Islam: A Thousand Years of Faith and Power

Jonathan Bloom · Sheila Blair

Jan 2002 · Yale University Press

About this ebook

This biography probes the unusual mind, the dramatic life, and the outstanding scientific work of Danish-born immunologist Niels Jerne (1911-1994). Jerne's Nobel Prize-winning achievements in the field of immunology place him in the pantheon of great 20th-century biomedical theorists, yet his life is perhaps even more interesting than his science. The volume tells Jerne's story, weaving together a narrative of his life experiences, emotional life and extraordinarily creative scientific work. A legendary figure who preferred an afternoon of conversation in a Paris wine bar to work in the laboratory, Jerne was renowned for his unparalleled powers of concentration and analytical keenness as well as his dissonant personal life. Thomas Soderqvist explores Jerne the man and scientist, making the argument that his life experience and view of himself became a metaphorical resource for the construction of his theories. He also probes the moral issues that surrounded Jerne's choice to sacrifice his family in favour of scientific goals and the pursuit of excellence.

Ratings and reviews

I am writing a research paper on the golden ages of Islam and Muslim Empire and I'm using several different books, but this might be the most helpful one for my project. Real easy to read, and well organized.

About the author

Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair are the Norma Jean Calderwood University Professors of Islamic and Asian Art at Boston College. They have written or contributed to many books on the history of Islamic art and architecture and recently served as principal consultants for Gardner Films’ acclaimed PBS documentary, Islam: Empire of Faith, for which this book was the companion volume.