A captivating journey through the body’s central organ – the heart

Throughout the 192 pages of Circuiting the heart, Lisa’s passion for the heart is clear through her use of intriguing and entertaining stories making it possible for a layperson to understand the complexities of the heart and cardiovascular research in general.  

Taking the reader by the hand, Lisa presents different cardiovascular diseases and breaks down complex terms making sure that it is digestible for the reader. Throughout the book, Lisa’s personal and professional stories make it easy to grasp concepts, future potential treatments for cardiovascular patients as well as the challenges researchers face. Leaving one to wonder, who or what was the source of inspiration for Lisa?

Writing a book for an aunt and uncle

For Lisa, inspiration for writing this book mostly came from internal motivation. Lisa has always had a passion for the heart and shared interesting stories about the heart to her family and friends. For years, Lisa’s family including her husband, aunt and uncle have asked her investigating questions regarding the heart.

This gave Lisa the fuel to start writing the book. Lisa wished to represent the scientific area and reach out to the layperson – imagining her aunt and uncle as the readers. Thus, she chose to focus on intriguing and entertaining stories related to the heart using elements of pop culture.

Looking at Danish scientific literature, not many books addressing specific organs in layman’s terms while being a source of entertainments can be found. Filling in a gap in the market, Lisa’s mission was to share her enjoyment of research by writing a book that could reach a wide audience to understand. The book presents a fresh angle and new insights into the heart filling a gap in the market.

Information and entertainment go hand-in-hand

For more than 10 years, Lisa has accumulated knowledge as part of her studies and work. Therefore, she aspires to meet the reader at eye level and engage them in the heart and cardiovascular research. Lisa’s passion can easily be felt in her voice and presence inspiring the reader to learn more.

When asked about what Lisa hopes to achieve with the book, Lisa states,

“I really want to inspire people. I also want to give the reader a good experience by both informing them and provide them with entertainment. I want to give space to start a conversation in society about how we use research and look at development.”

Minimising the distance between the reader and the researcher

With this book, Lisa seeks to minimise the distance between the reader and the researcher by making the information more comprehensible for readers of any age. To not become the patronising older professor, Lisa establishes her presence through the use of anecdotal stories such as reflections on a conference in Sweden regarding bears.

Creating a safe space while conveying knowledge

Lisa describes the process of writing her first book as interesting and fun as it provided her a safe space to develop new ideas. The book was driven by Lisa’s personal enjoyment rather than necessity while she has been working fulltime as a postdoctoral fellow researching cardiovascular diseases.

Taking a break from the commitments of everyday life, conveying knowledge and producing a text can, for some, provide a form of relaxation. This was the case for Lisa, writing about a topic that she is passionate about gave her a safe space.

Finding your voice in the public debate

Some state it can be challenging as an early career researcher to find your voice in the public debate regarding research within the field of science, an area that can often be influenced by a hierarchal structure and honorific titles. Lisa highlights the importance of participating in the public debate regarding the development of scientific research in society regardless of age.

“I think it is very important that you have a voice despite your age in the public debate. You should have a voice into not only the scientific area but also in the public debate. Outside the scientific field, everyone also has a voice despite age”, Lisa says.

Hence, Lisa’s book can be seen as a contribution to the public debate.

Future opportunities

Looking into the future, Lisa has multiple aspirations for her book and possible opportunities.

She states: “in the long term, I want to communicate my future research and perhaps be a mediator of the cardiovascular field and discipline. Also, I hope the reader will recognise me as someone who can be trusted to convey research in an accessible and comprehensible way.”

Writing a book for the first time can provide new opportunities and a chance to reflect upon your dreams for the future. When asked about the possibility of writing a new book, Lisa expresses an interest however she does not wish to reveal the focus of her next book. Keep an eye out and perhaps you will see it in the future.

Information about "Circuiting the heart"

Published on 8 May, 2025
192 pages
229,95 DKK
Publishing house: Gyldendal