For me, this book was a major disappointment. I truly love Sinclair Lewis. In fact, I even named my dog Babbitt in honor of his book by the same name. However, Arrowsmith left me completely cold. It won the Pulitzer Prize, but for what reason I simply cannot fathom. Personally, I think it was awarded for his body of work rather than this individual book.

To me, the book should have been titled, Arrowsmith: A Good Life Wasted. The book has only one redeeming character, Arrowsmith's wife, Leora. She sticks with him through thick and thin, always being at home to lend an ear or a shoulder for him to rest upon. Throughout the book, Arrowsmith is indecisive about his life, his career, and so many other things. He is the epitome of wishy-washy, moving his wife all over the country as his quest for what he really wants to do with his life changes repeatedly. Arrowsmith is a doctor, but he really wants to be an immunologist. However, he lacks the qualifications in chemistry or math to do the job properly. He transitions from being a family doctor to a lab technician and other jobs as he travels across the US. He crosses paths with many people whom he believes are fools, but all of them do extremely well and become influential. Meanwhile, Martin Arrowsmith lives on a meager salary and spends days in his lab conducting tests to find cures for diseases. But once he discovers something, he doesn't publish his results. He wants to study for the sake of the purity of discovery, not realizing that his discoveries could help his employees pay his salary with the profits from the antibodies he works on. The same goes for love. He loves Leora but is constantly looking at other women and going back and forth to the point of being ridiculous.

I will end up rating this book 2.5, and that is only because of Lewis' ability to make me want to continue reading about a man whom I have no desire to know or befriend. It's not a fast-paced book and is filled with the typical Boosterism language that is characteristic of the 1920s. The only redeeming part for me was a brief one-page cameo made by George Babbitt, which made me long for Lewis' previous works.

PT/ENG

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O Doutor Arrowsmith, de Sinclair Lewis.
Li Babbitt na adolescência, e apesar de ter adorado o livro, nunca mais regressara a Sinclair Lewis. Isso é uma lástima, pois Lewis foi sem dúvida um grande autor. Este Arrowsmith é um misto fascinante de sátira e romance americano.

Ele não falta de críticas abundantes e incisivas à sociedade mercantil e hipócrita. Eu me reconheci em muitas das lutas de Martin. É um livro jocoso e sempre interessante, e mesmo a tradução medíocre, adaptada do português brasileiro e cheia de imperfeições, não conseguiu tirar-lhe o mérito. É brilhante.

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Arrowsmith, by Sinclair Lewis.
I read Babbitt when I was a teen, and though I loved it, I hadn't returned to Lewis's work until now. This is a shame, as Lewis was indeed a great writer. Arrowsmith is a satirical and great American novel that is filled with abundant and fierce critics of the mercantilistic and hypocritical modern society.

I could relate to many of Martin's struggles. The story is engaging and full of life. Even though the old translation into Portuguese is quite mediocre, it didn't manage to overshadow any of the novel's brilliant qualities. It remains a remarkable piece of literature.

This is a truly broad satire of America. It's so extensive that it covers a wide range of aspects. Lewis, the author, must have been a deeply disillusioned and perhaps even bitter man. However, the humor he injects into this work is absolutely priceless.

I had the opportunity to read it for my Classics Book Group, and I'm extremely glad that I did. There are numerous issues within the text that are well worth discussing.

The satire offers a unique perspective on American society, culture, and values. It challenges the readers to think critically about the norms and ideals that we often take for granted.

The broad nature of the satire allows for a comprehensive exploration of various themes, such as politics, social inequality, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Overall, this work is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, making it a valuable addition to any literary discussion.

The titular main character, Martin Arrowsmith, embarks on a journey by attending medical school and eventually becoming a doctor. However, he soon finds himself in a quandary, struggling to chart the correct course for his career. On one hand, there is the option of dedicating himself to slow pure scientific research in the name of progress. On the other hand, there is the allure of the money and rewards that hasty mock trials and early publication can bring.

Arrowsmith's heroes are Gottlieb, a scientist who holds in contempt those he calls the "Men of Measured Merriment," those who pursue knowledge for practical purposes. Another hero is Sondelius, a hygienist who travels the globe combating plague. But after getting married, Martin is torn between providing the life he desires for his steadfast and loving wife and immersing himself in crucial yet unglamorous research.

This novel, which won the Pulitzer Prize (though Lewis declined it due to the wording that he felt was meaningless), is an exciting and highly readable one. It is populated with a diverse cast of characters who represent the various paths a med student can take. There is the joker who becomes a dropout, the supercilious ascetic surgeon, the patronizing missionary, the pharmaceutical agent, the dedicated pathologist, and the PR-perfect Head of the Department who understands little of the nature of the work in his department, among others. Although they seem to be distinct types, they are fully developed characters who play a role in shaping Martin's own destiny as he evolves from a small-town novice to a cog in a hospital machine and then to a sort of celebrity.

In addition, Lewis satirizes both high and low society of the time, from Martin's close-minded in-laws to the clueless Smart Set he later finds himself associated with. Through the drama of Martin's growth as a free man and a doctor, Lewis offers plenty of satire and wit, with sharp phrases like "he had learned plenty of new things about which to be dull" and "fatly, behind cigars, they accepted their kinghood." It is a witty and compelling story of a man finding the strength to discover himself amidst all the external pressures of the world.

I've been meaning to review ARROWSMITH after my second reading, when I experienced it with a group here at GR.

In my opinion, this is one well-put-together realistic novel. After the satires of MAIN STREET and BABBITT, Sinclair Lewis wrote ARROWSMITH (1925). In part, he aimed to prove that he did not "lack spiritual gifts."

It's also meticulously well-researched. This is based in no small part on the fact that Lewis's father was a "country doc" - a plain g.p. The story is long and involved. It details how Martin Arrowsmith makes his way through every medical situation, from a stultifying small town to a cut-throat research institute and finally to an agonizing tropical disease.

The narrative is finely rendered - a little satiric, of course, but no more than it had to be. Martin Arrowsmith is never a figure of fun like Elmer Gantry or George F. Babbitt. He may be naive at times, but his motives are pure.

In fact, ARROWSMITH is the novel for people who have read BABBITT or ELMER GANTRY and want something with a little more depth. It's also a fine revelation of the social history of the 1920s. Highly recommended. Not a short novel, but a most worthwhile one.

Like Lewis' other novels, Arrowsmith delves deep into the tension that exists between a moral life and the forces of commerce. It passionately argues for the virtue of individualism, suggesting that conforming to the ideals of middle-class America has a stifling effect on the creative spirit.

In many respects, Martin Arrowsmith stands as the polar opposite of Babbitt. While both characters are highly focused on their careers, Babbitt is motivated by external factors. He is driven to climb the ranks and gain membership in Zenith's esteemed associations. In sharp contrast, Arrowsmith has a firm and unwavering disdain for human institutions. He despises the publicity-seeking and money-grabbing aspects that are so prevalent in commercial medicine. His sole motivation is to pursue the truth, seemingly in a state of lonely objectivity.

As I was reading this, especially the quote by Gottlieb which states, "very few people have the courage to be decently selfish—not answer letters—and demand the right to work", it couldn't help but remind me of Ayn Rand's philosophy of objectivism. This, in turn, led me to the fascinating revelation that Rand held Lewis in high regard, considering him to be among one of her favorite authors.

Exhausting, and not in a good way.

This feeling of exhaustion can truly take a toll on a person. It's that kind of weariness that seeps into every pore, leaving you drained both physically and mentally.

You find yourself struggling to get through the simplest of tasks, as if your body and mind are in a constant state of resistance. The lack of energy makes it difficult to focus, to be productive, and to enjoy the things that once brought you joy.

It's a cycle that seems never-ending, and it can have a significant impact on your overall quality of life. You might find yourself sacrificing sleep, skipping meals, or neglecting self-care in an attempt to push through the exhaustion.

But what if there was a way to break free from this cycle? What if we could find ways to rejuvenate our bodies and minds, to recharge our batteries and find that lost energy?

Maybe it's time to take a step back, to assess our lifestyles, and to make some positive changes. Perhaps it's as simple as getting more rest, eating a balanced diet, or finding time for regular exercise.

Or maybe it's something more profound, like reevaluating our priorities and learning to say no to the things that are draining us.

Whatever the solution may be, one thing is certain: we cannot continue to live in a state of exhaustion. We owe it to ourselves to find a better way, to break free from the chains that are holding us back, and to embrace a life that is full of energy, vitality, and joy.

The task seemed never-ending. It was like a journey that was only half way through and already felt long, slow, and incredibly boring. The process dragged on, each step feeling like a chore. There was no excitement, no sense of anticipation. Just a continuous stream of monotony that made it difficult to stay focused and motivated. It was as if time had come to a standstill, and every moment felt like an eternity. The lack of progress was disheartening, and the thought of continuing seemed almost unbearable. But yet, there was no choice but to push forward, hoping that at some point, it would all be worth it.

3.5 stars

This rating might seem a bit in-between, not quite a full 4 stars but also not a mediocre 3. It could indicate that the product or service has some good qualities but also has a few areas that could use improvement.

Maybe it offers a decent feature set, but the user experience could be enhanced. Or perhaps the quality is generally good, but there are some minor flaws that prevent it from being truly outstanding.

Nevertheless, a 3.5-star rating still shows that there is value there and that it is worth considering. It might not be the absolute best option available, but it could definitely meet the needs of many users.

Whether it's a restaurant, a movie, a product, or a service, a 3.5-star rating gives us an idea of what to expect and helps us make an informed decision.

Another remarkable work by Sinclair Lewis offers a profound, satirical, and unyielding examination of the battles for freedom in thought, emotion, and behavior, unburdened by social norms or the empty, meaningless edifices of wealth, power, success, prestige, and status.

Dr. Martin Arrowsmith symbolizes a one-man metaphor for the life of the intellect, for a freethinker striving to liberate himself from the Babbittry that pervades the entire United States, stretching from Iowa to Chicago and on to New York. E.L. Doctorow's afterword sums it up perfectly:

"Throughout every stage of Martin Arrowsmith's career, and at every social level, he is horrified, alienated, intimidated, or simply overcome by the moral shallowness, inanity, stupidity, self-delusion, greed, and hypocrisy of most of the people he encounters. Very few - his loyal wife, Leora, his mentor, Gottlieb, and his friend Terry Wickett - are exempt. From the students at Winnemac, to Leora's relatives, to the rural folk in Wheatsylvania, to the self-important surgeons at the posh Rouncefield clinic in Chicago, to the fraudulent scientist-politicians at the McGurk Institute in New York, the case is made, as it was in 'Babbitt', of a laughable inadequacy.

The critics of Lewis's era largely failed to notice that his critique of our culture was no longer confined to the midwestern regions or the businesspeople who inhabited them, but now extended generously across our entire geography. As Martin progresses through life from a small town to a small city, to the large city of Chicago, and finally to the ultimate city of New York, and as he meets people of increasingly higher classes of wealth and education, the loathing becomes nationalized and the scourge of Sinclair Lewis's curse penetrates every corner of our social fabric.

As the first major American novel to focus on the culture of science, 'Arrowsmith' seemed a significant departure for Lewis, a work more substantial than 'Babbitt'. Yet Martin Arrowsmith's struggle to be a scientist is about freeing himself from a world of Babbitts. And although science gives him his vocation, it is at the end of the story, combined with living in the wilderness, a vision more of classic pastoralism than a scientific future.

Nevertheless, Sinclair Lewis, a genius of unquenchable anger and joyless ridicule, urgently desired to shine his light on us. Who can say it is not enlightening? And who can deny that in America today, the Arrowsmiths are few and the Babbitts are many? Lewis's intense moral character was the source of his greatness, and that is what we take away from the book, just as we do with any prophet who tells us what we don't want to hear."

- E.L. Doctorow

Martin Erasmus is facing a difficult decision.

Should he choose a future that is guaranteed by his colleagues, where he treats patients' glands like a fountain of gold, aiming for a position in the national health service and building good relationships with politicians, if he wants to succeed in medicine and focus on other more lucrative matters?

Or perhaps, like Max Gottlieb, he should dedicate himself to bacteriology and conduct experiments passionately on guinea pigs infected with black cholera, or even humanely euthanize all the sick...

The choice is extremely difficult, just like deciding what kind of woman is needed for a man with such a complex life - a "docile" one like Joyce or a "fiery" one like Leora...

Martin must carefully consider his options and weigh the pros and cons before making a final decision that will shape his future.

An enjoyable and engaging read, this story follows Dr. Martin Arrowsmith's career as a physician and medical researcher in the early 1900s in the USA.

Arrowsmith has a passion for working in a laboratory as a bacteriologist. However, his life takes a turn when he marries Leora and decides to become a country doctor in the small town of Wheatsylvannia. Unfortunately, his lack of bedside manners and diplomacy hinders his career prospects.

After working as a country doctor and then as a public health officer, Arrowsmith gets a lucky break when he starts working with Dr Gottlieb, a researcher he had previously worked with as a medical student.

Lewis uses his writing to poke fun at the moral shallowness, greed, and self-delusion of the people Arrowsmith associates with. In the medical profession, many are more concerned with getting rich than with helping patients.

Some examples of Sinclair's writing style include: "It is one of the major tragedies that nothing is more discomforting than the hearty affection of the Old Friends who never were friends." "Like all males, he hated to confess ignorance by asking directions." "He was permitted, without restriction, to speak of himself as immoral, agnostic and socialistic, so long as it was universally known that he remained pure, Presbyterian, and Republican."

This book is the winner of the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.