Intuition (Abridged) Audiobook

" This was a book group selection two years ago and I can't believe that I didn't write down my impressions now that I am reading another Allegra Goodman book. I do know that some of the people in our reading group did not like the book at all. For me, it rang true of academia. Which, looking in from the sidelines as I did, when I worked in academia, was a ruthless, competition cloaked in high-brow manners. This book understoood the competivness of academia and especially in the field of cancer research in a university research lab. Then their were the questions of loyalties to principles or relationships and where our integrity might lie. I found myself wondering what I would have done if my boyfriend turned out to be a faker in an area that I wouldn't have allowed faking. All that said, I can't remember too much about the book except that I thought it was very well written. "

" I just finished "Intuition" by Allegra Goodman. The book was all about what goes on in research labs. This lab was a cancer research lab. Things at the lab are going badly and everyone is discouraged until Cliff, one of the researchers, thinks he has made a groundbreaking discovery. This sets off a chain of events as the lab directors have to decide what to do with this information. When do they publish the results, how do they handle the resulting publicity? The story explores the politics, the egos, the lab procedures, the work environment, everything to do with research labs. One of the directors had three young adult daughters and the author even includes a subplot about how events in the lab impact their lives. Goodman did a good job of describing the negative and positive aspects of each character so that one didn't come out the "Good guy" and one the "Bad guy". You could see the wrong and right behind each characters decisions. I liked the young girls the best of any of the characters. "

" So-so story involving scientific research. "

" Excellent character development, but slow plot movement. Slowing up as I near the end. "

" Lots of science in this book. Pretty interesting overall. "

" I read this with interest now that I work with the AHA. The novel offers a great panoply of complicated, sympathetic, and diverse characters, but ultimately presents a rather depressing take on the intersection of science, politics, the media, and interpersonal relationships, only somewhat redeemed at the end. "

" had trouble getting through this, although the science is very accurate...eventually gave up "

" I liked this. Morally muddy, non-simplistic novel that works as a thriller. Bonus points for being the only book I can think of that features believable, non-cipher scientist characters. People rather than plot devices. And nicely written. "

" Interesting story of life in a research lab. The competition and relationships between the researchers. "

" I enjoyed this book because it was a about a drama that unfolded in a lab setting. Since I work in a lab setting, I really thought Allegra did very well at capturing the dynamic -- people working together as a family, but also as competition. "

" My husband is a research scientist, and even he was amazed at the accuracy of this book's tone and feeling. A great novel! "

" This book is about morals, conviction, emotions, but more than anything else it is about blind righteousness. A very interior kind of a book, and sort of a thriller of the mind. "

" I had a really hard time getting through this book and thought about giving up on it several times. I just didn't find the characters particularly appealing and the story just seemed to drag. The last couple chapters were good - they saved this from a completely crappy review! "

" Good plot -- kept me reading to find out how it all would end. Made me look at medical research differently. "

" I like books where I can imagine their setting--this one is set in a Cambridge research lab, so the characters are all over Cambridge and Boston throughout. It's a good story. "

" I found this book to be interesting. A twist on the typical plot in that the central infidelity is scientific but twists all the relationships. A different focus than a lot of the books out there but we'll written and layered. "

" This book was just ok. I was somewhat bored and only finished because it was short. I had hoped that the ending would make it better. But again, just not that great of a story line. "

" so so. lots of energy at the beginning. fell short at the end with so much gong over the facts. seldom do i read a novel about the high brow in scientific research and i can see why it might appeal in certain circles. "

" Interesting look into the scientific research world, and a page turner, but ultimately unsatisfying... "

" As a former Biology student, I really appreciated the author's attention to science/research details throughout this novel. A very unique read; I finished it very quickly. "

" This book was somewhat interesting but never turned into one of those gotta-read-it page turners for me. It was breezy and well written, but some of the literary parts I couldn't help but feel were somewhat juvenile for the subject material that was being covered. "

" A mystery novel about fraud in prominent scientific labs in Boston. Especially fun if you have worked in the field. "

" The story of postdocs working in a lab on what could be break through research to cure cancer. I had a hard time getting through this book. The story didn't flow so well, too much technical lab stuff that I found boring. I finished it just to finish it. "

" A look inside a cancer research lab. This book describes well how the politics, emotions and personalities of science often dictate discoveries more so than the actual facts. "

" it was an interesting look into the world of academic research and i was invested in the characters, but nothing really happened in the story. anti-climactic. "

" This book was very well written, but there was no ending. There was no closure. I wasn't a huge fan. "

" I kept waiting for something exciting to happen but it never really did. "

" I loved this book, both because of the writing and the premise. Goodman usually writes (quite beautifully) about Jewish families and their intricacies, but this one was a bit of a departure into academia. Highly recommend. "

" I enjoyed this book, although not as much as The Cookbook Collector. Set in a lab, Intuition follows a group of scientists and how they come together and fall apart after one of their own challenges amazing research results. The characters are sad, but the books language was wonderful. "

" Fascinating plot exposing the pressures of the world of research. Anyone involved in graduate or university life will appreciate the temptations, hours and anxiety of the post doc student characters. "

" Who doesn't like a book about the quirkiness of academics and academia? "

" I liked this. Morally muddy, non-simplistic novel that works as a thriller. Bonus points for being the only book I can think of that features believable, non-cipher scientist characters. People rather than plot devices. And nicely written. "

" A little slow at the beginning, but a page-turner for most of it. "