Failure: Why Science Is So Successful

The premise of this book is that in order to achieve success in science, one must first try many possible solutions that ultimately fail. Indeed, Firestein (biology, Columbia Univ.; Ignorance) argues that failures often lead to interesting avenues of study that the investigator had not previously considered. Comprised of 14 essays on a variety of subtopics, this title lacks flow but remains engaging throughout. The author is particularly keen to dispel misconceptions about how science works; to that end, there is a chapter attacking the scientific method, another on scientific "arcs" or progressions, and one on negative results. Among the best chapters is a section on funding and how to support an industry that needs to incorporate failure into its structure. Throughout, Firestein emphasizes that the greatest thing to hear in the lab is not "eureka!" Rather, it is "huh, why did that happen?"