Hans Krebs: The Formation of a Scientific Life 1900-1933(Monographs on the History and Philosophy of Biology)

This is the first volume of a comprehensive scientific biography of Hans Krebs, one of the world's foremost biochemists. It treats his childhood, his medical education and scientific apprenticeship under Otto Warburg, his emergence as an independent investigator, and his discovery of the urea cycle in 1932. This early achievement, and his discovery of the citric acid cycle, are viewed as foundations for the modern structure of intermediary metabolism. During the writing of this fascinating history, the author had access to a complete set of Krebs' laboratory notebooks that reveal the daily dimensions of scientific creativity. Based in addition on many personal interviews with its subject, the Krebs biography is certain to interest and intrigue biochemists and historians of science alike. Volume 2: Hans Krebs: Architect of Intermediary Metabolism 1933-37, will appear in spring, 1993.

Table of Contents:
1: Intermediary Metabolism in the First Third of the Twentieth Century 2: Boyhood in Hildesheim 3: Outward Movement 4: Clinical Years 5: The Research Apprentice 6: Initiative and Dependence 7: Moves Toward Autonomy 8: Freiburg: The Foundation of a Career 9: The Ornithine Effect 10: The Formation of Urea 11: The Rewards of Success 12: The Brief Life of a Freiburg School of Metabolism 13: Reflections on the Formation of a Scientific Life

Review :
"In this large first volume....Holmes reconstructs the education and early career of a remarkable scientist with equally remarkable clarity, comprehensiveness, and detail....This magnificent biography demonstrates, as few books do, the intimate relations between personality and science." --Science "Volume 1 covers Krebs's early life and education, including the beginnings of his research career....Volume 2 covers the time from his arrival in England to publication of the paper on the citric acid cycle in 1937....These volumes have much to say to specialist and nonspecialist alike about the craft of history and the nature of twentieth-century science." --American Historical Review "By any standard, Hans Krebs: The Formation of a Scientific Life is a staggering achievement....Holmes's narrative gifts serve him well. The result is a major study of a major biochemist, a volume which should find an appreciative audience among scientists and historians alike." --The Times Higher Education Supplement "This study should interest scientists, historians of science, and all who try to comprehend the creative process. An important, well-referenced study." --Choice "Rich and comprehensive coverage. Holmes brings to this project a great deal of experience in the study of scientific creativity, nuanced analyses, historical sensitivity, and histiographical sophistication....a balanced, nonsentimental style....the rewards of learning about key developments in biochemistry and about the German research community will surely be gratifying." --Journal of the History of Biology "This is not only a study of Kreb's research, it is also a comprehensive biography of Kreb's personal as well as scientific life....comprehensive....excellent....Holmes gives a penetrating analysis of Kreb's mode of research, its strength and its limitations. These two volumes represent an extraordinary achievement. The story of both the man and the science is full and rewarding....these volumes, taken together, form one of the greatest of scientific biographies....I know of nothing in the least comparable with Holmes's achievement here, in its depth and breadth." --Nature "[W]hat is relatively rare is a combination of a biography with a step by step historical analysis of major scientific discoveries. Larry Holmes....had partially achieved such a synthesis in two previous books....and has now scored a hat-trick with this first volume on the life and science of Hans Krebs. My hope is that aspiring young biochemists or even molecular biologists will read this volume because it contains many lessons of value for their future research careers." --Dermot Williamson, Federation of European Biochemical Societies "Holmes's contribution is considerable....tremendous amount of included detail....on the whole a very good thing." --Quarterly Review of Biology "[A]n utterly charming biography of a most gifted biological scientist, one whose influence has been paramount throughout most of this century. The biochemical consequences of eating food had already fascinated chemists in the early twentieth century. The author clearly describes the intensive chemical findings made by the researchers prior to Hans Krebs. Krebs started his series of important biochemical inquiries during his clinical training in medical school . . . Krebs' real attachment to chemistry began after his graduation from medical school in 1925. By 1926 he was being advised by Warburg and eventually joined Warburg's laboratory. . . . For several years thereafter, Krebs was able to work with several other prominent biological scientists in Germany. Throughout that period his work became more and more his own, independent of mentors. . . . All physicians who are serious about learning should be familiar with the content of this book."--Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science "A remarkable and detailed account of a significant period in the development of biochemistry, reflected in the work of a major 'architect'..." --JAMA "In this large first volume....Holmes reconstructs the education and early career of a remarkable scientist with equally remarkable clarity, comprehensiveness, and detail....This magnificent biography demonstrates, as few books do, the intimate relations between personality and science." --Science "Volume 1 covers Krebs's early life and education, including the beginnings of his research career....Volume 2 covers the time from his arrival in England to publication of the paper on the citric acid cycle in 1937....These volumes have much to say to specialist and nonspecialist alike about the craft of history and the nature of twentieth-century science." --American Historical Review "By any standard, Hans Krebs: The Formation of a Scientific Life is a staggering achievement....Holmes's narrative gifts serve him well. The result is a major study of a major biochemist, a volume which should find an appreciative audience among scientists and historians alike." --The Times Higher Education Supplement "This study should interest scientists, historians of science, and all who try to comprehend the creative process. An important, well-referenced study." --Choice "Rich and comprehensive coverage. Holmes brings to this project a great deal of experience in the study of scientific creativity, nuanced analyses, historical sensitivity, and histiographical sophistication....a balanced, nonsentimental style....the rewards of learning about key developments in biochemistry and about the German research community will surely be gratifying." --Journal of the History of Biology "This is not only a study of Kreb's research, it is also a comprehensive biography of Kreb's personal as well as scientific life....comprehensive....excellent....Holmes gives a penetrating analysis of Kreb's mode of research, its strength and its limitations. These two volumes represent an extraordinary achievement. The story of both the man and the science is full and rewarding....these volumes, taken together, form one of the greatest of scientific biographies....I know of nothing in the least comparable with Holmes's achievement here, in its depth and breadth." --Nature "[W]hat is relatively rare is a combination of a biography with a step by step historical analysis of major scientific discoveries. Larry Holmes....had partially achieved such a synthesis in two previous books....and has now scored a hat-trick with this first volume on the life and science of Hans Krebs. My hope is that aspiring young biochemists or even molecular biologists will read this volume because it contains many lessons of value for their future research careers." --Dermot Williamson, Federation of European Biochemical Societies "Holmes's contribution is considerable....tremendous amount of included detail....on the whole a very good thing." --Quarterly Review of Biology "[A]n utterly charming biography of a most gifted biological scientist, one whose influence has been paramount throughout most of this century. The biochemical consequences of eating food had already fascinated chemists in the early twentieth century. The author clearly describes the intensive chemical findings made by the researchers prior to Hans Krebs. Krebs started his series of important biochemical inquiries during his clinical training in medical school . . . Krebs' real attachment to chemistry began after his graduation from medical school in 1925. By 1926 he was being advised by Warburg and eventually joined Warburg's laboratory. . . . For several years thereafter, Krebs was able to work with several other prominent biological scientists in Germany. Throughout that period his work became more and more his own, independent of mentors. . . . All physicians who are serious about learning should be familiar with the content of this book."--Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science "A remarkable and detailed account of a significant period in the development of biochemistry, reflected in the work of a major 'architect'..." --JAMA