Atoms in the Family: My Life with Enrico Fermi

by Laura Fermi

In this absorbing account of life with the great atomic scientist Enrico Fermi, Laura Fermi tells the story of their emigration to the United States in the 1930s—part of the widespread movement of scientists from Europe to the New World that was so important to the development of the first atomic bomb. Combining intellectual biography and social history, Laura Fermi traces her husband's career from his childhood, when he taught himself physics, through his rise in the Italian university system concurrent with the rise of fascism, to his receipt of the Nobel Prize, which offered a perfect opportunity to flee the country without arousing official suspicion, and his odyssey to the United States.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Science, History, Memoir, 20th Century, Physics

277 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Laura Capon Fermi was an Italian and naturalized-American writer and political activist and the wife of Nobel Prize physicist Enrico Fermi.

Reviews

[M.K. Laffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually liked the second half of the book a lot, even though the first half bored me quite a bit. Five stars for teaching me a lot of things I never knew about our history! I never knew the horrible things that were done to Japanese-Americans in America! I didn’t know a thing about how the atom bomb was made and who made it. Now I do. There were I believe three swear words: the other word for “mule” twice and h*ll once. Other than that, the only other complaint I have is that I wish the first half of the book was a little more interesting.

[Mary Soderstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remembering War: Laura Fermi and Finding the Enemy

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada, Veterans' Day in the US, the end of the Great War. Not a bad day to read Laura Fermi's Atoms in the Family--or for that matter my Finding the Enemy.

It's been 100 years since a start of that conflict which set the stage for so much of the history o the 20th century. The wearing of red poppies to honour--or glorify--those who fought is something I stay away from. War is Hell, and while those who died should be remembered, nothing is gained from jingoism or patriotic chest beating.

But having said that, it's worth mentioning a series of photos in The New York Times today as well as the two books named above. The pix are recently declassified ones of young men preparing the two A bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Second World War ended then, and the debate will go on for decades more about whether that was necessary. What is clear is that things changed dramatically afterwards.

What is also clear is that the people involved were all very young. The birth rate at the secret research and bomb test site in New Mexico was very high, and life a little complicated for the young families who were moved there so the men (and they were almost all men) could build the bomb. Laura Fermi, the wife of Nobel laureate Enrico Fermi and a mathematician herself, was one of them, and, clearly not completely challenged by being a housewife, wrote a book about their experience. If only for a glimpse at how much intelligent women were up against 70 years ago, the Atoms in the Family is worth reading. But it also is a look at war on the home front, amusing, touching and ultimately serious.

My own book of short stories is the fruit of a lot of reflection about war. The title comes from the cartoon strip Pogo, who says "We have met the enemy and he is us." What are our responsiblities when faced with situations of conflict? How do we separate a "just war" from an unjust one? The main characters are a nuclear physicist who has to ask himself these questions after participating in the construction of the A bomb, and his family. The time frame ranges from the first A bomb test to the First War in the Persian Gulf in 1991. The stories are intimate, personal and, I hope, thought-provoking. The book is still around in many libraries and can be picked up from several on-line sellers.

[Cristine Braddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting look at one of the men that developed the atomic bomb.

[Kirsten Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If fractional star ratings were possible, I might rate this just under a 4...let's call it a 3.75. I really enjoyed the first 2/3 or so of the book leading up to Fermi's involvement in the Manhattan Project. Mrs. Fermi's account of the life of her and her husband in Italy and their early year's in the US was fascinating. I felt like the section on the Manhattan Project years and Fermi's final years after the war were a lot more disjointed and seemed more like a few scattered vignettes rather than a cohesive story. The book does not go all the way to Enrico's death, but I presume must have been written in his final years of life. Writing in the early 50s, I'm sure many secrets of the Manhattan Project were still under wraps, as was some of the scientific work he did the post-war years. Or at least not enough time had passed to truly know its significance. I'm looking forward to finding a more modern biography of Enrico Fermi to read at some point where his work can be put into the greater historical context provided by the passing of time.

[Lisa R Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a light but interesting view on the Manhattan Project from the perspective of Fermi’s wife. Coincidentally, a few months after reading this book, 20 some years ago, I went to a planning meeting at Fermilab near Chicago (Fermilab is America's particle physics and accelerator laboratory named for physicist Enrico Fermi) where we met with a director who had been a grad student of Fermi and knew his wife and some of the people mentioned in the book. It was a fun few minutes talking with this physicist as it brought that historical time of our struggle to win WWll to the present for me. It’s a short, fun read for any history buff.

[Olga Vannucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobel prize in '38
Eased his bid to emigrate.
Physicist, a genial man,
Made the bomb that floored Japan.

[Remo · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro está estupendo. Laura Fermi [LF], que tras este libro escribió muchos más (le debió de gustar la experiencia), relata en la primera parte cómo conoció a Fermi, cómo éste se abrió camino en el mundo de la Universidad italiana (chanchullos, politiqueos, odios personales y muchos cerebros privilegiados) y cómo se realizaron las investigaciones que le dieron el Nobel. Hay anécdotas estupendas, como la del radón. En las primeras pruebas, Fermi y su equipo irradiaban materiales con un compuesto gaseoso de radón, que sólo era radiactivo durante un minuto o así. La sala donde se hacía el radón y la sala donde se irradiaban las muestras estaban separadas por un largo pasillo. Durante los experimentos era habitual ver a Fermi y a su equipo corriendo como posesos de un extremo a otro del pasillo con el radón entre las manos, cronometrándose de paso y presumiendo entre ellos de quién era el más rápiso. Fermi, competitivo en todo, era siempre de los más rápidos, a pesar de que les sacaba bastantes años a los colaboradores más jóvenes. Cuenta LF que un caballero muy distinguido, catedrático, fue a visitar a Fermi, y tuvo que presenciar unas cuantas carreras de todo el equipo por el pasillo, mientras le decían al vuelo que enseguida estaban con él.

En la segunda parte del libro, tras ganar el Nobel, y con el fascismo de Mussolini en auge en Italia, la familia emigró a los EE.UU. (aprovechando precisamente el viaje a Suecia para no volver a Italia), donde primero en Chicago y luego en Nuevo México Fermi continuó con las investigaciones que llevarían a la fabricación de la bomba atómica. Se narra la vida del día a día en Los Álamos (llamado “el complejo Y” o, simplemente, “el apartado de correos 1663″. Los niños que nacían en Los Álamos figuraban como nacidos en un apartado de correos, según Laura Fermi). La acumulación de tantas mentes brillantes y excéntricas en un pueblecito en medio de la nada tenía que traer muchas anécdotas graciosas, y Laura nos regala unas cuantas. Entre ellas, una de las más grandes: cómo Fermi averiguó usando un poco de confetti la potencia de la primera bomba atómica. Pero LF lo cuenta de una manera muy peculiar: Fermi le contó, tiempo después de la explosión en el desierto de Alamogordo, que la luz de la explosión había sido muy intensa. –Y el sonido también, ¿no? Todos con los que hablé me dijeron que era un ruido atronador y que se hacía eterno– dijo ella. –Ah, ni idea. No me di cuenta de que hiciera ruido. Andaba ocupado calculando la potencia de la bomba con unos papelitos que me había llevado y no me fijé en que hiciera ruido–. Aquí Fermi ganó muchos puntos para alcanzar el estatus de “profesor despistado”.

En los libros de Feynman ocurre lo mismo que en éste. Siempre, en los libros de los que ayudaron a crear la Era Atómica, hay una sección en la que se reflexiona sobre si estuvo bien o no investigar para fabricar la bomba. Laura Fermi justifica esta investigación porque se sabía que los alemanes habían conseguido inducir la fisión del Uranio, por lo que si los EE.UU. no fabricaban la bomba, los Nazis terminarían por hacerlo primero y eso sí habrá sido el desastre total. En esto, todos los libros que he leído están de acuerdo. Había que conseguirlo antes que los alemanes. Sobre si convenía lanzarla sobre la población civil o sobre un objetivo exclusivamente militar hay siempre más opiniones. LF no opina, sólo cuenta qué opinaban los demás.

En fin, estimados lectores, que el libro merece la pena. La versión en inglés es mucho más fácil de encontrar. Es una lectura amena y que en ocasiones proporciona buenos puntos de vista sobre el día a día de un físico de los grandes. Mi nota: Muy recomendable. Lean también la crítica que Omalaled hace del libro.

PD: No conozco Chicago, pero si algún día paso por allí, lo primero que haré será seguir los pasos del prólogo (o pórtico, como aquí lo llaman) del libro:

En los terrenos de la Universidad de Chicago existe una vieja y ruinosa estructura, imitación de castillo medieval, con torres y almenajes. Pero sólo es una a modo de pantalla que oculta las graderías occidentales de un estadio de fútbol, en desuso. Sus paredes de estuco están cubiertas por gruesa capa de hollín. Los altos tubos de varias chimeneas emergen de las ventanas y sobrepasan las almenas.

Los autobuses de turismo se detienen ante esta estructura, y los guías muestran a los turistas una placa colocada en la pared exterior donde se lee:

EL 2 DE DICIEMBRE DE 1942
EL HOMBRE LOGRÓ AQUÍ
LA PRIMERA REACCIÓN AUTOMÁTICA EN CADENA
INICIANDO CON ELLO
LA LIBERACIÓN CONTROLADA DE LA ENERGÍA NUCLEAR

Es el certificado de nacimiento de la era atómica.

[Juan Leandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maravilloso si eres un apasionado de la historia y la ciencia. Tanto por el contenido (con anécdotas que mezclan la grandeza de la historia con la cotidianeidad del día a día) como por la forma. Laura Fermi no deja de ser una mujer de su tiempo. Es una mujer al servicio de su marido y desde esa posición describe el mundo que le rodea y los acontecimientos.

[Esther Ben-Koheleth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Краткий отзыв.

Прекрасная биография Энрико Ферми, написанная его женой Лаурой.
Тут и о детстве, и о воспитании, и о том, как будущий учёный проводил свой досуг, как учился, чем интересовался, с кем дружил и всё такое прочее. Много сказано про личную жизнь, но и профессиональная деятельность вниманием не обделена. Образ Ферми рисуется яркий и неординарный.
Оказывается, учёные - тоже люди. Своеобразные, необычные, интересные, со множеством особенностей, но при этом всё же люди) Просто у них мозги как-то нестандартно работают, и на мир они смотрят тоже нестандартно. И это жуть как интересно!
Параллельно можно узнать немало любопытного касаемо мировой истории, истории науки и итальянского быта. Вот, к примеру, я знать не знала, что горячая вода в итальянских домах появилась аж в 1924 году, и её - верьте или нет! - никогда не отключали в летнее время года (и в зимнее тоже). То есть, фазу священного перезвона ковшиками они как-то ловко перескочили. Что с них взять - европейцы. Никаких ценностей. И стабильно��ти тоже никакой. Один комфорт на уме, ужас.

Рекомендую к прочтению эту замечательную историю, если хочется чего-то, связанного с физикой, но простого и неутомительного.

_________

Удлинен��ый отзыв.
Потрясающая книга, представляющая собой мемуары о жизни и профессиональной деятельности знаменитого физика Энрико Ферми, чьи открытия изменили мир. Автор - Лаура Ферми, жена ученого, с большой теплотой и искренностью раскрывает множество интересных деталей, связанных с супругом, начиная с самого его детства.

Для меня стало неожиданностью узнать о методах воспитания детей в Италии, которые тогда имели распространение. Если сейчас итальянцы славятся своей эмоциональностью, не стесняясь выражать чувства к родным и друзьям в самой открытой форме, то во времена детства Энрико все было куда суровее и сдержаннее. Удивительно, насколько сильно изменился менталитет людей.

Из приведенных примеров, объемных зарисовок, сделанных автором, можно почерпнуть много любопытного и о других жизненных нюансах того времени. Нелегкие бытовые условия, отсутствие всего того, что сейчас кажется базовыми потребностями (тепло в доме, например), тем не менее, не погасили в маленьком Энрико любовь к учебе, научив не сдаваться перед трудностями. Уже с самых ранних лет в будущем ученом можно легко разглядеть неординарную личность с волевым характером, стремлением к знаниям и трудолюбию. Во всем этом - большая заслуга родных и преподавателей, которые помогли выявить талант и в полной мере раскрыли потенциал.

Чрезвычайно интересно было читать о взаимоотношениях в семье и о знакомстве Лауры с будущем мужем. История их встречи и дальнейшей совместной жизни может послужить образцом того, как следует выбирать себе спутника/спутницу жизни. Тут вам не Голливудские непотребства с зашкаливающихми эмоциями, а основательный фундамент для создания семьи. Поменьше чувств перед свадьбой, побольше разума, рассудительности и внимательности, и будет всем счастье - без сарказма, если что. Считаю такой подход единственно верным, а если кто несогласен - рекомендую прочитать историю Лауры и Энрико Ферми и прозреть)

Таким образом, «Атомы у нас дома» - это история далеко не только о физике. Здесь нет внушающих священный трепет формул, длиною в жизнь, нет и пугающих терминов, поэтому чувствительные гуманитарии типа меня могут не бояться и никуда не разбегаться от слова «физика».
Это многогранное произведение, которое затрагивает и историю (как Италии, так и мировую), и политику (события, при которых Ферми были вынуждены эмигрировать в Штаты - отдельная страница в жизни не только этой конкретной семьи, но и всего мира). И конечно же, история о работе великого ученого, о которых, мне кажется, необходимо знать каждому человеку. Поразил момент, когда Энрико, эмигрировав, работал над секретным проектом, и Лаура долгое время не знала, чем в точности он занимается. Ну а потом это открылось всему миру…

В заключении добавлю, что я, мягко говоря, не самый разборчивый в физике человек. Я скорее одна из тех многочисленных неудачников, которые много раз пытались что-то понять, но так и не смогли. Собственно, поэтому я не претендую на полный и детальный охват всего описанного в книге. Уверена, что люди сведущие, заметят еще больше красоты и уникальности в произведении. Впрочем, даже того, что поняла я, будучи полным профаном в точных дисциплинах, хватило с лихвой, чтобы остаться в восторге от истории.
Так что, рассказ Лауры Ферми можно и нужно читать всем, вне зависимости от прошаренности в физике. Полезно провести таки время с пользой, в кои-то веки)

[Jesse Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly an amazing book about an inspiring family. Enrico Fermi was a physicist who quite literally gave his life researching nuclear science. He is one of the many scientists we can thank for nuclear weapons and nuclear energy.

Laura Fermi gives a rare view into the life of one of the great scientists of the twentieth century. Fermi and his family are Italian. They lived in Italy during the rise of Mussolini. When it became apparent that Mussolini was going to cow to Hitler’s demands to ostracize Jews they decided to flee. The problem was, Laura and the kids were Jewish.

This book is the story of Laura and Enrico. How they met, how they fled and came to America where Enrico became one of the many people shipped around the country to work on the top secret Manhattan Project.

For years Laura didn’t even know what her husband was doing. She knew they were moved to Chicago and then to Los Alamos. She knew he was working for the government and she knew many of the scientists that he worked with. She knew it was for the war. But, like most of the families she didn’t know what they were doing until the bomb dropped. Then everybody knew.

This is a powerful story about a family, made especially powerful by Laura’s wit and wisdom in how she tells it. She doesn’t seem to sugar coat things. She describes herself and her husband — who she refers to as Fermi, throughout — in frank terms and details some amusing tidbits about his personality that make him sound hard to live with.

This is one side of the war. This is living through all the secrecy. This is the story of one family and their journey to do their part to stop a war that spread across continents and devastated entire countries.

It’s also a love story. It wasn’t love at first sight. In fact there was very little Hollywood style about their lives. But that’s what makes it so real. These were real people. They loved each other. They raised a family, changed the world and built the first nuclear bomb.

[Ellee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm about 3/4 of the way finished with this book and so far am enjoying it well enough. I am more reconciled that this account of Fermi is not objective because the author (his wife) pokes fun at him sometimes and though is very much in awe of him at times, also sees him as a person rather than a superman. So far so good. I wish there were more of a discussion of their courtship, though I can understand why a woman would want to keep that to herself too. :) I realize that physics was very political during the WWII era and am glad that Laura Fermi doesn't try to leave that part out of her narrative.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard being married to a genius. It's harder if you love him and he dies tragically young. Laura Fermi was exactly in that position, and wrote this memoir as Enrico was dying. That aspect is not addressed in the text, but is highlighted in the preface by Segre, and adds poignancy to the book.

The Fermis had interesting lives, stretching from pre-WW1 Italy, through the Fascist regime, to the US, with time spent in New York, Los Alamos, and Chicago. Laura Fermi is a keen observer and I enjoyed getting a sense what she, her husband, and those places were like.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life of a great scientist, as told by his wife. A lot of scientist biographies have way too much of the science in them than the general populace would enjoy, but this one doesn't. I learned about Italy just before WWII, about the Manhattan project, about physics, about Nobel prizes, about balancing family and work, and about why Fermilab is so appropriately named.

[Francesco · Rating 5 out of 5]

La vita di Enrico Fermi raccontata dalla moglie.
Una serie di chicche sull'inventore (tra gli altri) dell'energia atomica.

Se cercate una biografia ragionata, piena di dati, date e contestualizzazioni, ecco questo non lo troverete. Ma troverete il ritratto ironico di un genio fatto dalla moglie che, oltre al genio, ha avuto modo di vedere da vicino anche il lato più umano.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An approachable account of the life of one of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project. I enjoyed the balance of scientific language and Laura Fermi's sense of humor about her husband's quirks.

[Anne Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at the life of Enrico Fermi through the eyes of his wife, Laura.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. A unique and insightful look at the political and scientific forces that spawned the atomic bomb.

[Leroy Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography of a nuclear physicist? How can that earn four stars? It turns out that Laura Fermi, the wife of Enrico Fermi, was able to make the book fairly interesting to read. It tells of Fermi's life from his early days up to the early 1950s, including life in Italy during the days of Mussolini and Hitler and then life in the U.S. She includes some details that she was allowed to tell about the Manhattan Project and Trinity, first to develop the ability to build an atomic pile with a sustained nuclear reaction, then to build a bomb. It was interesting.