3: Skill: Preparation—Anatomy of a Geek Brain
“The Case of the Floppy-Eared Rabbits”
Incidentally, this classic case study was co-authored by the husband of Elinor Barber, who was the co-author of Robert Merton's epic book on serendipity. It's a very small world!
Barber, B. and R. Fox. “The Case of the Floppy-Eared Rabbits: An Instance of Serendipity Gained and Serendipity Lost.” American Journal of Sociology, 1958.
“Dr. Kellner considered it too banal to study seriously.”
Kellner and his team did use the floppy-eared symptom as a handy rule of thumb. Floppy ears indicated the dosage was just right. This was a useful tip in the lab, but not the kind of thing that gets you written up in the prestigious science journals. In the “Case of the ...
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