I was going on vacation and was thinking I’d take a book along for those inevitable down-times when there is nothing much to do. Typically I end up watching a TV and not making much progress in the book. This time was different.

The book was The Rosie Project: A Novel by Graeme Simsion.

I knew some of the basics. It had read that it was about a geneticist seeking the perfect woman to marry. Being a geneticist myself I had visions of the possibilities involving genetic engineering and various science fiction scenarios. But I was totally wrong.

It took a few pages to get the main characters but even this brief introduction to The Rosie Project was funny. After not too long it was laugh-out-loud funny. I would think not everyone would respond the same way. But quite a few would.

Much of the humor depends on a highly logical but socially inept main character. Don is a professor of genetics. If familiar with the TV show the Big Bang Theory, you might think of Don as the Sheldon Cooper of geneticists. I find the Big Bang Theory amusing, and at times hilarious, and think this book might appeal so those who like this show but is certainly not limited in appeal to just us.

Speaking of smart TV shows, this also reminded me a bit of an older TV show, Third Rock from the Sun in which aliens are puzzled by some aspects of human behavior. While Don is not an alien, he sees many behaviors from a different perspective.

I mentioned I was a scientist (before I retired). I can see many of Don’s traits in some of those I worked with. And it seems likely that some I worked with might see some of my traits in Don.

I also mentioned that I took this book just to pass the time on the down-times during vacation. Instead, I found myself looking forward to those times when I could spend a bit of time with the book.