The Last Man Who Knew Everything
The Life and Times of Enrico Fermi, Father of the Nuclear Age
New York : Basic Books, 2017.
Format: Book
Edition: First edition.
Description: xxiii, 453 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
The definitive biography of the brilliant, charismatic, and very human physicist and innovator Enrico Fermi
In 1942, a team at the University of Chicago achieved what no one had before: a nuclear chain reaction. At the forefront of this breakthrough stood Enrico Fermi. Straddling the ages of classical physics and quantum mechanics, equally at ease with theory and experiment, Fermi truly was the last man who knew everything -- at least about physics. But he was also a complex figure who was a part of both the Italian Fascist Party and the Manhattan Project, and a less-than-ideal father and husband who nevertheless remained one of history's greatest mentors. Based on new archival material and exclusive interviews, The Last Man Who Knew Everything lays bare the enigmatic life of a colossus of twentieth century physics.
In 1942, a team at the University of Chicago achieved what no one had before: a nuclear chain reaction. At the forefront of this breakthrough stood Enrico Fermi. Straddling the ages of classical physics and quantum mechanics, equally at ease with theory and experiment, Fermi truly was the last man who knew everything -- at least about physics. But he was also a complex figure who was a part of both the Italian Fascist Party and the Manhattan Project, and a less-than-ideal father and husband who nevertheless remained one of history's greatest mentors. Based on new archival material and exclusive interviews, The Last Man Who Knew Everything lays bare the enigmatic life of a colossus of twentieth century physics.
Subjects:
Fermi, Enrico, 1901-1954.
Physicists -- Italy -- Biography.
Physicists -- United States -- Biography.
Nuclear physicists -- Italy -- Biography.
Nuclear physicists -- United States -- Biography.
Fermi, Enrico, 1901-1954.
Physicists -- Italy -- Biography.
Physicists -- United States -- Biography.
Nuclear physicists -- Italy -- Biography.
Nuclear physicists -- United States -- Biography.
ISBN:
9780465072927
Availability | |||
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Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
BIOGRAPHY Fermi, Enrico | Main (Downtown) | Third Level, Biography | In |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 419-436) and index.