Too Big for a Single Mind

The author expertly blends biographical detail with explication of physical theory; Einstein, Bohr, Dirac, Heisenberg, Schrodinger, de Broglie et al. are sharply (and smartly) drawn, as are their theories and experiments--which constitute the history of the scientific revolution that took place in the first half of the 20th century. Hurter shows how the inner workings of the world are illumined by these great physicists while becoming ever more elusive. A fine rendering of the paradox of discovery.

Interesting historical presentation of one of the most significant transformations in human understanding of the world, focusing more on the people who produced the transformation rather than what they did. Provides a colorful complement to more scientifically focused histories (like Gamow’s Thirty Years that Shook Physics).

So many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this!

I really enjoy science and history books... and this is both. Wow. What a read. Really learned much from this work. Given the importance of this topic and the quality research/writing here, this book deserves a broad audience. The scientists covered here literally changed the world. I highly recommend this.

This book takes a deep look at social, personal, scientific, and historical contexts of discovery. There is a wealth of detail about the personal lives of key scientists, the role of social issues such as the second world war and poverty, and the incremental nature of discoveries in the field. The author reveals rivalries and friendships, collaboration and competition, the role of inspiration and exhausting work in this book. The biographical aspect of the book is so thoroughly researched, as much so as the scientific aspects. I also learned a great deal about early quantum research and about the scientific context from which it rose. I will definitely be recommending this for my physics book club.