The Prairie Books Review
October 24, 2019

Piatigorsky, the world-renowned molecular biologist and eye researcher and founder of the Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology at the National Eye Institute, recounts his extraordinary journey as he discovers his own route to success in this emotionally raw, poignant, and richly crafted memoir. Born into a highly privileged family of overachievers in art and music, Piatigorsky chose his own path and embarked on a career in science which he pursued with utter dedication and genuine sincerity. There are glorified moments of success and achievement, but what shines through is Piatigorsky’s candid disclosure of his recurrent fears, his insecurities of lingering failure, and his struggles to live up to his family’s legacy. Piatigorsky’s prose is lucid and highly accessible as he draws a fine portrait of science as an aesthetic activity, making it easier for the reader to understand the complicated scientific concepts. A keeper for sure!