Advice for a Young Investigator

Santiago Ramon y Cajal was a mythic figure in science. Hailed as the father of modernanatomy and neurobiology, he was largely responsible for the modern conception of the brain. Hisgroundbreaking works were New Ideas on the Structure of the Nervous System and Histology of the Nervous System in Man and Vertebrates. In addition to leaving alegacy of unparalleled scientific research, Cajal sought to educate the novice scientist about howscience was done and how he thought it should be done. This recently rediscovered classic, firstpublished in 1897, is an anecdotal guide for the perplexed new investigator as well as a refreshingresource for the old pro.

Cajal was a pragmatist, aware of the pitfalls of beingtoo idealistic -- and he had a sense of humor, particularly evident in his diagnoses of variousstereotypes of eccentric scientists. The book covers everything from valuable personality traits foran investigator to social factors conducive to scientific work.