Marlene Belfort’s MOMMY, CAN BOYS ALSO BE DOCTORS?: A Message to Young Scientists and Other Humans is a deeply personal exploration of life’s contradictions—trauma alongside triumph, scientific breakthroughs alongside devastating mental health crises, and the constant tension between professional demands and family responsibilities. From her childhood in Apartheid-era South Africa to her career as a pioneering female scientist and devoted mother of three, the distinguished molecular biologist offers a refreshingly candid take on the key to her storied career: “Resilience has been key for me throughout my life, as I’ve seen plenty of tragedy as well as triumph.”
Belfort candidly discusses her struggles with imposter syndrome, the experience of being an immigrant “outsider,” and her battles with severe late-onset depression requiring hospitalization and electroconvulsive therapy. These darker elements are balanced by joyful accounts of scientific discovery, international collaboration, and the sometimes-messy, often-beautiful realities of raising three energetic sons while building a world-class research program.
Belfort writes in a way that is both accessible and engaging, skillfully discussing (and explaining) a myriad of complex scientific concepts without a hint of condescension. For instance, when discussing the impact of breakthroughs in cryo-EM (cryo-electron microscopy) on her ongoing research, she grounds the play-by-play with a potent analogy: “A few weeks later, the images were almost ten times better…at four times, we could see exactly where the eyes, nose, and mouth were in broad outline; at ten times, we could see great detail, the eyes and eyelashes, facial contours, and freckles.”
Belfort also reflects thoughtfully on the parenting philosophy that sustained her through decades of juggling lab work and family life. “I’m convinced that benign and loving neglect can foster independence in children,” she writes, offering a refreshing counterpoint to perfectionist parenting. This unconventional wisdom—that children might actually benefit from parents who aren’t constantly hovering—emerges from her own experience raising three successful sons while building a world-class research program. “The very activities we catastrophize over and fear will damage our children,” she observes, “often do the opposite, building their resilience, connections, and connectedness.”
At less than two hundred pages, MOMMY, CAN BOYS ALSO BE DOCTORS? packs some incredible depth. While occasionally meandering, Belfort offers valuable perspective for anyone navigating career ambitions alongside personal commitments—particularly women in STEM fields. But the overarching themes of resilience, truth-seeking, and embracing life’s uncertainties will ultimately resonate with readers from all walks of life.
Marlene Belfort’s MOMMY, CAN BOYS ALSO BE DOCTORS?: A Message to Young Scientists and Other Humans is a potent reminder that the most meaningful lives often emerge not from perfectly executed plans but from courageously muddling through life’s inevitable complexities.
~James Weiskittel for IndieReader