Book 1 post 2

I mentioned in the first post that Mike Brown and his associates are explorers of the modern day. I still think that’s true but the means of this exploration has changed quite a bit. Much of the manual work is now automated by a computer program, furthermore this computer program was developed (in great part) by one of his students. Even what is left of the manual labor (visually checking for planets) is left to his subordinates mostly. He’s taken almost a managerial position in he endeavor and I must say you can feel in the writing that this is not merely as exciting as his prior role. 

Of course finding planets is still his end goal and he is still just as motivated to that end. But it seems the loss of the long nights at the observatory, of the clunky photographic plates, his isolated cabin in the woods all of this seems to have impacted him for the worst. Even though his life is tremendously easier, it's almost like what was motivating Mike Brown was the seeming impossibility of his task. It is already hard enough to find a planet with today's technology but the near impossible process back then seemed to push Professor Brown to accomplish his goal against all odds. 

I must say I could not see myself more in Mike Brown, not that I can accomplish impossible things, but it is when things seem impossible that I do my best work. When I have 4 essays due in a week or 3 midterms on the same day; that is when I am able to get things done the best. So I understand why the author would lose some of his motivation as the task becomes more and more feasible.