Synopses & Reviews
" is a unique work by a remarkable global leader: a brilliant scientist with the sensibilities of an artist and the leadership skills of a consummate politician. Harold Varmus has done it all--Nobel Prize-winning breakthroughs in cancer biology, masterful leadership of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) during its period of greatest expansion, statesmanship of the highest order in global health, and cheerful trench warfare to bring biomedical publications to the open-source Internet age. [This] book is captivating, fascinating, and ever instructive. It will be read the world over with enormous delight and benefit."--Jeffrey D. Sachs, director, The Earth Institute "Through an artful melding of science and policy, Harold Varmus conveys not only the excitement of forefront research but also the richly textured human dramas that swirl around pivotal discoveries."--Brian Greene, author of "Varmus makes this era's revolution in biological knowledge as comprehensible as it possibly can be. Varmus's broad abilities in scientific, literary, and political realms are evident in this graceful and often gently humorous book."--James Fallows, author of "If you've ever wondered about the early life of a budding scientist, the experience of doing cutting-edge research, or the translation of brilliant work into public service, read the account of this passionate, politically engaged, deeply humane scientist and marvel at the richness of a life well spent."--Andrea Barrett, National Book Award-winning author of "Harold Varmus is a person of legendary charm and limitless vision who has put his gifted mind to the service of science, health, and above all . . . the people of the world. I loved this book."--Donna E. Shalala, president, University of Miami, and former secretary, Health and Human Services "Any time any one of us has a cancer scare, or worse, we can be grateful to Harold Varmus and his extraordinary life in science. We are all lucky that Dr. Varmus left literature for medicine. And now, reading this book, we can be grateful that he is so very gifted in both."--Jonathan Weiner, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of
Review
"Varmus offers a plain-spoken and fascinating story of his path from graduate student in English literature to the forefront of biomedical research. His journey to the highest echelons of the scientific establishment is as interesting for its incidental details as for its glimpse into the process of modern biomedical science." Seth Shulman
Review
"[A] perceptive book about science and its civic value, arriving as the White House renews its acquaintance with empiricism. Varmus recounts his laboratory career and tenure as director of the National Institutes of Health, then surveys topical issues like stem-cell research. One implication of this book is that far from disconnecting politics and science, we should find better ways of linking them." The Washington Post
Review
"An engaging read, fascinating as a memoir of Varmus's personal and scientific journeys, revealing in its account of his stewardship of the NIH. The book is like the man--honest and clear-eyed, thoughtful and outspoken, always good company, with more than a frequent touch of humour and self-deprecation." Peter Dizikes The New York Times
Synopsis
In 1993, Varmus transformed from an academic scientist to a political one when President Clinton asked him to direct the National Institutes of Health. After six years at the NIH, he took the reins as president of the world-renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a position he still holds. Along the way, Varmus has continued his own laboratory work, remains committed to collaborative science, and still finds time to ride his bike to work Beyond the elegant combination of science and biography, this is a book about health issues of truly global importance. Varmus s work on cancer-causing genes foreshadowed the development of the recent targeted therapies for cancer. At the NIH, he not only persuaded Congress to commit record funds to national health programs but also turned attention to international concerns like the worldwide malaria crisis. And, as he discusses in these pages, he has long been an enthusiastic yet nuanced supporter of stem cell research.The Art and Politics of Science is a glimpse into the world of high-stakes, big-budget science narrated by a man intimately acquainted with its everyday applications an education for people in all walks of life from a scientist whose own research and professional commitments helped to shape our scientific age. "
Synopsis
A PhD candidate in English literature at Harvard University, Harold Varmus discovered he was drawn instead to medicine and eventually found himself at the forefront of cancer research at the University of California, San Francisco. In this 'timely memoir of a remarkable career' (American Scientist), Varmus considers a life"s work that thus far includes not only the groundbreaking research that won him a Nobel Prize but also six years as the director of the National Institutes of Health; his current position as the president of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; and his important, continuing work as scientific adviser to President Obama. From this truly unique perspective, Varmus shares his experiences from the trenches of politicized battlegrounds ranging from budget fights to stem cell research, global health to science publishing.
Synopsis
Jeffrey Sachs has called Harold Varmus a "global scientist-statesman who bridges science and society to solve the weightiest global challenges." But as readers will learn in this engaging memoir chronicling one man's series of remarkable careers, as well as some of the central health-policy issues of our time, Varmus didn't decide that he was drawn to medicine until he was one year into a PhD in English literature! Changing course in characteristically adventurous fashion, Varmus dove headfirst into medical school, shifted shortly after graduating from practice to research, and soon found himself at the forefront of cancer research at the University of California, San Francisco, on his way toward a Nobel Prize in Medicine. In 1993, Varmus transformed from an academic scientist to a political one when President Clinton asked him to direct the National Institutes of Health. After six years at the NIH, he took the reins as president of the world-renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a position he still holds. Along the way, Varmus has continued his own laboratory work, remains committed to collaborative science, and still finds time to ride his bike to work. Beyond the elegant combination of science and biography, this is a book about health issues of truly global importance. Varmus's work on cancer-causing genes foreshadowed the development of the recent targeted therapies for cancer. At the NIH, he not only persuaded Congress to commit record funds to national health programs but also turned attention to international concerns like the worldwide malaria crisis. And, as he discusses in these pages, he has long been an enthusiastic yet nuanced supporter of stem cell research. is a glimpse into the world of high-stakes, big-budget science narrated by a man intimately acquainted with its everyday applications--an education for people in all walks of life from a scientist whose own research and professional commitments helped to shape our scientific age.
Synopsis
A Nobel Prize'"winning cancer biologist, leader of major scientific institutions, and scientific adviser to President Obama reflects on his remarkable career.
About the Author
Harold Varmus, director of the National Cancer Institute and president of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, lives with his wife, Constance Casey, and their two sons in New York City.