Years ago, I read a wonderful detective novel, in French, my passion at the time, about a detective who loved to cook. At the end of each chapter, the author provided a detailed description of the aforementioned detective preparing a delicious meal, along with all the ingredients, and cooking instructions. And what meals they were. Funny how some things stick in your mind. I've decided to provide recommended reading, instead.

As a young boy, I was fortunate that we were encouraged to explore the world around us, which I did in my early teens, with a microscope much like the one in the image above, that was purchased at great expense from meager earnings - probably about $5 in today's currency. Boy, the things I saw in pond water. Fascinating. I was a born observer, which is why, I guess, I was so happy as a research pathologist for all those years.

I was also inspired in my love the natural world, especially the Biosphere (not that I understood that concept in my early years), by certain authors. Since them, I have enjoyed, and learned from a great many books, so I decided to combine my love of science with my love of reading (I love to cook, also, but that's another story), by including a recommended reading at the end of each chapter.

Each of these books contains critical lessons for the budding scientist.

Should I write my book, I wonder?

Life is brief, and it will take a long time.