A must for researchers

Everyday practice of science
Frederick Grinnell
Oxford University Press
2011 | 256pp | £12.99 (PB)
ISBN  9780199794652
Reviewed by Paul Wolstenholme-Hogg

Everyday practice of science is a must for every practicing researcher. Not only is it a delight to read and very difficult to put down, but it is also a welcome breath of fresh air. To come across a book such as this, that brings such honesty and experience to the reality of practicing science is more than a treat to read, it's a must have. It's one that shares the true path that research and researchers follow on their journey to scientific discovery. 

The effort and hard work that PhD students and researchers worldwide endure day after day is tantalisingly captured in this fine account of the 'true' scientific method. The book is not only an honest account of the hardships of scientific research and the relationship with modern society, but it also presents itself as a wonderful account of the scientific system and how elements of that system direct today's research findings towards the scientific method. 

The scientific method is often represented as being the logical, planned approach to science, but as most researchers are aware, and the author clearly shows, the 'logical' looks very different to the 'chronological' findings. The Everyday practice of science also illustrates the fine balance that scientific research must adopt in today's society in terms of the preservation of scientific credibility, ethical behaviour and the harmonic dichotomy of science and religion. 

Will I recommend it for my fellow researcher's bookshelves? Absolutely, but I doubt it will spend much time on the actual bookshelf.

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