In the spirit of Voltaire—and occasionally in the spirit of P. G. Wodehouse—P. B. and J. S. Medawar have crafted for the life sciences a source of reference that is meant for browsing, a book both authoritative and filled with delights. The authors’ breadth of knowledge is encyclopedic— arranged, appropriately enough, from A to Z—but more than that, they illuminate the ideas of biology with wit and intelligence and uncommon good sense. They bridge the chasm in our culture between the technically and the humanistically trained, breaking the code of jargon that limits access to scientific understanding. The Medawars’ special gift is to offer, at the same time, a pleasurable introduction for the layman and a source of new insight for the specialist.

In this book we can find a clear and meaningful definition of interferon, a useful explanation of the immune system, and thoughtful essays on sociobiology, eugenics, and aging. But we also find: “It is a popular fallacy that chewing gum regains its flavor if removed from the mouth and parked, say, under a chair.”

Whether in a serious discussion of cancer or a whimsical reflection on “chicken and egg” imagery in science, the Medawars’ blend of fact, literary allusion, historical anecdote, mythical and folk tradition, and even professional gossip is a rewarding exercise in biology as a humanistic endeavor.

One of the most delightful, and delightfully eccentric, dictionaries I have ever encountered… One can learn a tremendous amount of modern biology from it. -- Jeremy Bernstein * New York Times Book Review *
These little essays are beautifully written, trenchant, witty and informative… Enjoy the lovely prose and the tough precise intelligence… If a central informing theme is to be found in the Medawars' dictionary, it is an appeal for a disciplined and critical mind. * Nature *
Two distinguished scientists have made sense of their specialty instead of mystery. Entries on altruism, clones, and simple sweating combine authority with humanity—and even wit. * Los Angeles Times Book Review *
Aristotle to Zoos is a recommended introduction to the problems of life science and their profound relevance to our daily lives. P. B. and J. S. Medawar are masterful guides… The Medawars' work is a model of scientific prose. It is written to delight and to teach. * The Bloomsbury Review *

P. B. Medawar, an Oxford-trained biologist, received the 1960 Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology. J. S. Medawar was a biologist trained at the University of Oxford.