Lewis Wolpert (1929–2021)

Author of Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: The Evolutionary Origins of Belief

20+ Works 1,226 Members 23 Reviews 1 Favorited

About the Author

A biologist specializing in embryology, Lewis Wolpert is Professor Emeritus of Biology as Applied to Medicine at University College London. His books include Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast and Malignant Sadness, the basis for a BBC television series.

Includes the names: L. Wolpert, Lewis Wolpert, Lewis Wolpert PhD

Works by Lewis Wolpert

Malignant Sadness: The Anatomy of Depression (1999) 257 copies

The Unnatural Nature of Science (1992) 175 copies

How We Live and Why We Die: The Secret Lives of Cells (2009) 127 copies

Principles of Development (1997) 95 copies

Developmental Biology: A Very Short Introduction (1999) 57 copies

The Triumph of the Embryo (1991) 56 copies

A Passion for Science (1988) 41 copies

You're Looking Very Well: The Surprising Nature of Getting Old (2011) 26 copies

Passionate Minds: The Inner World of Scientists (1997) 18 copies

Why Can't a Woman be More Like a Man: The Evolution of Sex and Gender (2014) 5 copies

A psicologia da depressão (2000) 1 copy

Biologia do desenvolvimento 1 copy

La natura innaturale della scienza (1996) 1 copy

Regisseure des Lebens Das Drehbuch der Embryonalentwicklung (1993) 1 copy

Inanilmaza Inanmak - Inanislarin Evrimsel Kokenleri (2011) 1 copy

Princípios de Biologia do Desenvolvimento 1 copy

Bilimin Doğal Olmayan Doğası 1 copy

The Miracles Of Cells 1 copy

Development of Pattern and Form in Animals (Biological Readers) (1974) 1 copy

Work Explorer

Associated Works

The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing (2008) — Contributor — 803 copies

Greek Science (2012) — Introduction — 53 copies

Science and Mathematics in Ancient Greek Culture (2002) — Foreword — 7 copies

New Scientist, 10 March 1990 (1990) — Contributor — 2 copies

New Scientist, 20 August 1964 (1964) — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

atheism (8) belief (19) beliefs (5) biography (8) biology (56) cell biology (5) cells (7) cognitive science (6) depression (47) development (13) developmental biology (9) ebook (5) embryology (8) evolution (34) evolutionary biology (4) evolutionary psychology (12) genetics (10) health (8) history of science (8) life-sciences (4) medicine (6) memoir (9) mental health (15) mental illness (9) non-fiction (76) philosophy (18) philosophy of science (27) popular science (20) psychology (59) read (6) religion (32) science (130) scientists (5) self-help (5) Shelf N3 (back row) (4) skepticism (4) spirituality (4) to-read (38) unread (11) wishlist (7)

Common Knowledge

Birthdate: 1929-10-19
Date of death: 2021-01-28
Gender: male
Nationality: UK
Birthplace: South Africa
Education: University of the Witwatersrand
Imperial College London
King's College, London
Occupations: scientist
developmental biologist
Awards and honors: Michael Faraday Prize (2000)
Agent: Anne Engel

Members

Reviews

Six impossible things before breakfast : the… by L. Wolpert

This is an interesting book. The author freely admits that the 'evidence' he presents is lacking. Often times I got to thinking about the examples cited and completely lost track of the central theme of the book. It is thought provoking, but it is a quick overview and not an in depth analysis.

Flagged

talon2claw | 7 other reviews | Dec 31, 2022 |

Why can't a woman be more like a man? : the… by Lewis Wolpert

I read this before and didn't find it very helpful. I don't know why it argues against genes AND environment, when half the time it is saying research proves social environment is responsible. I went back to it cos I was puzzled about the author's claim we all start(ed) female, but I think this is just a fanciful notion, unless he is talking bout way back in evolution and I'm not even sure what that means.
NB I understand that the SRY gene acts as an on/off switch but at the point it kicks in we have generic genitals that can develop either way.… (more)

Flagged

kk1 | May 17, 2018 |

How We Live and Why We Die: The Secret Lives of Cells by Lewis Wolpert

The first several chapters are weak ( actually kinda suck ) and then it gets better. The last four chapters are very good. This is another ' who is this book supposed to be for ? ' example however.

Flagged

Baku-X | 4 other reviews | Jan 10, 2017 |

How We Live and Why We Die: The Secret Lives of Cells by Lewis Wolpert

Clearly written but fairly detailed presentation of the structure, nature, functions, and mechanisms of the basic unit of life. The author also discusses the history scientific investigations that discovered the cell and theories about how life might have arisen.

Flagged

dickmanikowski | 4 other reviews | Sep 14, 2015 |

See More Reviews