Dr. Kandel starts the book by highlighting a conversation with his wife, Dr. Bystryn a very notable medical socioligist, whom is worry that Eric will go downhill in his research after receiving the Novel Prize. This is something that Dr. Bystryn found in her own research as a Post-Doc of Nobel Laureates going back to the 1950s (note that Drs. Curie and Rutherford were before that time, both winning two Nobels each and doing there best work after receiving their recognition).
Dr. Kandel then uses this book to prove that his research and active life in academia were still ahead of him after his Nobel Prize in 2000 CE. However, the book only takes two hours to highlight that he, Dr. Kandel, only did social outreach and teaching of the public after his award. He highlights his efforts to educate the public, his reading of pro-transgender psychiatry, and other notable causes he’s taken since winning the nobel prize.
To be honest, the story was a let down. Rather than proving that his best research and academic life were still ahead of him, Dr. Kandel proves his wife right that he did nothing in his area of research that further contributed to our understanding of the human mind. I am not saying that public education on one’s subject is not a worthwhile endeavor, but is far from the pinnacle of one’s field. I couldn’t even finish the last of this book because of my disappointment and feeling that I was let down by the author in what he promised to deliver.
Paul Heitsch does a wonderful job narrating and I believe the book is well presented in audio format. However, unless you want to hear an hour of how neo-humanism in a post-christian world will only benefit society, don’t pick up this book. In the end, kudos to Dr. Bystryn for being right, as a top researcher and a wife.