Candace Pert: Genius, Greed, and Madness in the World of Science
女科學家坎迪斯·柏特: 科學世界裡的天才、貪婪與瘋狂
內容介紹
這是一本關於女科學家坎迪斯·柏特(Candace Pert)特立獨行的傳記故事，她的著作《走出宮殿的女科學家：從情緒分子到宇宙的身心網絡》(Molecules of Emotion)讓世界認識到心靈與身體之間的關聯，此外她開發了治療愛滋病的藥物肽T(Peptide T)、也讓人們意識到鴉片類受體(opioid receptors)對人的影響。
坎迪斯·柏特是三個運動的先鋒：婦女運動、整合健康(integrative health)和精神藥理學。作為一位科學奇才，她領先於她所在的時代30年，早在瑜伽流行和「身心健康」成為我們日常用語之前，就倡導醫療保健和身心靈整體健康。她的暢銷書《走出宮殿的女科學家：從情緒分子到宇宙的身心網絡》(Molecules of Emotion)使她成為身心靈革命的創始先驅。美國心靈醫學大師狄帕克‧喬布拉(Deepak Chopra)將自己生涯成就歸功於她打下的基礎，迪帕克·喬普拉在坎迪斯·柏特的葬禮上向她致上最高敬意。
坎迪斯在開始她科學生涯時就是一位不受拘束的特立獨行者。1972年，作為約翰霍普金斯大學的26歲研究生，她發現了鴉片類受體(opioid receptors)，徹底改變了她的領域，使藥理學家能夠發明像是威而鋼(Viagra)、百憂解(Prozac)等新型藥物。她的突破被吹捧為結束海洛因成癮的第一步，但諷刺的是她的發現助長了另一場毒品依賴疫情。面對21世紀最大的公共衛生危機，坎迪斯感到憤怒，認為希波克拉底誓言(又稱醫師誓詞)——「首要的是，不可傷人」(first, do no harm)——居然被貪婪所取代，作為這種權力濫用的目擊者，她是少數勇敢抗議的科學家之一。
後來，作為國家衛生研究院腦部生物化學主任，坎迪斯開發了肽T(Peptide T)，這是《達拉斯買家俱樂部》(Dallas BuyersClub)治療愛滋病的無毒療法。當愛滋病大流行引發了雷恩時代美國的恐慌時，美國政府投入了大量資金尋找治療方法，引發了科學家之間的資金和權力爭奪戰。當時市面上出現了更多競爭性藥物，但迫切想要幫助愛滋病患者，坎迪斯走上了另類道路，成為肽T黑市中的一個關鍵人物。
因為醜聞離開國家衛生研究院，坎迪斯與她的第二任丈夫邁克爾·拉夫（Michael Ruff）創立了一系列私人公司。對商業世界毫無防備的她被投資者操控，他們急於掌控她的發現。但坎迪斯也受到金錢的污染，她相信她的高貴目標會合理化她不正當的手段。就像神話般的英雄一樣，她最終跌落神壇自我毀滅。
作者介紹
帕梅拉·里克曼 (Pamela Ryckman)曾出版過《STILETTO NETWORK: Inside the Women’s Power Circles That Are Changing the Face of Business》（HarperCollins Leadership/Amacom, 2013）一書。此外，曾為《紐約時報》、《金融時報》和《華盛頓郵報》等多家刊物撰寫文章。她擁有普林斯頓大學比較文學學士學位和紐約大學新聞學碩士學位。
書評
"With exemplary research, balanced accounts and deeply evocative prose, Ms. Ryckman’s biography offers a truly insightful narrative on what it can mean to be a woman at the cutting edge of science."―The Wall Street Journal
“I have admired Candace Pert and her work for many years…There is a revolution taking form that is significantly influencing how the Western medical community views health and disease. Candace Pert’s contribution to this revolution is undeniable.”―Deepak Chopra, MD, multi-bestselling author and founder of the Chopra Foundation
“Pamela Ryckman unearths a story of a brilliant female investigator, so that she might join scientific herstory. Ryckman’s writing is life-like, suspenseful, and creates a roller coaster ride of stakes and unexpected discovery. Hold on tight!”―Lisa Miller, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and The Awakened Brain
“Candace Pert was a scientific maverick of heroic and tragic proportion. In gripping, moving prose, Pamela Ryckman pulls back the veil on the scientific establishment to reveal one woman’s struggle against subterfuge and sabotage — until Candace too succumbed to greed. If you are interested in mind-body medicine or just enjoy a good thriller, this book is for you!”―Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD, author of How Emotions are Made and Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain
“Candace Pert was an inspiring, passionate biochemist who became a black market smuggler and committed fraud in her quest to bring Peptide T to market and treat thousands of men infected with HIV. She was also the mother of integrative medicine before the world knew what it was. Pamela Ryckman unravels the secrets and mystery of this woman in a hunt for the truth. I could not put this book down!”―Kay Koplovitz, founder of USA Networks, co-founder and chairwoman of Springboard Enterprises
"In this riveting biography, journalist Ryckman (Stiletto Network) chronicles the life and career of pharmacologist and neuroscientist Candace Pert. ... Ryckman’s nuanced portrait depicts Pert as a tragic figure so desperate for recognition and wealth that she was willing to break the law to get what she felt was her due. Readers will be engrossed."―Publisher's Weekly
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