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Laboratory
Not yet published
Expected 29 Oct 26
Object Lessons
is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things.
The laboratory stands as a powerful symbol in the public it is place for bodily dissections and monstrous creations, technological innovation and corporate secrecy, governments working in the public interest or government out of bounds, scientists as geniuses and saviors and evildoers, learning spaces from the 9th grade biology lab to the San Francisco Exploratorium, and more. But what actually happens in a laboratory, why does it have such fraught connections to our hopes and fears, and how does a laboratory relate to the 'real world'?
Quintessentially associated with the scientific revolution, the laboratory came to be a space to study 'facts' as natural phenomena, isolated and separated from emotions and biases. Yet the laboratory is also intertwined with the messy ambiguity of the world and embodies the power and privilege of resources, expertise, and innovation.
Laboratory examines the contemporary laboratory and its relation to a host of existential concerns about science, technology, and the environment.
The laboratory stands as a powerful symbol in the public it is place for bodily dissections and monstrous creations, technological innovation and corporate secrecy, governments working in the public interest or government out of bounds, scientists as geniuses and saviors and evildoers, learning spaces from the 9th grade biology lab to the San Francisco Exploratorium, and more. But what actually happens in a laboratory, why does it have such fraught connections to our hopes and fears, and how does a laboratory relate to the 'real world'?
Quintessentially associated with the scientific revolution, the laboratory came to be a space to study 'facts' as natural phenomena, isolated and separated from emotions and biases. Yet the laboratory is also intertwined with the messy ambiguity of the world and embodies the power and privilege of resources, expertise, and innovation.
Laboratory examines the contemporary laboratory and its relation to a host of existential concerns about science, technology, and the environment.
168 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 29, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨ ARC REVIEW ✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing.
As a postdoctoral researcher and woman in STEM, I found this incredibly relatable. The book perfectly captures the repetitive, frustrating, and often invisible reality of lab work, endless pipetting, failed experiments, windowless rooms, while also showing why scientists keep going back despite it all.
I really appreciated how honestly it challenges the dramatic “sci-fi laboratory” image created by TV and film. Science here is shown as collaborative, tedious, politically entangled, and heavily male-dominated rather than glamorous or full of instant breakthroughs. The references and research-paper style formatting also added a nice touch that made scientists feel genuinely seen.
The discussions around topics like animal testing were balanced and thoughtful, mixing factual information with personal opinion well. Some readers may dislike the political aspects, but science is political, and I appreciated the book acknowledging that rather than avoiding it.
Overall, this is an engaging and informative snapshot of modern research culture that remains accessible without becoming overwhelming. My only criticism is that it is very US-focused at times, and I think clearer disclosure of that perspective would help international readers going in.
As a postdoctoral researcher and woman in STEM, I found this incredibly relatable. The book perfectly captures the repetitive, frustrating, and often invisible reality of lab work, endless pipetting, failed experiments, windowless rooms, while also showing why scientists keep going back despite it all.
I really appreciated how honestly it challenges the dramatic “sci-fi laboratory” image created by TV and film. Science here is shown as collaborative, tedious, politically entangled, and heavily male-dominated rather than glamorous or full of instant breakthroughs. The references and research-paper style formatting also added a nice touch that made scientists feel genuinely seen.
The discussions around topics like animal testing were balanced and thoughtful, mixing factual information with personal opinion well. Some readers may dislike the political aspects, but science is political, and I appreciated the book acknowledging that rather than avoiding it.
Overall, this is an engaging and informative snapshot of modern research culture that remains accessible without becoming overwhelming. My only criticism is that it is very US-focused at times, and I think clearer disclosure of that perspective would help international readers going in.
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May 28, 20263.5 stars; review to come September 2026
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews