The Science of Life: The Living System—a System for Living by Paul A. Weiss (review)

BOOK REVIEWS The Science ofLife: The Living System-a Systemfor Living. By Paul A. Weiss. Mount Kisco, N.Y.: Futura Publishing Co., 1973. Pp. 137. $7.95. It is fortunate that, toward the end of a career characterized by prolific scientific research and abundantly popular teaching, one of the greatest living biologists attempted a synthesis of his most significant observations and considerations . Until I read this book, my advice to medical students and those specializing in anesthesiology has been to equip themselves with a sound biologic frame of reference by careful reading of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's Le phénomène humain. I shall now add this astoundingly useful book of Weiss; it is clear and concise, simple and yet sophisticated enough to satisfy the most demanding scholar, absolutely dependable and free of irrelevancies, in short, an ideal guide not only for the scientist but most certainly also for the medical practitioner finding his feet in the vast field of scientific endeavor known as biology. Surgeons are particularly indebted to Weiss, who succeeded for the first time in grafting fully developed limbs with full restoration of functioning. All medical doctors will relish his discussion in this book of bewildering descriptions presently fashionable, such as "immortal tissue cultures." The poignant depiction of DNA "synthesis of life" in a test tube is refreshingly sanely likened to the doctrine of Thaïes Miletus that water is the sole building block of the universe. Weiss demolishes the misrepresentation that viruses are "alive." He points out that viruses do not "reproduce" at all but may, of course, be reproduced by a living cell by machinery quite distinct from anything which a virus has ever been shown to possess. The immunologically competent cell of an antibody is similarly shaped; yet no one has (yet) ascribed vitality to such protein molecules. These comments should not detract from the beauty of a unified vision of life as portrayed in this book. It provides the reader with a minimum sine qua non for life, primordial as well as recent, rigorously deduced from biologic, empiric knowledge. The book is a masterpiece of mature biologic perspectives oflife as it matters to us as observers as well as participants. It is a literary masterpiece as well, adhering strictly to its theme like a good novel, yet always retaining marvelous scientific veracity. I was filled many times with wonder as Weiss moved from narration immediately to interpretation with evident conviction and thoughtprovoking nuances, without ever so much as a hint of the rebellious or resentful sentiments which are so abundantly evident in scientific writing and daily living. I am not competent to judge the merits and prospects of all, or even most, of the challenging considerations put forward in this book. I am not scientifically qualified in theoretical biology. Yet I derived much pleasure from a first reading of this book, and I think it is precisely in this that the genius of Weiss is apparent. Nothing could be a better cure for "Sunday neurosis" than this book. Nothing 592 I Book Reviews could combat this prevalent neurotic condition of many modern doctors who fear nothing more than having to reflect on Sundays, and so escape into ever new diversions. I believe that every medical practitioner in addition to the scientist should read this book, particularly in these days of preoccupation with the biologic and medical significance of human death and, additionally, thanks to Paul Weiss leading the few, of human life. Jacobus W. Mostert, M.D. Department ofAnesthesiology University of Chicago Genetic Fix. By Amitai Etzioni. New York: Macmillan Co., 1973. Pp. 276. $7.95. This is among the few outstanding books on the future ofbiomedical interventions . The author is a professor of sociology at Columbia University and is director of the Center for Policy Research. The book includes a first-person account of a conference on the implications of progress in genetics which was held in Paris under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization and UNESCO. The author speaks, listens, thinks, and develops all sides of each argument. His vivid account of the dialogue, the participants, his introspections, and conclusions are informative and provocative. He has done his homework...