The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Mystic of the Atom

Paul Dirac was among the great scientific geniuses of the modern age. One of the discoverers of quantum mechanics, the most revolutionary theory of the past century, his contributions had a unique insight, eloquence, clarity, and mathematical power. His prediction of antimatter was one of the greatest triumphs in the history of physics. One of Einstein's most admired colleagues, Dirac was in 1933 the youngest theoretician ever to win the Nobel Prize in physics. Dirac's personality is legendary. He was an extraordinarily reserved loner, relentlessly literal-minded and appeared to have no empathy with most people. Yet he was a family man and was intensely loyal to his friends. His tastes in the arts ranged from Beethoven to Cher, from Rembrandt to Mickey Mouse. Based on previously undiscovered archives, The Strangest Man reveals the many facets of Dirac's brilliantly original mind. A compelling human story, __The Strangest Man__ also depicts a spectacularly exciting era in scientific history. Paul Dirac was a pioneer of quantum mechanics and was regarded as an equal by Albert Einstein. He predicted, purely from what he saw in his equations, the existence of antimatter. The youngest person ever to win the Nobel Prize for Physics, he was also pathologically reticent, strangely literal-minded and almost completely unable to communicate or empathise. His silences were legendary and when he spoke, he betrayed no emotion. Through his greatest period of productivity, his postcards home contained only remarks about the weather. He is said to have cried only once, when his friend Einstein died.Based on a previously undiscovered archive of family papers in Florida, Graham Farmelo celebrates Dirac's massive scientific achievement while drawing a compassionate portrait of his life and the people around him. Dirac had a traumatic relationship with his family: his brother committed suicide, and he hated his father to the end of his life. His political allegiances were radical. His best friend was the Russian physicist Peter Kapitza, and even at the height of the purges Dirac holidayed in the Soviet Union. Yet Farmelo also reveals a man who, while seemingly lacking in emotion, could manage to love and father a family. He catches Dirac's absolute belief in the beauty of mathematics with warmth and sympathy. And Farmelo shows that Dirac's eccentricities may well have stemmed from undiagnosed autism.The Strangest Man is a moving human story, and a study of one of the most exciting times in scientific history. 'a Monumental Achievement - One Of The Great Scientific Biographies.' Michael Frayn The Strangest Man Is The Costa Biography Award-winning Account Of Paul Dirac, The Famous Physicist Sometimes Called The British Einstein. He Was One Of The Leading Pioneers Of The Greatest Revolution In Twentieth-century Science: Quantum Mechanics. The Youngest Theoretician Ever To Win The Nobel Prize For Physics, He Was Also Pathologically Reticent, Strangely Literal-minded And Legendarily Unable To Communicate Or Empathize. Through His Greatest Period Of Productivity, His Postcards Home Contained Only Remarks About The Weather. Based On A Previously Undiscovered Archive Of Family Papers, Graham Farmelo Celebrates Dirac's Massive Scientific Achievement While Drawing A Compassionate Portrait Of His Life And Work. Farmelo Shows A Man Who, While Hopelessly Socially Inept, Could Manage To Love And Sustain Close Friendship. The Strangest Man Is An Extraordinary And Moving Human Story, As Well As A Study Of One Of The Most Exciting Times In Scientific History. 'a Wonderful Book . . . Moving, Sometimes Comic, Sometimes Infinitely Sad, And Goes To The Roots Of What We Mean By Truth In Science.' Lord Waldegrave, Daily Telegraph From the Publisher: Paul Dirac was among the great scientific geniuses of the modern age. One of the discoverers of quantum mechanics, the most revolutionary theory of the past century, his contributions had a unique insight, eloquence, clarity, and mathematical power. His prediction of antimatter was one of the greatest triumphs in the history of physics. One of Einstein's most admired colleagues, Dirac was in 1933 the youngest theoretician ever to win the Nobel Prize in physics. Dirac's personality is legendary. He was an extraordinarily reserved loner, relentlessly literal-minded and appeared to have no empathy with most people. Yet he was a family man and was intensely loyal to his friends. His tastes in the arts ranged from Beethoven to Cher, from Rembrandt to Mickey Mouse. Based on previously undiscovered archives, The Strangest Man reveals the many facets of Dirac's brilliantly original mind. A compelling human story, The Strangest Man also depicts a spectacularly exciting era in scientific history. The first full biography of Paul Dirac, the greatest British physicist since Newton - and one of the strangest geniuses of the twentieth century, who may have suffered from autism. Paul Dirac was a pioneer of quantum mechanics and was regarded as an equal by Albert Einstein. He predicted, purely from what he saw in his equations, the existence of antimatter. The youngest person ever to win the Nobel Prize for Physics, he was also pathologically reticent, strangely literal-minded and almost completely unable to communicate or empathise. His silences were legendary and when he spoke, he betrayed no emotion. Through his greatest period of productivity, his postcards home contained only remarks about the weather. He is said to have cried only once, when his friend Einstein died Based on an archive of family papers, this book celebrates Dirac's massive scientific achievement while drawing a compassionate portrait of his life and work. He shows a man who, while hopelessly socially inept, could manage to love and sustain close friendship.