To a working scientist, the idea of writing a book can seem daunting. Is it possible to squeeze in writing on top of the research, teaching, and administrative responsibilities that already fill up the day? But many scientists can, and do, author books, whether they be textbooks, nonfiction for a general audience, or other literary departures from the usual grant proposals, research manuscripts, and review articles.
“It’s infinitely more work than you think, and it’s also much more satisfying,” says Anne Houtman, a behavioral ecologist and head of the School of Life Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology, who co-authored the textbook Environmental Science for a Changing World. “I’ve published a lot of papers, but there’s something different about holding a book in your hand,” she adds.
Sometimes books come out of teaching a course for which there is no suitable textbook. Or maybe there’s something you’ve always been ...
