, child death, death
Matt Kaplan's I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right examines scientists throughout history who had to fight for their revolutionary ideas to be accepted. For two decades, Kaplan has covered science for The Economist. He's seen breakthroughs occur in spite of, rather than because of, the behavior of the research community. Support gets withheld from those who don't conform or have the right connections. The book follows the story of 19th century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis, who realized that childbed fever was spread by doctors not washing their hands. Semmelweis was met with overwhelming hostility. The book covers familiar figures like Galileo and Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó who was fired when on the brink of discovering how to wield mRNA, a finding that proved pivotal for the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine. It also covers lesser known researchers silenced for raising safety concerns about new drugs and biologists ridiculed for revealing major flaws in rodent research.
Matt Kaplan is a science correspondent at The Economist and has been responsible for the newspaper's coverage of biology for nearly two decades. His writing has appeared in National Geographic, New Scientist, Nature, and the New York Times. He completed a thesis in paleontology at Berkeley and one in science journalism at Imperial College, London. He was awarded a Knight Fellowship to study at MIT and Harvard in 2014.
Sean Pratt narrates the audiobook. He does a great job. The narration is excellent and brings the material to life.
This is very timely and necessary reading. We're living in an age where the general public, especially in the US, is questioning science with no reasons or basis. In a time when a wellness influencer with no medical training or experience has been nominated for Surgeon General of the US, and the HHS Secretary also has no medical training or background, this book is much needed to understand what came before and how important the processes and learnings within science, especially medical science, have been.
The writing is engaging and accessible. This is not academic or heavy. Kaplan makes complex scientific concepts easy to understand for lay readers. The prose is entertaining. The book moves at a fast pace. It's fascinating throughout.
The research is solid. The book is meticulously cited with robust references. Kaplan conducted personal interviews with some of the living subjects. The case studies are extensive and demonstrate deep understanding of the subject matter.
The coverage spans both historical and contemporary figures. Semmelweis and his work on hand washing and childbed fever serves as a recurring theme throughout. You also get stories about Galileo, Darwin, Pasteur, and Lister. On the contemporary side, Katalin Karikó's story is particularly powerful. She was working on mRNA research. After her Hungarian university couldn't support her, she moved to Temple University in Philadelphia. She faced difficulties there and moved to the University of Pennsylvania. After failing to raise research funding, she was demoted and then fired. Her things were put in trash bags in the hall. She took a job with a little known German company. A few years later she was awarded a Nobel Prize for discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. I personally benefited from her work. I got COVID several times and was never hospitalized, unlike many others. The vaccines saved lives.
The book covers a wide range of fields including paleontology, biology, genetics, and medicine. This shows the phenomenon is persistent across scientific disciplines and throughout history.
The themes explored are important. Institutional bias. The scientific community fighting new ideas even when facts are clear. Grant funding problems. Discrimination against women, minorities, and foreigners. Personal vendettas, ego, and arrogance. Protection of the status quo. Even whether scientists are charismatic matters in whether their work gets accepted.
Kaplan proposes practical reforms at the end. There's a call to action for how the scientific community can work faster and better by making reasonably small changes.
The structure is challenging at times. The book goes back and forth between past and present examples. It's not organized chronologically by scientist. It can be confusing and hard to follow. The narrative jumps between different fields. The alternating approach is ambitious but sometimes details get lost in the back and forth.
The author's presence feels too large at points. The book takes on a memoir style in places. There's too much about Kaplan himself and his own work. That takes you out of the flow of the scientific stories. You're reading to learn about these scientists, not about the author's personal experiences.
Midway through, the book focuses heavily on grant funding issues. It can feel like a rant. But this is actually timely and necessary conversation. In our current era with all of the cuts to science and research, this needs to be talked about. The grant system has real problems that affect which research gets done and which scientists get support.
The pacing is a bit uneven. Some sections move quickly while others slow down.
Despite these structural issues, the content is valuable and the message is crucial. The book succeeds in showing how scientific progress has been delayed by human nature, by institutions protecting themselves, by bias and discrimination. Understanding this history matters, especially now.
This works for readers interested in science history, anyone concerned about current attacks on scientific research, people who want to understand how scientific breakthroughs actually happen, those interested in stories of perseverance against institutional resistance, and anyone looking for accessible popular science writing. If you need perfectly linear narrative structure or prefer books where the author stays completely out of the story, the structure might frustrate you.
An important examination of how science really works and why we need to protect and support scientific inquiry.
Timely and necessary reading
Thank you to NetGalley, Matt Kaplan, and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
CW: Animal cruelty, misogyny, medical content, confinement, mental illness, suicide, child death, death
Matt Kaplan's I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right examines scientists throughout history who had to fight for their revolutionary ideas to be accepted. For two decades, Kaplan has covered science for The Economist. He's seen breakthroughs occur in spite of, rather than because of, the behavior of the research community. Support gets withheld from those who don't conform or have the right connections. The book follows the story of 19th century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis, who realized that childbed fever was spread by doctors not washing their hands. Semmelweis was met with overwhelming hostility. The book covers familiar figures like Galileo and Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó who was fired when on the brink of discovering how to wield mRNA, a finding that proved pivotal for the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine. It also covers lesser known researchers silenced for raising safety concerns about new drugs and biologists ridiculed for revealing major flaws in rodent research.
Matt Kaplan is a science correspondent at The Economist and has been responsible for the newspaper's coverage of biology for nearly two decades. His writing has appeared in National Geographic, New Scientist, Nature, and the New York Times. He completed a thesis in paleontology at Berkeley and one in science journalism at Imperial College, London. He was awarded a Knight Fellowship to study at MIT and Harvard in 2014.
Sean Pratt narrates the audiobook. He does a great job. The narration is excellent and brings the material to life.
This is very timely and necessary reading. We're living in an age where the general public, especially in the US, is questioning science with no reasons or basis. In a time when a wellness influencer with no medical training or experience has been nominated for Surgeon General of the US, and the HHS Secretary also has no medical training or background, this book is much needed to understand what came before and how important the processes and learnings within science, especially medical science, have been.
The writing is engaging and accessible. This is not academic or heavy. Kaplan makes complex scientific concepts easy to understand for lay readers. The prose is entertaining. The book moves at a fast pace. It's fascinating throughout.
The research is solid. The book is meticulously cited with robust references. Kaplan conducted personal interviews with some of the living subjects. The case studies are extensive and demonstrate deep understanding of the subject matter.
The coverage spans both historical and contemporary figures. Semmelweis and his work on hand washing and childbed fever serves as a recurring theme throughout. You also get stories about Galileo, Darwin, Pasteur, and Lister. On the contemporary side, Katalin Karikó's story is particularly powerful. She was working on mRNA research. After her Hungarian university couldn't support her, she moved to Temple University in Philadelphia. She faced difficulties there and moved to the University of Pennsylvania. After failing to raise research funding, she was demoted and then fired. Her things were put in trash bags in the hall. She took a job with a little known German company. A few years later she was awarded a Nobel Prize for discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. I personally benefited from her work. I got COVID several times and was never hospitalized, unlike many others. The vaccines saved lives.
The book covers a wide range of fields including paleontology, biology, genetics, and medicine. This shows the phenomenon is persistent across scientific disciplines and throughout history.
The themes explored are important. Institutional bias. The scientific community fighting new ideas even when facts are clear. Grant funding problems. Discrimination against women, minorities, and foreigners. Personal vendettas, ego, and arrogance. Protection of the status quo. Even whether scientists are charismatic matters in whether their work gets accepted.
Kaplan proposes practical reforms at the end. There's a call to action for how the scientific community can work faster and better by making reasonably small changes.
The structure is challenging at times. The book goes back and forth between past and present examples. It's not organized chronologically by scientist. It can be confusing and hard to follow. The narrative jumps between different fields. The alternating approach is ambitious but sometimes details get lost in the back and forth.
The author's presence feels too large at points. The book takes on a memoir style in places. There's too much about Kaplan himself and his own work. That takes you out of the flow of the scientific stories. You're reading to learn about these scientists, not about the author's personal experiences.
Midway through, the book focuses heavily on grant funding issues. It can feel like a rant. But this is actually timely and necessary conversation. In our current era with all of the cuts to science and research, this needs to be talked about. The grant system has real problems that affect which research gets done and which scientists get support.
The pacing is a bit uneven. Some sections move quickly while others slow down.
Despite these structural issues, the content is valuable and the message is crucial. The book succeeds in showing how scientific progress has been delayed by human nature, by institutions protecting themselves, by bias and discrimination. Understanding this history matters, especially now.
This works for readers interested in science history, anyone concerned about current attacks on scientific research, people who want to understand how scientific breakthroughs actually happen, those interested in stories of perseverance against institutional resistance, and anyone looking for accessible popular science writing. If you need perfectly linear narrative structure or prefer books where the author stays completely out of the story, the structure might frustrate you.
An important examination of how science really works and why we need to protect and support scientific inquiry.
February 24, 2026
Journalist #MattKaplan will teach you about happenings in the scientific field and encourages discussions as to some suggestions about the selection for grant money to scientists while the system is broken. There are examples ranging from the young scientist being shunned in favor of the older person who has more experience to length of grant time in order to account for full discovery and allowance for a new track of discovery to persons not willing to disagree if their own article has been cited to preferences for citizens because of language barriers. Universities are the most abused because of the number applying for grants and fewer funds available. Examples are given of scientists throughout history up to present time whose ideas in discovery were not accepted or other notes relating to discovery were ignored. Mentoring is so important and has saved many a scientist’s career. Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for a digital ARC of this book and may it find a place in the hands of graduate students, universities shelves, corporations and Foundations who are distributing funds. This review reflects my honest opinion.
April 25, 2026
The way that science has disagreements, disputes, and competing hypotheses is a feature, not a bug. But the scientific system today and throughout history is not shaped by pure devotion to knowledge seeking, and the structural problems in it are pervasive and, arguably, worsening--and Kaplan does a great job exploring this. As someone who is finishing a graduate degree and has no interest in a PhD or academia (without even having endured the mistreatment described in this book), this resonated with me.
As some of the reviewers here have pointed out, it is not really a history book as the title would mislead you to believe. But as far as books about science as a discipline, this is one of the best ones I've read and would highly recommend for other scientists (and science minded people).
4.5 stars. I was really really close to rounding up to 5 stars though.
As some of the reviewers here have pointed out, it is not really a history book as the title would mislead you to believe. But as far as books about science as a discipline, this is one of the best ones I've read and would highly recommend for other scientists (and science minded people).
4.5 stars. I was really really close to rounding up to 5 stars though.
March 1, 2026
I really enjoyed the book but it doesn't really have a straightforward flow. The stories are more braided together and keep popping up throughout the book. The style worked well for my brain so I didn't mind. It's not incredibly technical but I think it's important to have books that bridge the gap of science and not scientific people. Does have some good points about bias and flaws in the field. I did not know Pasteur was such an elitist. Good stories and made me want to dig a little deeper on some subjects. I would recommend
April 15, 2026
This is the most magnificent reading I have encountered in a long time. Matt Kaplan discusses past and present issues with scientists who were ridiculed or exiled or blacklisted because of their findings (that later proved to be true). He even subtly nods to the future of what could happen if scientists don't align in sharing findings. He also discusses the industrial culture and deposes there is more than one culture of scientists depending on where the scientists are geographically located in the world. He calls out how scientist culture and selfishness can lead to dampening science progress. Ultimately hurting people. He doesn't just point out a problem. He also provides a solution.
April 9, 2026
I was expecting a wide range of scientists from various subjects being ridiculed based on their findings that were later being proven right. Instead got an extensive deep dive around the lives of the handful doctors treating puerperal fever and mentions of 2 female researchers who were ridiculed for their work. We also got a glimpse of how broken the science field is regarding grant funding allocation. It was interesting information, but felt like a stream of consciousness style of writing with subject matter being bounced around.
May 3, 2026
I lovvvvve science history but the author jumped around quite a bit which made digesting this one a bit more difficult.
We follow the history of Semmelweis, Klein, Lister, Pasteur, and others with the arc of other modern scientists sporadically thrown in. The asides were quite similar to what you would find in a Mary roach book.
I’m a bit indifferent regarding the deep dives into “what’s wrong with systems in science and grant funding” sections, maybe because it’s the world I currently live in, but I think they were useful for non-scientists. Entertaining enough but I wish it was more focused on other “I told you so” moments.
We follow the history of Semmelweis, Klein, Lister, Pasteur, and others with the arc of other modern scientists sporadically thrown in. The asides were quite similar to what you would find in a Mary roach book.
I’m a bit indifferent regarding the deep dives into “what’s wrong with systems in science and grant funding” sections, maybe because it’s the world I currently live in, but I think they were useful for non-scientists. Entertaining enough but I wish it was more focused on other “I told you so” moments.
March 1, 2026
A book with an important message which, for me, was brought down by the douchey tone of the author. Maybe I penalized it too harshly for that. Oh well.
March 16, 2026
3.5 rounded up
March 3, 2026
This work by a science journalist is both enlightening and entertaining. It tells many stories through time of people who had the temerity to question the status quo in thinking and were punished for their egregious follies. Often they were mocked. Often they were stymied or worse; they were not believed until something happened and they were exonerated in their ideas and theories. Many times it was their persistence in going further with their experiments that led to life changing and saving solutions to problems. Sadly, many did not have their tenacity and gave up. Imagine what other wonderful ideas might have been brought into the world if science and scientists were willing to question.
The author makes a very good point again and again that the nature of science is to question, or at least it ought to be. Alas, often those who find comfort or benefit from the way it is, will not look beyond their own well being. Moreover, science is part experimentation and part politics. The politics and the ability to “play the game” will determine whether a grant is given or there is support for examining the results. The author has done considerable research into the actual notes of various scientists that bring into question their motives and greatness. It is eye-opening.
It is too bad that the people and institutions who should read this work, will not. For us laymen, I give it five purrs and two paws up.
The author makes a very good point again and again that the nature of science is to question, or at least it ought to be. Alas, often those who find comfort or benefit from the way it is, will not look beyond their own well being. Moreover, science is part experimentation and part politics. The politics and the ability to “play the game” will determine whether a grant is given or there is support for examining the results. The author has done considerable research into the actual notes of various scientists that bring into question their motives and greatness. It is eye-opening.
It is too bad that the people and institutions who should read this work, will not. For us laymen, I give it five purrs and two paws up.
February 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC copy and a chance to review this delightful book!
What happens when the truth collides with ignorance, sexism, politics and a little nationalism thrown in there too? In "I Told You So," Matt Kaplan recounts true stories of scientists whose ideas were ridiculed, offering a deep insight into the historical context and personal motivations of these individuals.
Kaplan explores historical and contemporary figures in science, some very well known and others more obscure, weaving his narrative between time in a way that makes such a complex topic very approachable. Through these stories, the book highlights recurring themes of institutional bias and the slow acceptance of new ideas. The book is well-researched, with extensive case studies demonstrating Kaplan's deep understanding of the subject matter, and personal insights into the contemporary issues facing scientists today.
I found the pacing to be a little uneven, but not in a way that made the book unenjoyable. Additionally, Kaplan's integration of his own experiences as a science journalist made the book feel like a conversation between friends. I especially enjoyed the commentary on some of the more famous scientists (looking at you Louis Pasteur); it made me feel like I got a peak into the secret life of a figure who is so famous, but yet he is nothing like the very dry figure you read about in school textbooks.
The book concludes with a call to action and some information that is less for the lay person and more for those in the scientific field, but it is thought provoking nevertheless. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone interested in the intersection of science, history, and human resilience, as it serves as a powerful reminder of the battles fought for the progress we often take for granted.
What happens when the truth collides with ignorance, sexism, politics and a little nationalism thrown in there too? In "I Told You So," Matt Kaplan recounts true stories of scientists whose ideas were ridiculed, offering a deep insight into the historical context and personal motivations of these individuals.
Kaplan explores historical and contemporary figures in science, some very well known and others more obscure, weaving his narrative between time in a way that makes such a complex topic very approachable. Through these stories, the book highlights recurring themes of institutional bias and the slow acceptance of new ideas. The book is well-researched, with extensive case studies demonstrating Kaplan's deep understanding of the subject matter, and personal insights into the contemporary issues facing scientists today.
I found the pacing to be a little uneven, but not in a way that made the book unenjoyable. Additionally, Kaplan's integration of his own experiences as a science journalist made the book feel like a conversation between friends. I especially enjoyed the commentary on some of the more famous scientists (looking at you Louis Pasteur); it made me feel like I got a peak into the secret life of a figure who is so famous, but yet he is nothing like the very dry figure you read about in school textbooks.
The book concludes with a call to action and some information that is less for the lay person and more for those in the scientific field, but it is thought provoking nevertheless. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone interested in the intersection of science, history, and human resilience, as it serves as a powerful reminder of the battles fought for the progress we often take for granted.
March 6, 2026
It’s technical but well balanced. I appreciate the author’s willingness to show all sides, good and ugly. The book is upsetting in the sense that nothing has really changed in 500 years
March 16, 2026
This book is very disorganized. Instead of focusing on one scientist per chapter or a centralized theme he weaves all over the place. Authors like Mary Roach and Sam Kean excel at books that present multiple characters and ideas around a centralized theme that ties things together; with each chapter being cohesive. Kaplan also insists on going on random tangents on paleontology that have nothing to do with anything. The change in tone and time period is very jarring when reading. It’s Austrian Empire, puerperal fever, Battle of Bunker Hill, organizing bacteria, smallpox vaccine, endangered rhinos…oh this is like at that paleontology conference when Mary was ridiculed. Every chapter. All over the place and with random references to paleontology as well as himself and his work. He’ll bring up a scientist and instead of completing their tale and contributions, will continue to randomly name drop them through the book. Chapter 10 is really an epilogue and none of the scientists/theories are concluded. ***SPOLER ALERT*** we never actually hear the outcome of puerperal fever.
February 25, 2026
Thank you to the Libro.fm educator ALC program for the audio copy of this book, and thank you to St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for the eARC.
I was anticipating a pretty standard history of science book when I picked this up - I love history of science - but it was so much more than I expected! The way Kaplan weaves more current stories of scientists who have had to fight to be heard with their historical forebears was really powerfully done.
I was anticipating a pretty standard history of science book when I picked this up - I love history of science - but it was so much more than I expected! The way Kaplan weaves more current stories of scientists who have had to fight to be heard with their historical forebears was really powerfully done.
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