Carl Djerassi Libros

Focusing on the impact of reproductive science and technology, Carl Djerassi's two plays, "ICSI" and "Taboos," explore the social transformations and differing perspectives that arise from these advancements. As a key figure in the development of the oral contraceptive, Djerassi brings his scientific background into the realm of drama, highlighting the ethical and societal implications of scientific progress through compelling narratives.

Exploring the intersection of science and theatre, the book poses intriguing questions about their mutual benefits. It emphasizes plays as texts for reading and discussion rather than performance, highlighting their pedagogical potential, especially in chemistry. The author includes complete texts of two original plays, Insufficiency and Phallacy, which address real chemical concepts and themes such as academic tenure and the relationship between science and art. This unique approach fills a gap in literature on science-in-theatre, particularly regarding chemistry.

The collection showcases a series of comedies of manners that delve into the quirks and rivalries of elite groups, including business executives, chefs, and musicians. Characters engage in witty battles of one-upmanship, wielding class, education, and gender as weapons. The narrative highlights the often humorous consequences of their interactions, revealing how their perceived superiority can be challenged by unforeseen twists, resulting in both collateral damage and moments of humility.

Hannah Arendt, Walter Benjamin, and Theodor W. Adorno were intellectual giants of the first half of the twentieth century. The drama Foreplay explores their deeply human and psychologically intriguing private lives, focusing on professional and personal jealousies, the mutual dislike of Theodor Adorno and Hannah Arendt, the association between Walter Benjamin and Georges Bataille, and the border between erotica and pornography. Djerassi’s extensive biographical research brings to light many fascinating details revealed in the dialogues among the characters, including Adorno’s obsession with his dreams, Benjamin’s admiration for Franz Kafka, and the intimate correspondence between Gretel Adorno and Walter Benjamin. The introduction of a fictitious character, Fräulein X, intensifies the complex interplay among the four lead protagonists and allows for a comparison of Adorno’s philandering and the similar behavior of Martin Heidegger, whose affair with Hannah Arendt is well known. Foreplay brims with intrigue and the friction created when strong personalities clash.

The name of Isaac Newton appears in virtually every survey of the public's choice for the most important persons of the second millennium. Yet the term "darkness" can be applied to much of Newton's personality.

Four men -- Four wives -- One angel (by Paul Klee) -- Four Jews -- Benjamin's grip.

“A beautifully ingenious, funny, brilliantly intelligent, and moving tale of very human scientists. A splendid novel.”—Iris Murdoch At the age of 68, distinguished Princeton science professor Max Weiss is bribed into taking an early retirement. Frustratingly aware that his best years are not yet behind him, Weiss devises an inventive revenge in the form of “Dr. Diana Skordylis”—a pseudonym for a partnership among Weiss and three aging colleagues, each with an ax to grind against the scientific community. What the Skordylis group doesn’t anticipate, however, is the unbridled success of their the discovery of PCR, one of the most important breakthroughs in contemporary biomedical science. Professional jealousy soon threatens Diana Skordylis’s life. As the force of ego tests the bonds of collaboration, the reader is treated to a fascinating glimpse inside the worlds of academia and scientific enterprise. “A subtle meditation on scientific personality . . . An odd blend of literature, philosophy, and science writing, as creative as any organic potpourri that Djerassi might have mixed up in his laboratory.”— The Washington Post “This is a novel of ideas, quite literally, yet it flashes with wit and is often quite charming, thanks to well-drawn characters at ease with mind-boggling concepts who talk about them in a down-to-earth way.”— San Francisco Chronicle

Set against the backdrop of Silicon Valley, the narrative explores cutting-edge research in human reproductive biology. Renu Krishnan, an Indian-born scientist, uncovers the role of nitric oxide in treating erectile dysfunction, paralleling the development of Viagra. Meanwhile, her husband, Jephtah Cohn, pioneers a novel method for ovulation prediction. As familiar characters return from previous installments, the story weaves together themes of innovation and the ethical dilemmas in biotechnology, culminating in a thought-provoking conclusion to Djerassi's tetralogy.

When Professor Isidore Cantor reveals his latest breakthrough in cancer research, the scientific community is galvanized. Cantor's most promising research fellow, Dr. Jeremiah Stafford, has only to conduct the experiment that will prove the brilliant hypothesis and win cantor the Nobel Prize. But how far will the young assistant go to guarantee the results?

What motivates a scientist? One key factor is the pressure from the competition to be the first to discover something new. The moral consequences of this are the subject of the play „Oxygen“, dealing with the discovery of this all-important element. The focus of the play is on chemical and political revolutions, as well as the Nobel Prize, which will be awarded for the 100th time in 2001. The action takes place in 1777 and 2001; and the play is written for 3 actors and 3 actresses who play a total of 11 characters. The world premiere will take place in early 2001 in San Diego, and the German premiere in September. The world-famous authors Carl Djerassi and Roald Hoffmann are a guarantee of excellence and suspense, both in their role as scientists -- Carl Djerassi is known as the „Father of the Pill“ while Roald Hoffmann received the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1982 - as well as in their role as authors -- Djerassi has written several successful novels, while Hoffmann is renowned for his poetry.