The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist

You could be forgiven for not knowing much about neuroscientist Ben Barres, whose memoir The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist has been published less than a year after his death from pancreatic cancer. Barres devoted most of his energy to overlooked areas in various fields: he was passionate about his research – glial cells in the central nervous system – but also spoke out about the importance of mentoring in academia and advocated for women in science. His energy and perseverance brought his achievements to international attention, and that enthusiasm can be felt throughout this short but engaging book.