Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1529951 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

From Publishers Weekly
When Linus Pauling was nine, his father proclaimed proudly his son's voracious reading appetite and his keen interest in ancient history and the natural sciences in a letter to the local paper. By the time he was 13, Pauling had already decided to become a chemist. From then on, an insatiable curiosity drove him tirelessly to solve puzzles in chemistry and physics. Along the way, he developed a new quantum theory of the chemical bond, which he described in his most important book, The Nature of the Chemical Bond, and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals. He applied his research to other areas, most notably an investigation into the causes of sickle-cell anemia, and in 1954 he won the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Pauling recoiled in horror when he witnessed the destructive uses to which science was put in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He vowed in 1947 to "mention the need for world peace" in every lecture he gave. Because of these efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962. Pauling archivist Mead and Pauling biographer Hager (Force of Nature) celebrate Pauling's 100th birthday by weaving reminiscences of Pauling with his own writings into a stunning tapestry of Pauling's life and work. The scientist's original writings range from his boyish resolutions to "make use of my slide rule, and to go out for track and succeed" to his Nobel Peace Prize speech in 1963. This lively collection brings into focus the life of a scientist passionately dedicated to using the results of his scientific endeavors to bring out the best in the human spirit. (Feb.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher
Linus Pauling, the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes, is widely recognized as one of the most brilliant and most controversial individuals of the twentieth century.

A prodigy who became the youngest person elected to the National Academy of Sciences, Pauling was known for being outspoken and for leaping over scientific boundaries--from physics to chemistry to biology to medical research. He wrote "The Nature of the Chemical Bond," one of the most cited sources in scientific history, and won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954. He risked his reputation during the McCarthy years as a vocal opponent of Cold War policies and nuclear proliferation. As a result, he was vilified by the press, investigated by the FBI, and awarded the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize.

Pauling's larger than life personality was marked by what appear to be contradictions. Some observers found Pauling arrogant; many others loved him for his humor, humanity and warmth. Observers likened him to the Pope, to a fascist, a wizard, and a king. He was a write-in candidate for governor of California. He was listed among the twenty greatest scientists of all time. He was listed as a subversive. He was called a threat. He was a complex individual.

To mark the 100th anniversary of Linus Pauling's birth in February 2001, two experts on his life and legacy have created this remarkable volume. Included is a wide variety of original material by Pauling---much of it never before published--as well as contributions from his contemporaries and students, and dozens of illustrations selected from the official Pauling Papers, including photographs, drawings, and reproductions of original manuscripts and typescripts. The resulting volume forms a mosaic portrait of a phenomenal man and his singular achievements.

About the Author
Clifford Mead is Associate Professor and Head of Special Collections at Oregon State University, home of the Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers. He is co-editor of two books on Linus Pauling and the Pauling papers.

Thomas Hager is a science writer, biographer, editor, Assistant Professor and Director to the Office of Communications at the University of Oregon. He has written two books on Linus Pauling, including the acclaimed biography, "Force of Nature: The Life of Linus Pauling."