Genius in the Shadows: A Biography of Leo Szilard, the Man Behind the Bomb

by William Lanouette, Bela Silard (Contributor)

Well-known names such as Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Edward Teller are usually those that surround the creation of the atom bomb. One name that is rarely mentioned is Leo Szilard, known in scientific circles as “father of the atom bomb.” The man who first developed the idea of harnessing energy from nuclear chain reactions, he is curiously buried with barely a trace in the history of this well-known and controversial topic.Born in Hungary and educated in Berlin, he escaped Hitler’s Germany in 1933 and that first year developed his concept of nuclear chain reactions. In order to prevent Nazi scientists from stealing his ideas, he kept his theories secret, until he and Albert Einstein pressed the US government to research atomic reactions and designed the first nuclear reactor. Though he started his career out lobbying for civilian control of atomic energy, he concluded it with founding, in 1962, the first political action committee for arms control, the Council for a Livable World.Besides his career in atomic energy, he also studied biology and sparked ideas that won others the Nobel Prize. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, where Szilard spent his final days, was developed from his concepts to blend science and social issues.

Genres: Biography, History, Science, Nonfiction, Physics, Historical

642 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

William Lanouette is a writer and policy analyst, as well as an expert on the Manhattan Project who has written extensively about the politics of nuclear weapons and power. He was the Washington Correspondent for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists before joining the U.S. General Accounting Office in 1991, from which he retired in 2006.

Reviews

[Dávid Pákozdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

ha ez a faszi nem volt ADHD-s akkor senki se

[Harrison Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recommended this book by my Modern Physics professor following a discussion about some historical physics personalities. My professor promised me a character, but I was not prepared for Leo. The book is extremely interesting and you do feel as if you know the man by the time you are finished reading. What an interesting life! This is a must-read for anyone considering themselves having an interest in science. It is so incredibly important that we not remain ignorant about the true history of some of the most important discoveries. I was certainly ignorant about Szilard's contributions to physics beforehand. Speaking for the intended audience, this is a five-star read.

[David Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished William Lanouette's Genius in the Shadow's: A Biography of Leo Szilard, the Man Behind the Bomb.

A found Szilard a difficult man to get a grip on. A genius but easily distracted, he moved from one idea to the next often expounding a great theory but often not going to the next level validate this thoughts, often passing them on to other's some of which achieved Nobel Prizes from the seed he planted.

Born in Hungary, later refusing to go back due to the fascist regime of Admiral Horthy and afterward because of what he saw as the legacy of this regime. HE served in the Austrian Army in World War I, attained Germany Citizenship in the day of the Weimar Republic, only later to leave because of the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party, later to emigrate to the England and later the United States where he became a naturalized citizen. He achieved his Ph.D. under the friendly guidance of Albert Einstein in Physics, after struggling between his father's wish of pursuing engineering.

An early visionary of the potential of nuclear fission to be both a source of energy and as a destructive force in the body of the atomic bomb and later the hydrogen bomb. He was one of those who encourage Einstein to write the now famous letter to President Franklin Roosevelt encouraging him to invest in the making of an atomic bomb. He was instrumental along with Enrico Fermi and developing the first atomic pile in Chicago and foresaw the earlier the value in both Uranium 235 and Plutonium as potential fuel for bombs.

Due to being an immigrant and a Jew and being a non conformist feel out with General Groves and was post World War II, blackballed from many posting in nuclear physics. Which along with his natural tendencies led him to to continue a trend of moving from one post to another without achieving a full time academic post in many of the institutions and facilities he worked in.

He struggled to stay on a singular course dabbling in physics, engineering, biology and social justice during he long career. He was after World War II among the vocal scientists, who were involved in the creation of the Atomic Bomb to push for Arms Control.

A fascinating multi-faceted and who had careers in numerous different disciplines. Not always easy to like and hard to understand but worth of time to study and strive to understand for the uniqueness he brough to the world of Science.

[Zulugoat · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bit long with too many small details of questionable relevance and some annoying repetitions however a very entertaining read on a fascinating, important and amazing human, who has not been well treated by History.

[Willie F. Poetschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very eye opening

Enjoyed very much. Made me breathless just keeping up with Leo.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested history.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing character. Came up with the scientific concept underlying the nuclear bomb and was a founder of the Salk Institute.

[Siddharth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't know just how much of nuclear science was developed by this martian. He's quite a personality.

[Noah Chartier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close to a 4.5. Been wanting to read more about him for a while, hes my fav ww2 physicist

[Clayton Brannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biography of one of the greatest physicists and humanitarians the world has ever seen. A man was completely overshadowed by men who were not up to his level of genius.

[Paul Nordeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most Americans have never heard of Leo Szilard, however, his achievements in atomic research should place his name alongside Einstein and Oppenheimer.  His life epitomizes the saying “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” 

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love leo szilard!!!