Happy Accidents

In this engaging book, Dr. Morton Meyers discusses examples of historical scientific discoveries that were made by accident. A stigma exists in the science community that suggests a discovery was not "real" if it was made by accident, which is a fallacy because happy accidents happen every day and it takes insight to recognize what occurred and apply it for future use. Penicillin, chemotherapy drugs, X-rays, Valium, the Pap smear, and Viagra were all discovered accidentally, stumbled upon as part of research being carried out on other things. In discussing these medical breakthroughs and others, Dr. Meyers presents an argument for a more creative approach to science rather than a purely linear approach.