I had one short course in organic chemistry, but I’m considered to have made great contributions to organic chemistry. I had no courses in biochemistry, but I’m usually described as “the great biochemist Linus Pauling.” You see, I have made contributions to biochemistry. There were no courses in molecular biology. I had no courses in biology, but I’m one of the founders of molecular biology. I had no courses in nutrition or vitaminology. Why? Why am I able to do these things? You see, I got such a good basic education in the fields where it’s difficult for most people to learn by themselves. Very few people are able to study mathematics by themselves, they need to have it taught. I learned a lot of mathematics, a lot of physics, a lot of chemistry. The chemistry, much of it I might have learned by myself, but when it comes to these other subjects, I was able to learn enough about these other fields just by reading because my basic understanding was so great that I could interpret the sentences that I read. I can read — if I become interested in cardiology say, or in general — I can read books, medical books about heart disease and understand what the authors are saying.