Linus Pauling: And the Chemistry of Life (Oxford Portraits in Science) - Hardcover

Hager, Tom

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195108531 ISBN 13: 9780195108538

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1998

Synopsis

Linus Pauling was the most important chemist, and arguably the most important American scientist, of the 20th century. From his description of the chemical bond to his discovery of the cause of sickle-cell anemia and his groundbreaking work with vitamin C, his work stretched the boundaries of chemistry, physics, biology, immunology, and more. Acclaimed science writer Tom Hager brings Pauling's wide range of scientific accomplishments vividly to life while also shedding light on Pauling's activities outside the scientific realm. He shows how Pauling used his popularity to advance political causes, particularly his opposition to the spread of nuclear weapons during the 1950s. Despite the troubles his political activism caused him, he remained unmoved in his dedication to making the world a safer place. His perseverance was rewarded with a Nobel Peace Prize in 1963, which along with his 1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, made him the only person in history to win two unshared Nobels.

Oxford Portraits in Science is an on-going series of scientific biographies for young adults. Written by top scholars and writers, each biography examines the personality of its subject as well as the thought process leading to his or her discoveries. These illustrated biographies combine accessible technical information with compelling personal stories to portray the scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the natural world.

About this title

About the Author

Tom Hager is at University of Oregon.

From Kirkus Reviews

In this well-written biography in the Portraits in Science series, the life of Nobel Prizewinning chemist Linus Pauling proves a captivating and inspiring story. Hager (for adults, Force of Nature, 1995, also on Pauling) presents a clear-eyed but compassionate account of Pauling's days, from his childhood grief over the death of his father, through a pressured adolescence at odds with a distant mother, to the sense of fulfillment and freedom he found as an undergraduate in Oregon, and later, as a grad student and beloved professor at CalTech. No discipline proved too difficult for Pauling to master, whether it was biochemistry, quantum mechanics, or evolution. While frequent sidebars throughout the book highlight particular theories, it is Hager's discussion of each as it related to Pauling's life that resonates. Readers will find it extraordinary that Pauling was criticized, in the 1950s, for speaking out against the development of nuclear weapons and on the dangers of atomic fallout, and that, just as extraordinarily, he was awarded a second Nobel Prizefor peace. (b&w photos, chronology, further reading, index) (Biography. 12-15) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0195108531
• ISBN 13: 9780195108538
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 144