Book Version " Dreamers, Visionaries, and Revolutionaries in the Life Sciences looks at individual scientists who are non-standard in illuminating ways. Harmon and Dietrich have enticed their contributors to think about the role of individual scientists and how they helped shape science in society. They then pull together the individual biographies with valuable cross-cutting interpretive introductions. Joan Roughgarden's epilogue captures the book's message beautifully. 'If you're a scientist dreamer, let it happen; don't fight it. Really, you have no choice. It's what you are.'"--Jane Maienschein, Arizona State University Web Version Dreamers, Visionaries, and Revolutionaries in the Life joins Rebels, Mavericks, and Heretics in Biology (Yale, 2008) and Outsider Scientists: Routes to Innovation in Biology (Chicago, 2013) in presenting looks at individual scientists who are non-standard in illuminating ways.

Harmon and Dietrich have enticed their contributors to think about the role of individual scientists and how they helped shape science in society. They then pull together the individual biographies with valuable cross-cutting interpretive introductions. Joan Roughgarden's epilogue captures the book's message beautifully. To those who feel they don't quite fit: "If you're a scientist dreamer, let it happen; don't fight it. Really, you have no choice. It's what you are. In the end, you might be correct, after all. And remember, be a disciplined dreamer.

The scientist dreamer must aim to tell a true story, not a fantasy." To the rest of us: "If you're not a scientific dreamer yourself, but know someone who is, be kind to them." We should be kind because the dreamers stimulate us all ro think and be better than we otherwise would. The brilliant Lynn Margulis might have infuriated almost everybody, as the editors note, but she also provoked us in the best possible ways and changed our thinking about life.