Becoming a Successful Scientist: Strategic Thinking for Scientific Discovery

Although the idea of furthering one’s career has universal appeal, it can be quite difficult to determine the best way to fulfill our professional aspirations. In Becoming a Successful Scientist, Dr. Craig Loehle attempts to describe the mental tools required for an aspiring scientist. The bulk of the book is dedicated to problem-solving strategies and guidelines for scientific discovery, but brief discussions of science-related careers and the relationship between science and the community are also included. Dr. Loehle’s basic tenet is that scientific discovery is a process that requires creative thinking, appreciation of the nature of discovery, the ability to navigate complex problems, and the capacity to verify experimental results. Throughout the book, he tries to demonstrate how the practical application of these processes can improve scientific inquiry and help increase individual productivity. Becoming a Successful Scientist appears to be designed for individuals who are considering, or who have just begun, a career in a science. The text itself draws on examples from a multitude of disciplines and uses frequent analogies to everyday life in order to illustrate the author’s points. Yet although these comparisons make the text accessible to a large number of readers, their frequent use is often confusing and makes it difficult for the reader to understand the underlying concepts. Further, these underlying notions may not always be of use to readers. For instance, important concepts such as the ability to identify complex, solvable questions that have scientific merit are glossed over in general terms and would benefit from a more in-depth analysis. In contrast, the section entitled “Strategic Problem Solving” extensively discusses a mathematical model to characterize productivity without demonstrating how the reader might use this model to influence their own productivity. The chief point of interest in the book is its strong physiological component. Dr. Loehle believes that an individual’s personality influences the way he or she approaches problems but states that differing personalities will not impair an individual’s productivity provided they learn how to use their skill sets correctly. The subsequent discussion of creativity-promoting tools, problem-solving skills, and data analysis techniques is absorbing and contains several useful tips for the interested reader. In the end, Becoming a Successful Scientist touches on a number of important concepts for aspiring scientists, yet the general nature of this text prevents an in-depth discussion of any one skill or discipline which ultimately limits the usefulness of the work.