And I had no idea how to talk religion, specifically Judaism, with a scientist. Bully him back. And I did. Almost instantly the icy chill in his voice melted and the dark, deep-set eyes I'd seen in pictures spoke to me, though I could not see them. The poet emerged.
Nothing seems to be more different from science than writing fiction.
And sort of funny. Arguably one of the finest thinkers in the world, Djerassi uses language that is remarkably simple. At 15, as a recently arrived immigrant, Djerassi wrote Eleanor Roosevelt an appeal for a college scholarship and received not only a reply, but also a full ride. Nearly 60 years later he boasts 12 honorary doctorate degrees and 15 international science prizes, including Israel's Wolf Prize for chemistry and an induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. But Djerassi doesn't want to discuss all that, nor does he want to discuss the impact he's had on contraception and the sexual revolution.