Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2013. Thomas refers to Montaigne as a refreshing series of writings to come back to again and again, no matter how mundane the topic seems; I think Thomas himself is that writer. It did feel very tangental at times, but I was ok with that. Lewis’ second book was a bit of a letdown after reading his first, The Lives of a Cell. I do not think it has aged well. So amazing, in fact, that if I were Queen of the World I would make it required reading for the entire planet. I recommend the book overall, and apparently it's the sequel to a bestseller so I might have to track down his other books. The current state of health, cloning, and other topics. Among the treasures in this magnific. We’d love your help. Some of the main themes are medicine, language, science, society, and semicolons. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Everything but one and five make sense to me. The part on Transcendental Metaworry was pretty hilarious. He also derided colleges for encouraging students, particularly pre-med students to study the sciences too early and directionally - stifling the real scientific urges and curiousity. Hamlin, Jean Boyer // Library Journal;4/15/1979, Vol. Buy. His since of humor makes this an engaging read. By clicking Sign Up, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. I think The Medusa and the Snail left a better impression on me. Lovely reflections of a medical scientist. Readers will find themselves caught up in the fate of the medusa and the snail as a metaphor for eternal issues of life and death as Lewis Thomas further extends the exploration of man and his world begun in The Lives of a Cell. It's more optimistic and has a wide variety of ideas. Be the first to ask a question about The Medusa and the Snail. Highly entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking. Some are shared in my GR review of Lives. I could have equally gone with two stars or four. I think if I wrote books, I'd want to write one like this. The part on Transcendental Metaworry was pretty hilarious. I especially enjoyed the chapter about worry. It was great though. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, The Medusa and the Snail: More Notes of a Biology Watcher. Readers will find themselves caught up in the fate of the medusa and the snail as a metaphor for eternal issues of life and death as Lewis Thomas further extends the exploration of a man and his world begun in "The Lives of a Cell." It's a good reminder of how science has made a huge difference in our daily lives. His social criticisms are just as relevant now as they were when the book was written in the 70s. He clearly has a sense of wonder for the world around him, which I have come to consider so important and valuable. Lewis Thomas has always seemed to me to be a man in tune with the universe.