Linus Pauling: Scientist and Peacemaker

by Clifford Mead

One of the most brilliant scientists and most controversial individuals of the twentieth century, Linus Pauling was the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes. This unique volume, first published to mark the centenary of Pauling's birth, gathers his words and those of his contemporaries and students, together with photographs, drawings, and reproductions from the Pauling Papers. Pauling (1901-1994) was known for being outspoken and for leaping over scientific boundariesfrom physics to chemistry to biology to medical research. This collection draws a vivid portrait of a remarkable man'scientist, humanist, and activist?highlighting his larger-than-life personality and his singular achievements. As both scientist and citizen, Pauling was passionate and deeply thoughtful. 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.In the 1970s, Pauling again gained international recognition, this time for his advocacy of megadoses of vitamin C as a cure for cancer and cold prevention.

Genres: Science, Chemistry, Biography, History, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2008

Reviews

[Matthew Ackerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As close to an autobiography of Linus Pauling that is available. The authors have compiled a collection of writings mostly by Pauling on his life and work and organized them by theme. While you can read cover to back, you could also simply open the book to any section or writing that seems interesting and begin. The authors provide a brief description of the paper for the readers convenience. Read in entirety, the writings paint a picture of both Pauling’s work and his life.

[Frank Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant man, twice a Nobel Prize winner. I loved his engaging character and I was deeply impressed with his ability to apply quantum mechanics to the stereochemistry of the organic molecules that make us human. What a creative and likeable scientist. I wish I had met him, I'd have had a lot of questions to put to him.

His work on the peptide bond undoubtedly helped Watson and Crick to discover the secrets of the stereochemistry of DNA.

Bravo!

[Elizabeth]

As seen in Nature Chemistry .