True Genius

-This book provides an important correction to the statement in its title that Richard Garwin is 'the most influential scientist you've never heard of.' In this informative, comprehensive, and interesting book, Joel Shurkin explains why Enrico Fermi called him a genius and why Garwin's life's work constitutes a major contribution over a wide range of science and technology that is of great value to the nation and the world. His work should be more broadly recognized now that he has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.- --Sidney D. Drell, Emeritus Professor of Physics at Stanford and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution -Pulitzer Prize-winner Joel Shurkin got the subtitle right, 'the most influential scientist you've never heard of.' I had never heard of Richard Garwin. And that was my loss, because Shurkin's incredibly well-written and well-researched book is a compulsive read about a genius who was right there in the designing and making of the H-bomb. The book raises fascinating issues of science and technology and the relationship between them, as well as enough moral issues to keep a philosophy class going for several semesters. Highly recommended!- --Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University -Garwin was and is someone special--a truly remarkable physicist, brilliant and eminently practical. And never afraid to speak directly to authority. Garwin's greatest service to our science community has been his total commitment to developing the tools that made the use of nuclear weapons (that he helped to develop) unlikely. It's fascinating to learn of his trajectory in science and public service.- --Roald Hoffmann, chemist and writer -This is a book that is long overdue, and it will fill an important gap in the history of science advising in this country. Richard Garwin is not exactly a household name, but in the physics and science and technology policy community, it calls forth a degree of respect and authoritativeness that few can match. Garwin mostly works behind the scenes, often in classified environments, yet his influence on national science and technology matters is astonishing. No less astonishing has been the range of issues he has consulted on: nuclear arms control, supersonic transport, national missile defense, nuclear power, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, healthcare, satellites, influenza, pollution, and more--such is the breadth of his prodigious brain. Joel Shurkin has chronicled the broad sweep of Garwin's career, which has lasted over sixty years, with completeness, intelligence, and humanity, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants a window on the history of United States science, technology, and national policy since World War II, and who wants to know how the highly influential voice of one scientist has helped steer the country in the right direction.- --Nancy Forbes, coauthor of Faraday, Maxwell and the Electromagnetic Field: How Two Scientists Revolutionized Physics This book provides an important correction to the statement in its title that Richard Garwin is 'the most influential scientist you've never heard of.' In this informative, comprehensive, and interesting book, Joel Shurkin explains why Enrico Fermi called him a genius and why Garwin's life's work constitutes a major contribution over a wide range of science and technology that is of great value to the nation and the world. His work should be more broadly recognized now that he has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. --Sidney D. Drell, Emeritus Professor of Physics at Stanford and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution Pulitzer Prize-winner Joel Shurkin got the subtitle right, 'the most influential scientist you've never heard of.' I had never heard of Richard Garwin. And that was my loss, because Shurkin's incredibly well-written and well-researched book is a compulsive read about a genius who was right there in the designing and making of the H-bomb. The book raises fascinating issues of science and technology and the relationship between them, as well as enough moral issues to keep a philosophy class going for several semesters. Highly recommended! --Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University Garwin was and is someone special--a truly remarkable physicist, brilliant and eminently practical. And never afraid to speak directly to authority. Garwin's greatest service to our science community has been his total commitment to developing the tools that made the use of nuclear weapons (that he helped to develop) unlikely. It's fascinating to learn of his trajectory in science and public service. --Roald Hoffmann, chemist and writer This is a book that is long overdue, and it will fill an important gap in the history of science advising in this country. Richard Garwin is not exactly a household name, but in the physics and science and technology policy community, it calls forth a degree of respect and authoritativeness that few can match. Garwin mostly works behind the scenes, often in classified environments, yet his influence on national science and technology matters is astonishing. No less astonishing has been the range of issues he has consulted on: nuclear arms control, supersonic transport, national missile defense, nuclear power, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, healthcare, satellites, influenza, pollution, and more--such is the breadth of his prodigious brain. Joel Shurkin has chronicled the broad sweep of Garwin's career, which has lasted over sixty years, with completeness, intelligence, and humanity, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants a window on the history of United States science, technology, and national policy since World War II, and who wants to know how the highly influential voice of one scientist has helped steer the country in the right direction. --Nancy Forbes, coauthor of Faraday, Maxwell and the Electromagnetic Field: How Two Scientists Revolutionized Physics This book provides an important correction to the statement in its title that Richard Garwin is the most influential scientist you ve never heard of. In this informative, comprehensive, and interesting book, Joel Shurkin explains why Enrico Fermi called him a genius and why Garwin s life s work constitutes a major contribution over a wide range of science and technology that is of great value to the nation and the world. His work should be more broadly recognized now that he has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Sidney D. Drell, Emeritus Professor of Physics at Stanford and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution Pulitzer Prize winner Joel Shurkin got the subtitle right, the most influential scientist you ve never heard of. I had never heard of Richard Garwin. And that was my loss, because Shurkin s incredibly well-written and well-researched book is a compulsive read about a genius who was right there in the designing and making of the H-bomb. The book raises fascinating issues of science and technology and the relationship between them, as well as enough moral issues to keep a philosophy class going for several semesters. Highly recommended! Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University Garwin was and is someone special a truly remarkable physicist, brilliant and eminently practical. And never afraid to speak directly to authority. Garwin s greatest service to our science community has been his total commitment to developing the tools that made the use of nuclear weapons (that he helped to develop) unlikely. It s fascinating to learn of his trajectory in science and public service. Roald Hoffmann, chemist and writer This is a book that is long overdue, and it will fill an important gap in the history of science advising in this country. Richard Garwin is not exactly a household name, but in the physics and science and technology policy community, it calls forth a degree of respect and authoritativeness that few can match. Garwin mostly works behind the scenes, often in classified environments, yet his influence on national science and technology matters is astonishing. No less astonishing has been the range of issues he has consulted on: nuclear arms control, supersonic transport, national missile defense, nuclear power, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, healthcare, satellites, influenza, pollution, and more such is the breadth of his prodigious brain. Joel Shurkin has chronicled the broad sweep of Garwin s career, which has lasted over sixty years, with completeness, intelligence, and humanity, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants a window on the history of United States science, technology, and national policy since World War II, and who wants to know how the highly influential voice of one scientist has helped steer the country in the right direction. Nancy Forbes, coauthor of Faraday, Maxwell and the Electromagnetic Field: How Two Scientists Revolutionized Physics Pulitzer Prize winner Joel Shurkin got the subtitle right, the most influential scientist you ve never heard of. I had never heard of Richard Garwin. And that was my loss, because Shurkin s incredibly well-written and well-researched book is a compulsive read about a genius who was right there in the designing and making of the H-bomb. The book raises fascinating issues of science and technology and the relationship between them, as well as enough moral issues to keep a philosophy class going for several semesters. Highly recommended! Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University PRAISE FORBROKEN GENIUS Shurkin is a good storyteller, and better still as a researcher of the personal facts. Nobel laureate Professor Philip Anderson, Times Higher Educational Supplement Shurkin does a good job of portraying a difficult man--a vivid portrait. New Scientist PRAISE FOR ENGINES OF THE MIND Graphically illustrates how rapidly mankind is plunging ahead technologically, for better or worse, in the last half of the twentieth century. New York Times Book Review PRAISE FOR BROKEN GENIUS Shurkin is a good storyteller, and better still as a researcher of the personal facts. --Nobel laureate Professor Philip Anderson, Times Higher Educational Supplement Shurkin deftly tackles this complex figure -- and his unraveling -- and delivers an unflinching portrait of a tragic life. -- Seed Magazine Shurkin does a good job of portraying a difficult man--a vivid portrait. -- New Scientist PRAISE FOR ENGINES OF THE MIND [G]raphically illustrates how rapidly mankind is plunging ahead technologically, for better or worse, in the last half of the twentieth century. -- New York Times Book Review