Todays greatest scientific essayist is Stephen Jay Gould To discuss that art and hear his advice I met him in an unfamiliar milieu at the Grand Hotel where he was staying while promoting his new book Neither of us it has to be said felt much at home As for writing a piece set in surroundings of such lifeless selfaggrandisement Gould said I couldnt do it Trollope might but he knew the culture And knowing the culture is central to being a successful writer Science for example is a civilisation of its own As a result only scientists can make a good job of presenting it If you dont live in the community and dont understand its rules you are crippled from the start