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Il Papa della fisica: Enrico Fermi e la nascita dell'era atomica by Gino Segrè, Bettina Hoerlin
jamelchior's review against another edition
This is an excellent biography of the Italian physicist, Enrico Fermi. I received a copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.
This book is an enjoyable read (at times downright suspenseful), and appeals to us at many levels. It tells of an exciting time in physics, and the science is explained in a way that the general reader can understand and feel the excitement of discovery. It tells of the development of the atomic bomb, the war that was its context, and the moral questions that arose at the time, and afterwards. It’s also a story of Fermi the man. The co-authors have personal connections that let them create a story rich in anecdote and detail. I wanted to read every word.
The story line I enjoyed the most was a kind of educational miracle. Over a hundred years ago, universal education did not exist in Italy; Fermi’s family had to advocate for him even being taught reading and mathematics. It was a bit of a miracle that he learned physics at all, by picking up an old book in the Campo dei’ Fiori. Then, Italian science had fallen to a low ebb, and the University of Rome had to educate a class of students that knew more than their professor. I smiled a lot as I pictured the group of four energetic and irreverent young men who successfully carried out research at the university, mostly on their own. Fermi took a role in his class there, and in his subsequent work teams at the University of Chicago and at Los Alamos, where he made sure knowledge was shared. His greatest gifts may have been as a teacher at the end of his life. He not only made great discoveries, but built up the scientific community.
Finally this book, dedicated “To immigrants, then and now,” is an immigration story. Enrico Fermi was technically an enemy alien, but he successfully immigrated to the United States, and as it turned out, we needed him very much. We’re being encouraged just now to worry about who we let in to the country. This book invites us to think more clearly about who we might be shutting out.
This book is an enjoyable read (at times downright suspenseful), and appeals to us at many levels. It tells of an exciting time in physics, and the science is explained in a way that the general reader can understand and feel the excitement of discovery. It tells of the development of the atomic bomb, the war that was its context, and the moral questions that arose at the time, and afterwards. It’s also a story of Fermi the man. The co-authors have personal connections that let them create a story rich in anecdote and detail. I wanted to read every word.
The story line I enjoyed the most was a kind of educational miracle. Over a hundred years ago, universal education did not exist in Italy; Fermi’s family had to advocate for him even being taught reading and mathematics. It was a bit of a miracle that he learned physics at all, by picking up an old book in the Campo dei’ Fiori. Then, Italian science had fallen to a low ebb, and the University of Rome had to educate a class of students that knew more than their professor. I smiled a lot as I pictured the group of four energetic and irreverent young men who successfully carried out research at the university, mostly on their own. Fermi took a role in his class there, and in his subsequent work teams at the University of Chicago and at Los Alamos, where he made sure knowledge was shared. His greatest gifts may have been as a teacher at the end of his life. He not only made great discoveries, but built up the scientific community.
Finally this book, dedicated “To immigrants, then and now,” is an immigration story. Enrico Fermi was technically an enemy alien, but he successfully immigrated to the United States, and as it turned out, we needed him very much. We’re being encouraged just now to worry about who we let in to the country. This book invites us to think more clearly about who we might be shutting out.
raghuiyer's review against another edition
4.0
Enrico Fermi is by far one of the most prolific and fascinating scientific minds of the last century. Thats what drove me towards this book. It is obviously written with fan-boy enthusiasm and deep interest in the psyche of Fermi - what made him who he was. It is extremely accessible and covers a lot about the challenges he faced as an Italian during Mussolini's reign. That said, it is not for people who want to read more about Fermi's research. It could also have used some more love from an editor and tends to skip around the timeline a little bit.
That said, it's always inspiring to read about scientists from that amazing age of atomic exploration, so definitely recommend.
That said, it's always inspiring to read about scientists from that amazing age of atomic exploration, so definitely recommend.
sardine164's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this book, it was amazing! Despite what seemed a slow start, it gradually built up to a gripping story of the birth of nuclear physics and the atomic age. In particular, the description of building the first critical pile in Chicago had me on the edge of my seat. (These stories are new to me, but may already be familiar to other readers.)
Enrico Fermi was a very talented Italian physicist, born in 1901. Following the story of his life allows the reader, naturally enough, to follow the development of nuclear physics, and the development of the first atomic bombs. The authors give a beautiful and eloquent portrait of Enrico Fermi, and his family, friends and colleagues. This is perhaps not surprising, as they are part of the extended circle of Fermi's friends, and had access to extensive resources (written material and interviews). There are many anecdotes, which bring Fermi, the man, to life. Initially, I found the writing style to be a little 'old-fashioned' - for example: 'His exactitude, down to forecasting exactly when the last brick had to be placed, was a source of wonder.' - but, once I got into the rhythm of it, I enjoyed it immensely.
The book does not shy away from the political and ethical issues arising from the creation of the atomic weapons, and it deals with these and Fermi's role in these aspects in the final chapters.
Fermi had a brilliant mind, this is a wonderful biography.
Enrico Fermi was a very talented Italian physicist, born in 1901. Following the story of his life allows the reader, naturally enough, to follow the development of nuclear physics, and the development of the first atomic bombs. The authors give a beautiful and eloquent portrait of Enrico Fermi, and his family, friends and colleagues. This is perhaps not surprising, as they are part of the extended circle of Fermi's friends, and had access to extensive resources (written material and interviews). There are many anecdotes, which bring Fermi, the man, to life. Initially, I found the writing style to be a little 'old-fashioned' - for example: 'His exactitude, down to forecasting exactly when the last brick had to be placed, was a source of wonder.' - but, once I got into the rhythm of it, I enjoyed it immensely.
The book does not shy away from the political and ethical issues arising from the creation of the atomic weapons, and it deals with these and Fermi's role in these aspects in the final chapters.
Fermi had a brilliant mind, this is a wonderful biography.
countingstarsbycandlelight's review against another edition
4.0
Segre's biography was very interesting. There are definitely spaces in the narrative where he doesn't address the "big" issued of nuclear physics - but it also seems that Fermi didn't necessarily address those issues either. He is portrayed as a man driven by his passion for science. I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot - even thought I understood very little of the actual physics.
hectorip's review against another edition
4.0
La principal lección del libro es: nadie puede servir a dos amos. Su búsqueda de cosas grandes en la física lo separó de todo lo demás, de su familia, de la ética y los dilemas morales. Esto le permitió avanzar a grados increíbles en la física, pero limitó su crecimiento en todo lo demás.
Es un libro muy inspirador sobre la vida de un hombre que tuvo una gran influencia en el mundo moderno, del que no nos hemos puesto de acuerdo si para bien o para mal.
Me llevo sus cualidades para imitar:
- Trabajo duro y constante
- Pasión por los datos y los cálculos
- Imperturbabilidad
- Buscar calcular cómo van a funcionar las cosas
- Combinación del trabajo intelectual con el trabajo físico
- Gusto por la enseñanza
Un lado oscuro que muestra de él es el distanciamiento de su familia. Sin ese distanciamiento seguro no hubiera logrado nada cerca de lo que hizo, por lo que es algo a considerar con respecto a las metas en la vida. Además su poco interés en los asuntos éticos pudo haberlo llevado a la posición a la que está hoy en la imagen pública. Podemos aprender de sus virtudes e Intentar evitar sus errores.
Es un libro muy inspirador sobre la vida de un hombre que tuvo una gran influencia en el mundo moderno, del que no nos hemos puesto de acuerdo si para bien o para mal.
Me llevo sus cualidades para imitar:
- Trabajo duro y constante
- Pasión por los datos y los cálculos
- Imperturbabilidad
- Buscar calcular cómo van a funcionar las cosas
- Combinación del trabajo intelectual con el trabajo físico
- Gusto por la enseñanza
Un lado oscuro que muestra de él es el distanciamiento de su familia. Sin ese distanciamiento seguro no hubiera logrado nada cerca de lo que hizo, por lo que es algo a considerar con respecto a las metas en la vida. Además su poco interés en los asuntos éticos pudo haberlo llevado a la posición a la que está hoy en la imagen pública. Podemos aprender de sus virtudes e Intentar evitar sus errores.
david_reads_books's review against another edition
5.0
It is inspiring to read about his life and his science contributions. Born in Rome in 1901, he ultimately left in 1938 with his Jewish wife as the racial laws took effect. In the US, he joined the Manhattan project. His common-sense approach to everything is exhibited during the Trinity Test when as everyone watched in awe of the blinding light of the first nuclear explosion, Fermi dropped strips of paper into the blast wave. He paced off the distance they were blown by the explosion, and calculated the yield as ten kilotons of TNT; the actual yield was about 18.6 kilotons.
Students today do "Fermi Problems" to check their ability to do seat-of-the-pants estimations with accuracy.
Examples:
How many balloons would it take to fill the school hall?
How many people would fit shoulder to shoulder in the corridor outside our class?
If all the people in the world moved to Wales, how crowded would it be?
How many litres of water does the school use each week?
The idea is to NOT use a calculator (or use it minimally) Just round things to integers or multiples of 10. This promotes a common sense approach to evaluating expected answers to more detailed approaches. Business people can use this approach to guesstimate prices for large contracts while having lunch meetings with clients, and still be ball-park accurate.
Students today do "Fermi Problems" to check their ability to do seat-of-the-pants estimations with accuracy.
Examples:
How many balloons would it take to fill the school hall?
How many people would fit shoulder to shoulder in the corridor outside our class?
If all the people in the world moved to Wales, how crowded would it be?
How many litres of water does the school use each week?
The idea is to NOT use a calculator (or use it minimally) Just round things to integers or multiples of 10. This promotes a common sense approach to evaluating expected answers to more detailed approaches. Business people can use this approach to guesstimate prices for large contracts while having lunch meetings with clients, and still be ball-park accurate.
hkar0610's review against another edition
5.0
I won an Arc of this book from Librarything's Early Readers group.
This biography describes a man who helped shape the modern age, and along with that it describes the turbulent times that shaped the man. I throughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone interested in science or nuclear-related things (history, facts, etc). This is the best biography I have read in a long time. It starts from the beginning of Fermi's life and walks us right through to the end. Using memoirs and interviews, the authors have painted a picture of a remarkable man.
This biography describes a man who helped shape the modern age, and along with that it describes the turbulent times that shaped the man. I throughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone interested in science or nuclear-related things (history, facts, etc). This is the best biography I have read in a long time. It starts from the beginning of Fermi's life and walks us right through to the end. Using memoirs and interviews, the authors have painted a picture of a remarkable man.
kalliegrace's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book for my Grandpa, but he died before he could read it so I've kept it, intending to read it. I finally did, and I think he would have loved this - he was similar to Fermi in many ways.
Most of us know the story of the atomic bomb, of the beginnings of WWII in Europe, of the rapid progress in physics at the start of the twentieth century. Enrico Fermi was new to me though, and his straight-laced approach to his work, his charming humor, and his understated brilliance were a pleasure to read about.
Most of us know the story of the atomic bomb, of the beginnings of WWII in Europe, of the rapid progress in physics at the start of the twentieth century. Enrico Fermi was new to me though, and his straight-laced approach to his work, his charming humor, and his understated brilliance were a pleasure to read about.
amythebookbat's review against another edition
4.0
Fermi was a very interesting man. I tended to get a little lost in the science of this book. Overall, it was a good history not only of the man, but of the science.
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