Crystals and Life: A Personal Journey

The book introduces crystallography and the field and applications of structural biology using metaphors from the arts, music, poetry, and architecture. The reader will find a tapestry filled by personal experiences, historical anecdotes, bibliographical snapshots of scientific heroes of the field, and crystallographic concepts illustrated with artistic analogies. All these elements create a concoction that makes crystallography accessible, comprehensible, intriguing, inspiring, and beautiful. The book is divided in sections covering: the basic elements of crystallography, novel technologies, practical applications, and future perspectives. Since crystallography is quintessentially a visual science, the illustrations play a very important role in providing an excellent set of landmarks to guide the reader on this personal journey of discovery.