Dirac: A Scientific Biography

by Helge Kragh

This first full-length biography of Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac offers a comprehensive account of his physics in its historical context, including less known areas such as cosmology and classical electron theory. It is based extensively on unpublished sources, including Dirac's correspondence with Bohr, Heisenberg, Pauli, Schrödinger, Gamow and others. Dirac was undoubtedly one of the most brilliant and influential physicists of the twentieth century. Between 1925 and 1934, the Nobel Prize laureate revolutionized physics with his brilliant contributions to quantum theory. This work examines Dirac's successes and failures, and pays particular attention to his opposition to modern quantum electrodynamics; an opposition based on aesthetic objections.

Genres: Biography, Science, Physics

400 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 1990

About the author

Helge Stjernholm Kragh is a Danish historian of science.
Kragh studied mathematics and physics at the University of Copenhagen before obtaining his PhD in 1981 at the University of Roskilde. He is a professor at the Centre for Science Studies of Aarhus University.

Kragh's areas of study are the history of physics from the mid-19th century onward, the history of astronomy, the history of cosmology and the history of chemistry.

Reviews

[Alan Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent scientific biography. However, not for the layman, unless you're prepared to skip over a lot of equations that will mean little to you. A physics degree would allow full enjoyment of this careful account of Dirac's science, including the less famous "failures". I am a self-taught physicist, so I am skipping over some of the harder parts, but not missing much of the full experience.

[Patricia Comeford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best biography that I have encountered on Dirac, a brilliant and very original physicist. Dirac's many contributions to physics are covered in detail and are described in their historical context. This book also includes Dirac's most important and interesting interactions with other great physicists and also contains insightful information on his philosophical outlook, his pastimes, and his unique personality. It also includes an excellent selection of photos and even some samples of Dirac's precise handwriting! The book is written in a clear and concise style, much like Dirac's own method of presentation.

[Kevin Orrman-Rossiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding scientific biography - would have been awarded 5 stars, except that I think this will not be everyone's 'cup-of-tea', more pity them! For a more general biography of the extraordinary physicist then "The strangest man" is highly recommended.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm amazed no one else has read this book on goodreads

Dirac was quite an eccentric and thus entertaining physicist. Thus he makes a unusually intersting subject for a scientist biogrpahy.

chapter 12 in particular contains many amusing ancedotes.

[Tue Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thorough scientific biography of Paul Dirac, one of the top physicists of the twentieth century, written by a professional historian of science. It requires considerable knowledge of physics and mathematics. But for those who can follow, it is a wonderful ride.