Science and Inquiry discussion

For September 2023 the group read will be The Vital Question: Why is Life the Way it Is? by Nick Lane.

Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

I had acquired this book a while ago, started it and then stopped.
Now I am restarting it. While the book is very interesting, it is quite difficult for a non-biologist or a non-chemist.

Nick Lane shows that our understanding of genetics and evolution is not sufficient to explain why organisms evolved the way they did. But the enticing aspect of this book is that it shows how it may be possible to use energy concepts to explain why organisms evolve as they do--in the past and perhaps in the future.

I also found very interesting the talk he had on Lex Fridman's podcast (episode #318). Helped me understand a little bit better the general tone of the book (I couldn't wait to start reading it).

Hector wrote: "I also found very interesting the talk he had on Lex Fridman's podcast (episode #318). Helped me understand a little bit better the general tone of the book (I couldn't wait to start reading it)."

Thanks for that tip. I'm reading Power, Sex, Suicide by Nick Lane and I need a little help.

I read Nick Lane's Transformer book a few months ago and would agree with David and Hector's assessment that his books are pretty dense for non-biologists/non-chemists. I enjoyed Transformer (as someone whose doctoral dissertation focused heavily on cancer metabolism) but for laypeople an entire book about the intricacies of the Krebs cycle would be too niche. I plan on reading Vital Question in the next month so hopefully we can have some good discussions.

I recently finished reading this. Here was my review - 3/5 stars:

As an undergrad biochemistry and cell biology major, the focus of learning about cellular metabolism (and specifically) oxidative phosphorylation was to memorize details that I would be tested on.

Later, pursuing my PhD in biochemistry, the focus of discussions on cellular metabolism was to understand how to exploit metabolic pathways for experimental/translational purposes (in my dissertation research), or to use underlying principles of cellular metabolism to understand evolutionary similarities between organisms.

Even later, while pursuing my MD, cellular metabolism was again covered, but in clinical vignettes talking about mechanisms of action of cellular poisons, and inborn errors of metabolism and their profound clinical consequences.

But it's unique to come across a science book written by a PhD biochemist where the focus isn't on translating basic science to the masses (this is decidedly NOT a popular science book), or using underlying concepts to explain scientific research or medical phenomena. The focus on this book is theorizing about why metabolism is the way it is to the point of perseveration, which is a very niche area that's not everyone's cup of tea -- definitely not mine. I alternated between skimming this book (when it covered areas I was already familiar with), reading it with interest (when it covered areas I found interesting), and being bored (when it lapsed into fixation with things I've not found it useful or practical to think that deeply on).

Overall I preferred Nick Lane's most recent book Transformer: The Deep Chemistry of Life and Death to this one, probably because I listened to the audiobook of that one (and could thus multitask) while I read the Ebook of this work, given I could find no available audiobook from my local libraries.

Thank you CatReader, I appreciate that synopsis and I'm glad you said it's not a popular science book because it confirms my thought that I am not ready to read it at the moment. My knowledge of cell biology is pretty limited to what I learned in Anatomy class and what I was able to glean from Nick Lane's Power, Sex, Suicide which was also decidedly NOT a popular science book!

Started it despite the last two months choices have been over my pay grade. I enjoy the miniscule bits of learning that I am able to suss out. Always up for challenges!

Did anyone else finish this book? I know 24 people voted to read it for September....

CatReader wrote: "Did anyone else finish this book? I know 24 people voted to read it for September...."

I rarely quit reading books in the middle -- but this time I did. I found myself reading without understanding.

David wrote: "CatReader wrote: "Did anyone else finish this book? I know 24 people voted to read it for September...."

I rarely quit reading books in the middle -- but this time I did. I found myself reading wi..."

That sounds like about the point where I started skimming -- I generally understood what Lane was saying but I lost interest with all the perseveration on topics I didn't want to spend hours reading about.

I've been participating in book club reads for the last year or two in this group, and I find it's the less technical, decidedly "popular science" books that get the most traction in terms of people actually reading and discussing them. It's hard to strike the right balance though!

I would also love to hear from some of the 24 people who voted for this book. Did anybody get through the whole thing?

I did finish the book. I found it tough, but truly fascinating as this was the most extensive explanation I've read on how life comes to be from inorganic matter. I don't come from a biology background, so I can't say if the author's arguments were accurate, but the author does seem to consider several and important factors to defend their thesis.

It was a very tough read, however, I tried to always have in mind why was the author explaining a particular point. This helped me a lot to understand how the arguments were connected and get a clearer picture of the whole message in the book.

I'm still trying to hack through this dense thicket of words...

Also it's not a short book. What chapter are you on?

Chapter three. I have read other books which also describe the same functions of the cell, which helps quite a bit in reading this book. But this book is breaking down what already is hard to put into words into smaller and smaller bits that describe the fuel and the workings of the living activities of cells. While I have read other books that cover the same territory which is giving me a leg up in understanding, but I am dealing with the fact I read those other books months and months ago. I have an ordinary brain with ordinary memory retention! Sigh.

I am listening to the Lex #318 podcast and it's rather boring and 4 hours long! But podcasts are. I think I manage one science book a year: should this be it? It is kind of in my field -well in my range.
The mitochondria book looks more interesting but it's probably out of date by now. 2005.
He just said something I like- nucleic acids landing from outer space are not relevant to life's development. Yup. Fatty acids and self organizing -good. Well my library has it.

Nick Lane wrote Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life which I read in 2020. Then there is Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology. And even Immune: a Journey into the Mysterious System that Keeps You Alive and Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth, Innovation, Sustainability, and the Pace of Life in Organisms, Cities, Economies, and Companies helped to some degree.

As a non-scientist, non-math, non-physics person, the only way I’ve been able to suss out what is being said in many of these books is plugging away reading difficult science books! Each one has expanded my brain’s playing field a little so that I am not completely lost. But I really really should be re-reading many of the science books I’ve read once at least to up my game!

Well aPriL, he seems to have picked out most or all the "good topics" at least the ones on my radar. In the podcast he just mentioned that water is key - Maybe I need to read Ball's book on water this year. Damn- a science book is so much effort for so little enjoyment.
Sounds like you know quite a lot by now. My big science books were on smell and "queen of fats" lol also on a book algae

PyranopterinMo wrote: "Well aPriL, he seems to have picked out most or all the "good topics" at least the ones on my radar. In the podcast he just mentioned that water is key - Maybe I need to read Ball's book on water t..."

; D

We must keep pushing on! Even if only 20% sticks, it has already helped me in discussing things with my religious fundamentalist family members. At minimum, they’ve learned I know stuff they never heard of, which they sometimes google search to see if what I’m saying is true. All to the good, no downside!

Just added all of the books you mentioned to my want-to-read list, aPriL! They all looked very interesting (plus, very good ratings). Thanks for sharing these!

Hector wrote: "Just added all of the books you mentioned to my want-to-read list, aPriL! They all looked very interesting (plus, very good ratings). Thanks for sharing these!"

You are very welcome! 😁