Book Review - "Two Paths to Heaven's Gate"

Nan Dieter Conklin had a very interesting career, but even more so she had a very interesting life as well. This book is a fascinating read not only for those interested in radio astronomy, but also for anybody with an interest in cultural history. It is light on the science side of things (there are no equations), but nonetheless manages to convey the excitement of the initial days of radio astronomy. The candid account of the author's life manages to frame the fascinating pursuit of space science in the very human context of personal experiences, personalities, and cultures. The writing is conversational in style, giving you a feeling of being there and participating in the events as they unfold, which makes this a book very difficult to put down.

The story begins with the author's initial challenges of pursuing a career in science as a woman, in a time when cultural norms and expectations still very much worked against her. In many ways, her accomplishments in overcoming adversity and personal hardship command as much respect as her scientific contributions to the field of radio astronomy. From here, the story takes a meandering path through locations as diverse as the US Naval / Air Force Research Laboratories, Bodega Spain, Paris France, and the Soviet Union. At each stop, the author's intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness to cultural diversity make for truly fascinating story telling.

There is plenty of radio astronomy science for the space-minded reader, including an account of the author's studies of interstellar gasses in nearby galaxies, investigations of the structure of our own Milky Way, and the astonishing discovery of interstellar masers. As each story is told from her very personal perspective, we get to meet the people behind the science as well - their personalities, and very down-to-Earth challenges in daily life. Confronting the author's own challenges of multiple marriages, multiple-sclerosis, gender-bias, and the mysteries of nature itself, the reader is taken along on an amazing journey, which I felt truly privileged to be a part of.

After turning the final page, the lasting impression this book made upon me was a reminder that space exploration (or any other grand human endeavor) is above all hard and tedious work. While the good fortune of being (or looking) in the right place at the right time certainly does play a role, each glorious moment of discovery shared with the public is the result of many years of persistent struggle. And while some people may see this as discouraging for those with a burgeoning interest in a scientific career, to me it really has the opposite effect: it is because of this struggle of us mere Earthlings scratching around in the dirt, that each insight wrestled from nature is such a rewarding achievement. So in the end, Nan's message is a positive one, and her achievements as a person and as a scientist are an inspiration to all of us who have the privilege to read about them.

Title : Two Paths to Heaven's Gate
Author : Nan Dieter Conklin
Length : 195 pages
Publisher : National Science Foundation
Date : 2006
ISBN : 0-9700411-1-X