I started reading an article.

I read half of it and then DNF (Did Not Finish).

The article was well-written in terms of grammar and structure.

However, it was really dreary and lacked excitement.

It didn't engage my interest or capture my attention.

After some thought, I decided that I would rather spend my precious reading time on something that I enjoyed more.

Life is too short to waste on books or articles that don't bring us joy or satisfaction.

There are so many wonderful and interesting things to read out there, and I want to explore those that truly resonate with me.

So, I put aside the article and went in search of something more captivating to read.

No wonder this is considered "Great Literature".

It is truly moving in a way that few works can achieve. The story weaves a tapestry of emotions that draw the reader in and hold them captive until the very end.

The characters are so vividly brought to life that they seem to step off the page and into the reader's world.

The themes explored are universal and timeless, touching on the human condition in a profound and thought-provoking way.

This is a work that is well worth the time it takes to read, as it offers a rich and rewarding experience that will stay with the reader long after the final page has been turned.

It is a testament to the power of literature to move, inspire, and transform.

Arrowsmith is the third Sinclair Lewis novel that I have delved into, and unfortunately, it is the first one that failed to truly capture my heart. Make no mistake, it is not a terrible novel by any means. Lewis is a sharp and concise writer, with a remarkable ability to bring characters to life. His sardonic sense of humor can be quite entertaining at times. However, it also falls short of being a great novel. The story, which follows the titular character from adolescence to early middle age, is rather repetitive. Lewis aimed to pen a book about Science, particularly as it clashes with a distinctively American (at least in 1925) form of capitalism, where doctors and scientists are often indistinguishable from classic snake oil peddlers such as stock brokers and populist politicians. This conflict pervades every single moment of the book, giving it the feel of social theory masquerading as fiction. (Interestingly, Ayn Rand was apparently a huge admirer.) The story is largely overshadowed by the satire, and although I can appreciate Lewis's perspective, it is too one-sided to hold my interest over 400+ pages. It's a bit like reading Edith Wharton without the warmth and fascination that temper her scorn, and without any deep understanding of the social context. In other words, it's nothing like reading Edith Wharton at all. It took me over two months to plow through this book, and while part of that is due to my lack of time and energy during the school year for leisure reading, it's also because once you figure out what Lewis is up to, the book becomes a slog, and I never really felt excited to pick it up.

Ultimately, I would not recommend this book unless you have a particular fascination with literary portrayals of science. Lewis actually enlisted the help of a scientist to write the novel, and it shows: the entire scientific narrative feels quite convincing, apart from the rather Waldenesque turn near the end. I suppose it might have been inspiring reading at the time of its publication, especially for young and rebellious medical students. That's about it, though. Otherwise, it's just another in a long line of largely mediocre, early Pulitzer novels - there's even a brief interlude on a farm, as if to remind us of our literary predecessors. Oh, and one more thing: in the language of the contemporary, #justiceforLeora. Skip this one and read Wharton instead, or even Main Street or Babbitt.

Sinclair Lewis was a remarkable figure. He was a 2-star satirist but a 4-star novelist. I have read three of his works - Main Street, Babbitt, and now Arrowsmith - and they all end up with 3 stars.

What was it truly like to be a doctor, especially one with a passion for medical research, around the dawn of the 20th century? This book provides more or less an answer, and it does so in a variety of settings. There's the small town where Arrowsmith's wife lives, a mid-sized city where political intrigue seems to overshadow public health, a Chicago site where a med school buddy might get you a job but not at the right salary, a New York pharma company that the author, I believe, unjustly maligns (after all, if researchers are beaten to the punch in publishing results, what was the point of funding all those trials?), and a Caribbean island.

Arrowsmith is a rather complex character. He disrespects the woman he is engaged to, abandons his wife for 20-hour days in the lab, and shows very little responsibility towards his family commitments in the end. However, he is also a dedicated researcher and a highly skilled doctor.

Once again, the satire in this book just doesn't quite hit the mark. The entire character of the professor who is worshiped by Arrowsmith and his classmates comes across as rather ridiculous because he speaks in the vernacular. Nevertheless, as a story that follows a doctor from med school through five different professional environments, it makes for a solid read.

Arrowsmith is not just a simple novel; it is a powerful piece of social commentary on the state and prospects of medicine in the United States during the 1920s. The protagonist, Martin Arrowsmith, stands out as a rebel. He has a tendency to challenge the existing state of affairs whenever he perceives them as lacking. However, his journey is far from easy. Along the way, he engages in much agonizing over his career and life decisions. As the story details Martin's pursuit of the noble ideals of medical research for the betterment of mankind and his selfless devotion to patient care, Lewis presents numerous less noble temptations and self-deceptions that come Martin's way. Moreover, he is disappointed that his wife is not the ideal partner to share in his success. The allures of financial security, recognition, wealth, and power continuously distract Arrowsmith from his original intention of following in the footsteps of his first mentor, Max Gottlieb, a brilliant yet abrasive bacteriologist. His deviation from his ideals, although different in details, somewhat reminds one of Lydgate in Middlemarch.

Throughout the novel, Lewis vividly describes various aspects of medical training, medical practice, scientific research, scientific fraud, medical ethics, public health, and both personal and professional conflicts that remain relevant even today. Professional jealousy, institutional pressures, greed, stupidity, and negligence are all satirically portrayed, and Martin himself can be exasperatingly self-involved. Yet, there is also his tireless dedication and respect for the scientific method and intellectual honesty. The end result is an engaging novel that truly deserved the Pulitzer Prize, which the author shockingly rejected.

I truly desired to have an intense love for this novel. However, as I was reading, this extremely irritating question kept hovering in the background of my mind, "Why don't I like this more?" The story did manage to hold my attention whenever it was in my hands. But curiously, once I set it down, I never felt that strong urge to pick it back up again.

It did possess certain strengths. I was truly inspired by the protagonist, Martin Arrowsmith. He was a man who was wholeheartedly committed to the ideals of science. Driven by a relentless and passionate pursuit of truth, he held precision and thoroughness in the highest regard. With an admirable patience, he dedicated himself to countless endless days and nights spent in the laboratory. The storyline was anything but predictable. You simply couldn't be sure what would happen next as Martin oscillated between scoffing at and flirting with the corrupting commercialism that Lewis continuously ridiculed throughout the story. It had moments of moral ambiguity, righteousness, and sudden epiphany. The satiric humor was sharp and cutting, yet never quite crossed over into being overly cynical.

So then, why didn't I like it more?

The story, unfortunately, felt rather stiff and a bit too contrived. The pacing was uneven as well. At times, the plot would just sort of plod along in a slow and uninteresting manner. And then, at other times, it would leap forward without much warning, catching the reader off guard. I also found the characters to be pretty one-dimensional. Lewis seemed to more often simply "tell" you who they were rather than "show" you through their actions and behaviors. In other reviews for Arrowsmith, people had praised Lewis for developing characters with more depth than his typical "cardboard cutouts" in works like "Babbitt" and others. But since I haven't read anything else by Lewis, I don't have that contrast to draw from. However, like the story itself, the characters just felt forced to me. Even Martin's flaws seemed to be too deliberate an attempt to make him seem more human. And for a story that appears to be making a statement about moral truths, the protagonist was surprisingly unprincipled and emotionalist right till the end.

Maybe I'm being overly harsh because I had such high hopes when I first started reading. There were indeed many things that I did enjoy about the book. But in its entirety, it just wasn't the story that I had initially thought it could be.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Arrowsmith. In fact, I liked it as much as Babbitt, and perhaps even more.

For the majority of the past 25 to 30 years, I have been working as a microbiologist. As a result, a significant portion of Arrowsmith's work described in the second half of the book was extremely familiar to me.

To be honest, I would anticipate that those particular parts of the story might be rather off-putting for the average person. After all, not everyone can understand the excitement that comes with a centrifuge.

But for me, having spent so much time in the field of microbiology, I know precisely what it feels like to be excited about such a scientific instrument. It's a feeling that only those with a similar background can truly appreciate.

The details and descriptions in Arrowsmith related to the scientific work added an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the story for me. It made me feel as if I was right there with Arrowsmith, experiencing his triumphs and challenges.

Overall, my personal connection to the subject matter enhanced my enjoyment of the book and made it a truly memorable read.

The renowned author was awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in 1926. This remarkable achievement catapulted the writer into the spotlight and solidified their place in the literary world.

The Pulitzer Prize is highly regarded for its recognition of outstanding contributions in various fields, and winning it in the realm of literature is no small feat.

This accomplishment not only brought great honor to the author but also served as an inspiration to countless aspiring writers.

It showcased the author's exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication to the craft of writing.

The work that earned the Pulitzer Prize was likely a masterpiece, filled with profound insights, engaging storytelling, and beautiful prose.

Even today, the author's work continues to be studied and celebrated, leaving a lasting impact on the literary landscape.

The 1926 Pulitzer Prize win remains a significant milestone in the author's career and a testament to their literary genius.

I approached this novel with optimism, given that Sinclair Lewis was the very first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. However, I was left somewhat disappointed.

I had to devour this 450-page tome in less than a week for a seminar on the history of doctoring in the United States. This might have accounted for my lack of enthusiasm. It's a dense work that meticulously details Martin Arrowsmith's career as a medical practitioner in the early 20th century. (Although, truth be told, I wasn't entirely sure what I was anticipating; after all, it was for a medical history class.)

The plot unfolds at a rather sluggish pace, revolving almost solely around Arrowsmith's job-hopping. The climax arrives late in the novel and, I dare say, is rather anti-climactic. If pre-modern medicine intrigues you, perhaps you'll relish this novel. But if you're more inclined towards fictional tales and less interested in drier historical accounts, like me, perhaps not so much.

I did appreciate that Lewis characterized the few female characters in the novel extremely well, which was quite progressive for the early 1900s. The subtleties and complexities in Leora and Madeline helped bring them to life as interesting and genuine individuals, shattering the gender stereotypes of the agreeable, personality-less housewife.

Moreover, there was a touch of humor in this novel, most明显可见 in Arrowsmith's complete lack of interpersonal skills and his inability to interact with others at all. I can understand how this book would be an engaging read for the right audience, ideally the medical history enthusiast. However, I can now firmly state that I am not that audience.

This is one of my favorite books. It tells the story of a true idealist who pursues knowledge without regard for social convention. He sacrifices personally in order to triumph intellectually.

I reread Arrowsmith during COVID, and I don't regret it. Max Gottlieb's words on "the religion of a scientist" really struck a chord with me.

"To be a scientist--it is not just a different job, but a tangle of very obscure emotions, like mysticism, or wanting to write poetry; it makes its victim all different from the good normal man." The scientist, according to Gottlieb, is intensely religious, not in the traditional sense, but in his unwavering pursuit of truth. He will not accept quarter-truths and is opposed to both capitalists and liberals who have their own flawed views.

Inspired by Gottlieb, Martin Arrowsmith rejects all the trappings of society - money, social acceptance, power, celebrity, family, and women - and heads to Vermont with his buddy to live a life dedicated only to science.

The book also features interesting characters like Clif Clawson, who talks in a weird colloquial vernacular from the 1920s, and Leora, the perfect wife.

Written in 1925, after the 1918 influenza pandemic and before the discovery of penicillin in 1928, Arrowsmith offers a fascinating look at the state of science and society at that time. It shows how scientists were trying to understand diseases caused by bacteria and viruses for the first time and how the scientific method was used to develop evidence-based treatments.

Martin Arrowsmith is a very human, flawed hero, and it's easy to imagine scientists like him making the discoveries and inventions that cured the diseases that ravaged humanity in the twentieth century. Sinclair's portrayal of the 1920s in America is also spookily relevant to America in the 2020s, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in science, history, or society.

I have a profound love for Sinclair Lewis' satire. It is truly captivating. This particular work is the third novel of his that I have delved into, and without a doubt, it features the most developed plot among them. Lewis has masterfully crafted a hero who is refreshingly human. He is not some perfect, idealized figure but rather a character with his own set of flaws. This makes the story all the more engaging and relatable. The way Lewis weaves the narrative, exploring the various aspects of the hero's life and the challenges he faces, is truly remarkable. It keeps the reader hooked from start to finish, eager to see how the hero will overcome his imperfections and grow. Sinclair Lewis' satire continues to impress and inspire me with its depth and authenticity.

“It cannot be said, in this biography of a young man who has no degree a hero, who regarded himself as a seeker after truth yet who stumbled and slid back all his life and bogged himself in every obvious morass..” (pg 45) Lewis writes with vigorous creativity and precision while puncturing about the arrogance and selfishness in humans. Sinclair Lewis may have declined the Pulitzer Prize, however, don’t decline the chance to unravel this.

This novel follows Dr. Martin Arrowsmith during the 1920s at a medical school in a small town in the Midwest. Throughout his entire career, he is always challenging to balance the principles he learned to pursue the “truth”, along with the pressures of commercialism. His wife Leora Tozer makes Martin’s life more remarkable. She is constantly encouraging him to risk to follow his true dreams to become a scientist. After years of work as a small town doctor, Arrowsmith heads to an infested island with a vaccine with hopes to halt an epidemic. A tragic turn of events influences him to come in terms with his career and personal life. Due to the tragedies, Martin Arrowsmith truly understands human nature, the world of health care, and the forces that can corrupt both. Sometimes in life, you have to embrace your individuality and love what you love without worrying about judgment.

This novel delivered its promise because the author’s message is clearly illustrated in the novel. The plot aligned up perfectly and rendered the characters' development flawlessly. However, the novel was not exactly what I expected. The pace is relatively slow and is repetitive at certain points. Personally, I felt that the ending was rushed and it was difficult to appreciate each event. I would highly recommend this novel to those who strongly believe in individualism and are interested in medicine and/or science. However, I do not recommend this book to individuals that do not like wicked humor and a classical writing style. Overall, a four out of five from me!

It's a thought-provoking work that delves deep into the human psyche and the complex world of medicine and science. Despite its flaws, it offers valuable insights and makes for an engaging read.