The Woman Who Split the Atom

The Life of Lise Meitner

De: Marissa Moss

Narrado por: Sandy Rustin

The gripping story of Lise Meitner, the physicist who discovered nuclear fission

As a female Jewish physicist in Berlin during the early twentieth century, Lise Meitner had to fight for an education, a job, and equal treatment in her field.

Meitner made groundbreaking strides in the study of radiation, but when Hitler came to power in Germany, she had to face not only sexism but life-threatening anti-Semitism as well. Nevertheless, she persevered and one day made a discovery that rocked the world: the splitting of the atom. While her male lab partner was awarded a Nobel Prize for the achievement, the committee refused to credit her.

Suddenly, the race to build the atomic bomb was on—although Meitner, a pacifist, was horrified to be associated with such a weapon. “A physicist who never lost her humanity,” Meitner wanted only to figure out how the world works.

The Woman Who Split the Atom is a fascinating look at Meitner’s fierce passion, integrity, and her lifelong struggle to have her contributions to physics recognized.

©2022 Marissa Moss (P)2022 Recorded Books

Bravo.

A person and a life that should be at least as well known as that of Marie Curie. Skillfully told, with excellent reading. Highly recommended.

Great Story

I really liked the format of the book. I also liked that we also got to learn about other scienceists along the way. Super interesting, definitely recommend

written for young adults

this isn't particularly in depth regarding Meitner's research and discoveries but goes of her life written in easily digestible short chapters.

I’m stunned

Rarely have I stumbled across a book I enjoyed so much. What an amazing and hidden story. Every woman in the world should know of her struggle and achievement.

Physics is for truth and knowledge, not for war an

(As posted in Goodreads)
This was a book club book, and although it's nominally a children's book, and took the effort not to talk down to the reader and actually discuss the science in an informative way that I really appreciated! The book club gave it 4 out of 5 atoms (stars) [we use a unit relative to the individual book when rating it: in this case, we use atoms to correspond to the topic and title]
Several of us that on the science in the book intimidating and over our heads, but on the other hand, the rest of us were quite comfortable with it. The writing itself Was simplistic and the overall structure- aimed at a preteen- was almost stilted and definitely choppy for at least one reader, but when she changed to the audio (which is what I always use) it was definitely better; she then went back to the written book for the cartoons (of which I was totally unaware...)
It, of course, pointed out the early discriminations against women in science; then, it got into the discrimination against Jews in Germany in the 1930s. The trials of Lise Meitner's life were on full display. She was denied the Nobel Prize, but she was decreed to be “Queen of the atom bomb”, a title she always detested. Physics was for Knowledge and truth, not for bombs and death!
I really like this book, despite the fact that it's nominally our children's book. And my middle name is after her first one :)