Small town doctor scales the heights of the scientific community. Pulitzer Prize winner. This remarkable individual has achieved great feats in the scientific realm, defying expectations and rising above the limitations of a small town. The journey has been filled with challenges and perseverance, but through it all, the doctor has emerged victorious.

And then there's also the interesting aspect that they could rock, but they couldn't spell. This lighthearted comment adds a touch of humor to the narrative. It shows that even in the midst of great achievements, there are still areas where one can improve.

Update: I'm abashed to say now that I will need to reacquire the book, since, having read Main Street, I hope to read/re-read all his best novels, of which Arrowsmith is one. The author's admission of needing to reacquire the book highlights the importance and impact that these novels have had on them. It also shows a sense of curiosity and a desire to explore more of the author's works.

I am sorry to admit that this is one of the three books I've read by Lewis, especially so since I grew up about 30 miles from Sauk Centre Minnesota, where he was born and raised. The connection to the author's birthplace adds a personal touch to the review. It makes the reader wonder if the author's upbringing in a similar environment influenced their perception of the books.

Perhaps I will read all his great novels in the years ahead, here's hoping. This statement expresses the author's hope and anticipation for future reading experiences. It leaves the reader with a sense of possibility and excitement, wondering what other great works they will discover.

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Previous review: Another World

Recent review: Seven Against Thebes

Next review: Boswell's Presumptuous Task

Previous library review: It Can't Happen Here

Next library review: Main Street

What a premise for a book: A young man falls in love, not just with a young woman, but with a quest. This is the passion that infuses Arrowsmith. How the author was able to put blood into such an idea explains in part the Pulitzer prize.

The other part that explains the award is that the book is a good read. Covering the nearly 20 years during which a student (and later researcher) learns to embrace his life's calling, the plot never stalls. The constant motion guides us along with Martin Arrowsmith as he follows the thread leading him out of a labyrinth of false promises, and up upon his own personal road less traveled by.

During my reading, I couldn't help comparing the book to The Fountainhead, a book with a similar moral and strikingly similar plot elements. The notion of man as a hero who overcomes constant adversity drives the action in both stories. But Arrowsmith, published some 20 years before, is the better book. One difference is that the later book presents us with a young hero having a fully developed moral sense to start with, and with our book here we see, to better effect, how a man becomes a heroic figure in the first place -- how he learns which choices really matter. Another point of contrast lies in the role of capitalism, which helps the protagonist in The Fountainhead but hampers Martin in his own search for creative freedom. Either way, the effective status of the free market plays a crucial role in both books.

In further contrast, one finds in Martin a callow lad vulnerable to poor judgment, a flaw that elicits an indulgent sympathy. This high-strung fellow with a slightly nerdy disposition, black hair on pale skin and "dreamy" eyes, yaps away with an impossible "awe shucks" Midwestern affectation. His voice sometimes hits an jarringly piercing note; at other points his brusque rudeness abrades. Testy frustration at times pushes him to overwrought tears. And does his own self-discovery, in the end, arrive at the expense of a family member? Proneness to error makes up the bread and butter of the plot.

Rare for a novel, the scientific method is a theme, for Martin's self-actualization depends on it. The necessity of controls in a solid experiment and the need for uninterrupted research factor into the story. The corrupting power of commerce and personal popularity is a danger in which the young doctor finds himself entangled again and again. Like him, we find ourselves even today grappling with the effect that the profit motive exerts on clinical research.

Let's not think that a man turned so inward ends up entirely alone. But again, we find Martin's affections becoming psychological, possibly even at the expense of the sexual and familial. For such as he, the attraction of the mental bond two people can forge is a discovery that sets his psychic makeup apart from the crowd.

To this book, with its distinctive Midwestern tang, I gave a high rating. I recommend it for readers who are looking for an unlikely subject and an unusual hero, a protagonist pushing against a riptide toward unexpected contentment. It offers a unique exploration of a young man's journey of self-discovery, filled with passion, struggle, and moral growth. The vivid portrayal of Martin Arrowsmith and the complex themes presented make this book a captivating read that will leave readers思考 about their own lives and the choices they make.

I truly believe that I deserve some sort of reward for persevering through this novel, which ranks among the most excruciatingly boring ones I've ever had the misfortune to read. Perhaps a coupon for a complimentary pair of shoes, or a lovely fruit basket would suffice. Every single page felt like an absolute ordeal. There was not a single interesting plot point, character, or line of dialogue. Not one sentence held the slightest glimmer or sparkle that would suggest: this writer is worthy of a prize.

When one takes into account two other remarkable American works that were published in the same year and could have easily won the Pulitzer - The Great Gatsby and An American Tragedy - it really makes the mind boggle just a little bit.

Initially, I was inclined to give the book two stars out of respect for the Nobel Prize. However, then in the final pages, Arrowsmith abandoned his wife and very young child. He was irritated by the numerous social engagements that his wife expected him to attend. So, he moved to the woods to engage in scientific pursuits with a male colleague. Lewis presents this move as heroic, depicting the scientist as rising above ordinary life in his noble quest to pursue pure knowledge and better the world. But in reality, Arrowsmith has been a complete jerk throughout his life. In college, he got engaged to two girls simultaneously. While married to his first wife, he kissed and entertained thoughts of having affairs with two different women, and the second instance occurred while his wife was actually dying of the plague just several miles away.

Humans, as a species, were never meant to inhabit the large groupings of modern times. We are not only overly belligerent and cruel to one another, but our very biology seems to work against us, causing us to kill each other off. The only thing that has saved us from self-destruction, given us some breathing room, and allowed us the mental space to subdue the perils of the crowd is science. By science, I truly mean truth. The kind of absolute truth that serves as an unwavering rock in a world largely lacking such solid and immovable objects.

Just like the other Sinclair Lewis novels I've read, Arrowsmith spans a significant number of years in the life of its protagonist, Martin Arrowsmith. His life touches on the core of my own because Martin has a passion for the truth. He desires to know things, and he wants that knowledge with certainty.

As a young adherent of the truth, Martin turns to science, or more specifically, the common application of science: medicine. Throughout his long career as a doctor, he searches for truth and constantly encounters its compromised state. He discovers that truth is constantly under attack from all the forces that make up humanity. Things like friendship, love, greed, jealousy, and compassion all serve to dilute the essence of pure truth and render it ineffective. Martin also realizes that actual control over society is often contrived from this watered-down form of truth.

However, along the way, Martin meets the love of his life, Leora. In many respects, Leora is the human incarnation of truth, which is why I found her so charming as a character. Even though her presence is somewhat of a side story in Martin's life, she offers a glimpse into what a useful and meaningful truth in society could ultimately look like: absolute fact combined with imperfect humanity, but tempered with reason. But achieving that kind of future will only be possible if we can all bring ourselves to care about the truth and know what the truth is in this imperfect world.

Private practice, public policy, and original scientific medical research - our protagonist Martin Arrowsmith traverses through these diverse fields, and we have the opportunity to follow his journey.

Lewis masterfully captures the genuine labor, the numerous pitfalls, the unexpected pratfalls, and the snarkiness of both practitioners and observers. This makes the story feel remarkably fresh and modern, serving as proof that human nature remains relatively unchanged over time.

Gottlieb's diatribe about scientists hits the mark precisely and reminds us that there are indeed individuals among us who deeply care about truth and reality, strive to be authentic, and uphold integrity in their work. It is truly wonderful, even though Marty ultimately ends up as a wild man in the woods of Vermont. His story is a captivating exploration of the human spirit in the context of the medical and scientific worlds, filled with both triumphs and tribulations.

A Novel

In this remarkable novel, the writer delves deep into analyzing the pernicious effects that mercantilist zeal has on the man of science.

We are able to uncover, within the discursive fabric of the text, a passionate apology for the values of the spirit. In a society where everything seems to have been reduced to a tradable good, these spiritual values are practically on the verge of extinction.

However, the novel's structure artfully showcases the protagonist's unwavering moral integrity and dignity. This not only gives the story a captivating charm but also imparts an aura of idealism that was hitherto unachieved in the author's previous literary endeavors.

The exploration of these themes makes this novel a thought-provoking and engaging read, inviting readers to reflect on the state of our modern society and the importance of upholding the values that truly matter.

Although on the back cover everything related to research, medicine, and pharmaceutical companies is emphasized, the novel is much more than that, a great deal more. Sinclair speaks to us of dreams, of ambitions, of principles, of real failures and of failures that are not such, of life.

However, it is also true that a not inconsiderable part of the novel focuses on the denunciation of certain practices of the medical industry and that interested me a great deal less.

The story delves deep into the human psyche, exploring the hopes and fears that drive individuals. It shows how people can strive for success while still maintaining their integrity, or how they can lose their way in the pursuit of power and wealth.

While the aspect of criticizing the medical industry may be important, it overshadows some of the other wonderful elements of the novel. I would have preferred to see more of the characters' personal growth and relationships, rather than just a one-sided attack on an industry.

Nevertheless, Sinclair's writing is engaging and thought-provoking, and the novel does offer some valuable insights into the world of medicine and beyond.

Many years ago, I embarked on reading Sinclair Lewis’ novel Babbitt. However, I soon found myself overcome with boredom and promptly set it aside.

Despite this initial disappointment, I decided to give him another chance, albeit without much anticipation. At that time, my knowledge of Sinclair Lewis was rather limited. So, when I began reading Arrowsmith, I was astonished to discover just how popular he was during a significant portion of his writing career and how successful he was in every aspect.

His novel Main Street was actually awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 by the selection committee. However, the Columbia University trustees overruled this decision as Main Street did not meet the “wholesome” requirement for the award. The selection committee, a year later, was aware that for the same reason, it could not recommend Babbitt for the prize. When Arrowsmith was awarded the Pulitzer in 1926, Lewis refused it. What is even more significant is that Sinclair Lewis had three highly popular novels considered for the Pulitzer within a five-year span.

Despite winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930, Sinclair Lewis was for many years overshadowed by such American literary greats as Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Faulkner. However, he has recently resurfaced with the renewed interest in his novel It Can’t Happen Here.

Arrowsmith is the story of a man, Martin Arrowsmith, who is torn between a financially rewarding career with its associated recognition and his deep love for pure science. In the process of making up his mind, he loses his first wife and forfeits his second. I was amazed at how relevant the story seemed when I was starting my career and how relevant it still is to the choices that young women and men must make today.

While there may be nothing particularly unique or even remarkable about the style of Lewis’ prose, nor does he employ any overly creative narrative structures, he tells a good story in a way that is easily accessible. Moreover, his characters feel genuine. They face real problems that I can relate to. Most importantly, he描绘了 an America that we can only understand today through a writer with his敏锐的洞察力.

I believe that I will be reading more of Sinclair Lewis in the future. Perhaps Main Street will be next.

I have fallen asleep for the last four nights when I have tried to put an end to it, and today with two coffees I couldn't make it through.

I have found in Martin Arrowsmith and his ups and downs in work and emotions a great part of myself, and I think it is something that will happen to anyone with a great vocation for their work.

"With the same attention and exactly in the same impersonal way that he would have observed how an infected guinea pig progressively developed the disease, Martin observed himself, in the madness of excessive work, heading towards neurasthenia. He investigated with considerable interest the symptoms of this illness, seeing that they occurred in him one after another, and continued without changing his behavior, carelessly assuming the risk."

The hours, the doubts, the time away from your loved ones (which weighs more heavily on them), the professional development regardless of salaries, the pitfalls of bosses and colleagues who take advantage, the camaraderie when like-minded people meet, the eternal frustration, the extremely high price sometimes paid and the thousands of rewards that no one else sees... the novel has a great deal of content and could provide hours of debate.

The best, the most authentic, by far are the characters. Even the secondary ones are perfectly visible.

The worst: I loved the first three-quarters, but the last one seemed overly long and heavy to me, although it has a good ending. After the epidemic, it loses a lot of steam, and the plot with Joyce stretches like chewing gum.

One could view Arrowsmith as an antiquated book from almost 100 years ago, a book for which its author declined the esteemed Pulitzer Prize in 1926. However, in this reader's perspective, that would be overlooking something of great significance.

This was an outstanding novel where Sinclair Lewis delved into the realm of medicine and politics through his character Martin Arrowsmith and his mentor Max Gottlieb. I have scant connections to the enigmatic world of medical schools and such. I've never been a fan of hospital TV shows like Gray's Anatomy or General Hospital. But, due to Lewis's meticulous descriptions, the reader is drawn into this world of ambition and power, into the contradictions of public and private research, and into the obsession over an idea. One can't help but wonder if the writers of some modern-era operating room drama shows didn't at times draw from the rich well of Arrowsmith for plot inspiration.

I'm going to take a bold step here and assert that I believe Martin Arrowsmith might be the first gay or at least bisexual protagonist of a Pulitzer-winning novel. Besides his clumsy attempts at forcing a meeting between his official fiancée and his lover, with predictably disastrous outcomes, and his numerous infidelities, he never appears to deeply love any woman in his life. He might protest that he loved Leora, but he was married to his work far more than to her. The ending of the book also has a rather homoerotic undertone when he decides to elope in the woods with Terry instead of sailing off into an upper-class sunset with Joyce.

Another point worth mentioning, which brings this novel from a bygone era into sharp contemporary relevance, is its treatment of the bubonic plague and Martin's particular Pyrrhic role in combating it. After over a year of COVID, I don't think I need to elaborate on the relevance here.

So, if you're not yet a Sinclair Lewis enthusiast, perhaps skip Carrie's failed reformism in Main Street and the vacuous world of salesmen like Babbitt and head straight to Arrowsmith. My next read is Elmer Gantry, and I find myself increasingly drawn to its charmingly repulsive protagonist!

My rating of all the Pulitzer Winners: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

3.5 stars, rounded down.

To truly appreciate Arrowsmith, one must have an appreciation for satire. This is because a significant portion of this book is written with a touch of irony. Martin Arrowsmith is a man with a strong aspiration to be a pure scientist. He faces numerous challenges in his pursuit, including the forces of commercialism, hubris, and ambition. I must admit that I don't have an unwavering liking for Martin. At times, he comes across as pompous, and at other times, he seems cold and unfeeling. I desired for him to strike a better balance between his dedication to his work and his personal relationships, especially the one with his wife, Leora.

I was astonished by how little has changed in our society over the century that separates the publication of this novel from our current era. Martin Arrowsmith is a physician, yet he shows little concern for the practice of medicine and is far more engaged in the research of diseases. In light of our present struggle to determine the best way to provide healthcare to the masses, I could observe that many of the questions were identical in 1920. Do you hastily bring an unproven inoculation to the market, or do you continue your research until you are certain there are no errors, risking the deaths of infected individuals and the possibility that someone else will beat you to the market with their own serum? What is the purpose of the independent research laboratory - is it to produce discoveries beneficial to the population or to generate profits for the shareholders? What about the charming yet ignorant, or even worse, morally corrupt individuals who are in charge, making decisions, and choosing the direction?

While I found this book to be well-written and its message to be meaningful, there was a missing element for me, namely emotional involvement. I discovered that as I delved deeper into the story, I felt increasingly emotionally detached. I couldn't shed a tear when the events in the story might have warranted it, nor could I feel the injustice or frustration, even though I recognized and documented it. I was very much looking forward to reading this, and I felt a bit disappointed when I turned the last page.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting that it isn't worth reading. It simply didn't meet my expectations.

Sinclair Lewis, a renowned American author, refused to accept the Pulitzer Prize for this extraordinary novel. However, we should not refuse the opportunity to read it. Lewis writes with devastating precision, remarkable creativity, and a wicked sense of humor. He skillfully skewers the abundant egotism, vanity, greed, and self-aggrandizement that he discovers in his fellow human beings.

This novel follows the life of Dr. Martin Arrowsmith, starting from a small Midwest town (a common setting in Lewis' works) where he attends "medic" school and throughout his career. During this journey, he is constantly challenged to balance the ideals he learned as a scientific researcher, which is to pursue "truth," with the pressures of the healthcare market.

Arrowsmith is deeply influenced by the philosophy of Professor Max Gottlieb, a slightly mysterious and arrogant German-Jewish researcher. Gottlieb intimidates and ridicules most of his students, deeming them unworthy of his attention. However, he emphasizes the importance of "going slow" to ensure that lab results are iron-proof before publishing. The shadow of Max Gottlieb looms large over Martin Arrowsmith as he encounters the harsher realities of life as a small country doctor and later, the political realities of working in a public health department under a man more focused on advancing his political career than on doing his job.

When Arrowsmith later works as a medical researcher for a company that aims to fast-track medicines and cosmetic wonders to the market, he is told that withholding publishing is "old-fashioned" and parochial. In this age of commerce and competition, they believe in quick results. Martin is outraged and preaches to himself, as Max Gottlieb had once preached to him, about the loyalty of dissent, the faith of being very doubtful, the gospel of questioning established gospels, the wisdom of admitting the probable ignorance of oneself and others, and the need for an energetic acceleration of a Movement for going very slow.

The stakes for Arrowsmith's philosophy become extremely high when he is asked to travel to the Caribbean to assist with an outbreak of plague. There, his training to use controls in his experiments and "not to hurry" any inoculation before its time clashes with the grim reality of people dying by the score each day on the island. Arrowsmith struggles to do what is right, constantly grappling with Gottlieb's standard of total scientific purity versus the urgent need to save those he can.

Written in 1925, this novel remains amazingly current as it provides a profound look at human nature, the complex world of health care, and the powerful forces that can corrupt both. It serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of坚守 principles and the challenges that come with it.