Don't Be Such a Scientist
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""Don''t Be Such a Scientist" is a stinging critique, yet it''s also a funny, heart-felt account of one scientist''s efforts to make non-scientists care about the natural world."--Carl Zimmer "author of Microcosm and the award-winning science blog The Loom "
Product Description
How to relate scientific information in a way that entertains and enlightens? After twenty years as a marine biologist, a Ph.D. from Harvard, a tenured professorship at the University of New Hampshire, and more than twenty published research papers, why is Dr. Randy Olson telling readers, 'Don't Be Such a Scientist'? The hard-earned advice comes from a fifteen-year career transition to filmmaking, culminating in the acclaimed documentaries "Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus" and "Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy". In his first book, Olson makes clear what those glued to their microscopes and climate models may not recognize: the general public doesn't speak science. For better or worse, most of us rely not on intellect, but on what Olson terms the organs of mass communication: the heart, the gut, and even 'the lower organs'. Why else do some still question the existence of global warming or evolution when the evidence is irrefutable? Drawing on his own hilarious - and at times humiliating - evolution from science professor to Hollywood filmmaker, Olson shares the secrets of talking substance in an age of style. The key, he argues, is to stay true to the facts while tapping into something more primordial, more irrational, and ultimately more human. In a book enlivened by profane acting teachers and earnest scientists, serious insights and poignant stories, Olson walks the walk. You'll laugh, you may cry, and you'll certainly learn how to communicate critical scientific and environmental issues using your heart as well as your head.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
On the upside this book does show that far-reaching science communication is possible and the author has clearly achieved this. It certainly gives some important tips on how scientists can improve their connections with the wider population and I would recommend it to any young scientist fed up of being told that communication is unimportant to their careers.
Unfortunately, there were two problems with the book that I could not overcome. Firstly, for someone proposing that scientists communicate better I did not find the book at all captivating and struggled to finish it. A more important problem with the book is that it focusses too much on dealing with Hollywood and the kind of big press organisations that are now dying. I cannot help but feel that science's place for communication is in the media of the future: small, local, fast-moving and online. I did not feel that these areas received the attention they deserve in the book.
Overall I felt that the book was often Talking Style in an Age of Style without a great deal of substance to be found anywhere.
Unfortunately, there were two problems with the book that I could not overcome. Firstly, for someone proposing that scientists communicate better I did not find the book at all captivating and struggled to finish it. A more important problem with the book is that it focusses too much on dealing with Hollywood and the kind of big press organisations that are now dying. I cannot help but feel that science's place for communication is in the media of the future: small, local, fast-moving and online. I did not feel that these areas received the attention they deserve in the book.
Overall I felt that the book was often Talking Style in an Age of Style without a great deal of substance to be found anywhere.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although Olson is trying to convince scientists that they need to become better story tellers in order to reach the public with their knowledge, his book is a great, concise guide to storytelling that would benefit anybody trying to reach an audience.
The core of his argument is that we have four targets for storytelling: the head, the heart, the gut, and the sex organs. Scientists (and other academics) typically target the head only, which means they reach the smallest percentage of the audience. If they can also reach the heart with emotions, the gut with humor and appeals to instinct, and the sex organs with sex appeal, they have the potential to reach just about everyone.
The same is true for writers of films, of course. Films can be successful hitting just one of these (the head for an art movie, the gut with horror movies, the sex organs with porn). But the truly memorable films hit three or possibly all four.
Olson follows his own advice and makes this a fast and fun read, hitting at least three of the four targets (not sure about his sex appeal!).
The core of his argument is that we have four targets for storytelling: the head, the heart, the gut, and the sex organs. Scientists (and other academics) typically target the head only, which means they reach the smallest percentage of the audience. If they can also reach the heart with emotions, the gut with humor and appeals to instinct, and the sex organs with sex appeal, they have the potential to reach just about everyone.
The same is true for writers of films, of course. Films can be successful hitting just one of these (the head for an art movie, the gut with horror movies, the sex organs with porn). But the truly memorable films hit three or possibly all four.
Olson follows his own advice and makes this a fast and fun read, hitting at least three of the four targets (not sure about his sex appeal!).
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have worked as a speechwriter for 12 years and I loved this book. It explains why scientists ( and I think it also applies to many other 'professions' ) can't get a message across. As you would expect, I loved the stories. The anecdote about how a James Cameron reacted when somebody pointed out that he'd made a mistake with the constellations in Titanic, why scientists didn't want to give Carl Sagan one of their highest accolades and what his miserable acting teacher taught him about communication.
This is my problem with think tanks, lawyers and politicians, they dream up languages nobody else speaks. Randy Olson is a likeable guy and he talks about his successes and failures with lots of humour. One thing I definitely agree with him about: 'Good communicators believe in the power of communication. Poor communicators don't.' That's the only way to make progress. Putting people on stage who know how it's done. And that's what I do at UK Speechwriters' Guild conferences.
This is my problem with think tanks, lawyers and politicians, they dream up languages nobody else speaks. Randy Olson is a likeable guy and he talks about his successes and failures with lots of humour. One thing I definitely agree with him about: 'Good communicators believe in the power of communication. Poor communicators don't.' That's the only way to make progress. Putting people on stage who know how it's done. And that's what I do at UK Speechwriters' Guild conferences.
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