
A Force of Nature
The Frontier Genius of Ernest Rutherford
Richard Reeves(Author)
WW Norton & Co (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 16. December 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
226 pages
978-0-393-33369-5 (ISBN)
Description
Born in colonial New Zealand, Ernest Rutherford grew up on the frontier-a different world from Cambridge, to which he won a scholarship at the age of twenty-four. His work revolutionized modern physics. Among his discoveries were the orbital structure of the atom and the concept of the "half-life" of radioactive materials. Rutherford and the young men working under him were the first to split the atom, unlocking tremendous forces-forces, as Rutherford himself predicted, that would bring us the atomic bomb. In Richard Reeves's hands, Rutherford comes alive, a ruddy, genial man and a pivotal figure in scientific history.
Reviews / Votes
"Richard Reeves, in his wonderfully lucid style, renders the genius of Ernest Rutherford, who exposed the inner workings of the atom. A great experimentalist and mentor, Rutherford gave birth to the atomic age in his labs, and Reeves captures the drama, personalities, and science." -- Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein: His Life and UniverseMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 133 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
290 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-393-33369-5 (9780393333695)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
12/2008
W. W. Norton & Company
€20.49
Available for download
Person
Richard Reeves, an award-winning historian and columnist, is the author of many books, including President Reagan: The Triumph of Imagination. He is a senior lecturer at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. He splits his time between New York City and Santa Monica, California.