"I have to keep up with the scientific literature as part of my job, but increasingly I found myself reading things that weren't really relevant to my academic work, but were relevant to gardening"

Ken Thompson's quote talks to the significance of staying up to date with the clinical literature, specifically when it is part of one's job. Nevertheless, he likewise acknowledges that often he finds himself checking out things that are not necessarily related to his academic work, however are still relevant to his gardening. This suggests that he values the understanding he gets from checking out clinical literature, even if it is not straight related to his task. It likewise implies that he finds joy in gardening and wants to take the time for more information about it. This quote highlights the significance of taking the time to discover subjects that are not always related to one's job, however can still be advantageous and enjoyable.