PORTRAITS OF DISCOVERY-Science Genius/Feynman, Gamow/Astronomy/New/HB/DJ/Illustr

Description: Description: A collection of masterful essays on some of the great scientists of our time, geniuses who found the fundamental constitution of the universe on the small and large scale. From the publisher’s blurb: “What fuels the creative fire of genius? Is it fierce determination, some special quirk of personality, or fortuitous coincidence? In Portraits of Discovery, astronomer and science writer George Greenstein profiles the lives of ten brilliant scientists to reveal the sources of their genius. He skillfully intertwines the stories of their personal lives and their work, showing how devotion to discovery "is what gives their lives meaning; what animates their days and consoles their nights." This is a book full of wonders. Green-stein puts us on the scene as Margaret Geller and John Huchra unfold a map of the universe, revealing astoundingly large and beautiful images of arcs of galaxies that go off the charts of our imagination. He probes the mystery behind Luis Alvarez's discovery that the extinction of the dinosaurs was almost surely caused by Earth's collision with an asteroid the size of Manhattan. All along, Greenstein offers artfully drawn portraits of the colorful personalities of his subjects: the genius and "buffoonery" of Richard Feynman, who developed a new, more elegant way to solve physics problems; the wit and imagination of the hard-drinking, Nobel Prize–winning George Gamow, known for his magic tricks as well as for profound insights into radioactivity' and the Big Bang; and the exuberance of Ludwig Boltzmann, who developed a new vision of the atom despite a mental illness that eventually led to his tragic suicide. Powerful social and political forces also enter the picture: we learn how women astronomers like Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin and Annie Jump Cannon, despite their enormous contributions, were deprived of fair pay, recognition, and even the use of telescopes' We see George Gamow and his wife attempting to paddle their way across 170 miles of open sea in a small canoe to escape political oppression in Russia. Conversely, we hear the story of Luis Alvarez's Cold War–inspired testimony against J. Robert Oppenheimer—which earned Alvarez the ever-lasting enmity of many of his fellow scientists. In the two very different worlds of Martin Perl and Homi Bhabha—one in modern industrial America, the other in Third World India—we follow the problematic development and achievements of large-scale Big Science. In Portraits of Discovery, the author has created a rarity in science writing—a book that does justice to both the actual work of scientific research and to the idiosyncratic, flesh-and-blood lives of the scientists themselves. Reading it will deepen and enrich your appreciation of both science and its practitioners.” About the Author: George Greenstein is Professor of Astronomy at Amherst College and the author of The Symbiotic Universe and Frozen Star. He is the recipient of both the Phi Beta Kappa Award for science writing and the American Institute of Physics/U.S. Steel Award. His essays appear regularly in the American Scholar magazine. VISIT MY EBAY STORE FOR OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST(Click This Link) PLEASE INQUIRE ABOUT DISCOUNTS ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES Shipping: Free media rate shipping in US. International shipping as appropriate (See shipping and Payments tab on this listing page for further details). We make every attempt to describe items clearly and completely. Please read our listings carefully, inspect posted images of the item, and let us know if you have any questions before you bid. All buyers must pay according to Ebay policies. If you have any questions about this, please email me. International bidders should contact me for a quote on shipping before bidding. Whenever possible, international shipping will be via Ebay Standard International Delivery. Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.

Price: 9.5 USD

Location: Riverside, Rhode Island

End Time: 2024-01-01T19:53:22.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD