E29: Sam Kean: The Icepick Surgeon

We sat down with Sam Kean to discuss his book, "The Icepick Surgeon." A fascinating book that combines science with the true crime genre, presenting real stories of terrible crimes committed in the pursuit of scientific discoveries.

Regardless of their personal motivations, all of them converge on a flawed belief that the end justifies the means. The book devotes each chapter to a particular crime, including murder, fraud, sabotage and more, focusing on the stories of those who suffered at the hands of these so-called men of science.

The author's narrative ability makes this a fascinating book, full of difficult-to-understand stories about those scientific discoveries that came at the cost of many lives and suffering.