the strangest man the hidden life of paul dirac

I realise that stuff is over the heads of most bio readers (including me), but I think it might be appropriate for scientific biographers to think about including such material in an appendix (especially when they are trained and capable as Farmelo is). Unlike at least one of the reviewers here, I am disappointed that we don’t get more technical explanations of some of the science. When people of the stature of Oppenheimer and Feynman are in awe of you, you know you must be worthy of something. When Einstein recommends you as his first choice to appointment at the Institute for Advanced Studies, you know you’re of some value as a scientist. It is however, easy to appreciate the magnitude of what he achieved, how he was rated by mentors, colleagues and juniors. The subject emerges as a giant for me now, even though I little understand the intricacies of what he did. But I am truly glad I bought and read this book. I knew about Dirac since student days, but since physics wasn’t my subject and the quantum stuff way beyond me, I never bothered with finding out about him beyond the basics. This insight, gained from a former neighbour and colleague of Dirac’s in Florida, shows us both an important human impact made on this man’s life, as well as the author’s research quality, seeking out and perhaps even going to the USA to interview this person. He writes well, the story unfolding easily and warmly, taking us through the usual biographical flow of a life after beginning somewhat abruptly with a valuable late insight into Dirac’s own thoughts on his father (in particular) and his life. As a PhD in theoretical physics the author was appropriately trained to tackle the scientific side of this as well as his long infatuation with the subject (Dirac) which gave him plenty of impetus to get at the human side of the subject.

The strangest man the hidden life of paul dirac