Obsessive Genius

By: Barbara Goldsmith

Narrated by: Eliza Foss

Through family interviews, diaries, letters, and workbooks that had been sealed for over 60 years, Barbara Goldsmith reveals the Marie Curie behind the myth - an all-too-human woman struggling to balance a spectacular scientific career, a demanding family, the prejudice of society, and her own passionate nature. Obsessive Genius is a dazzling portrait of Curie, her amazing scientific success, and the price she paid for fame.

The best-selling, "excellent...poignant - and scientifically lucid - portrait" (New York Times Book Review) of the remarkable Marie Curie....

©2005 Barbara Goldsmith (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Never a dull moment.... Goldsmith leads the reader through a wonderland of facts with just the right blend of science and story. In the end, the mystery of the great Madame [Curie] remains, but a deeper understanding of what she went through as a woman and a scientist shines as strong as her radium." ( San Francisco Chronicle)

"Bestselling historian Goldsmith incisively chronicles [Curie's] intensely dramatic life.... Her powerful portrait reveals a woman of great passion, genius, and pain who changed the world." ( Booklist)

Mr. & Mrs. Curie; Pierre and Marie

Any additional comments?

This book gives a lot of credit to Mr. Pierre Curie which he deserves, he was a great scientist in his own right and helped make her what she became, a great scientist and person.

Interesting!

Loved learning about Curie even though my eyes glazed over when reading about scientific theories and experiments. But the book is entirely worth it!

Loved it!

The story was well-written, and I felt as if I was there in the same room watching what are we listening to. The story provided details of Cities life I had been unaware of. Overall, I loved it.

Good balance of detail and condensation

The author persuaded me by her tone and embedded attributions she was offering a balanced view of Marie Curie as a gifted and dedicated scientist—and working mother ahead of her time.

If I’d read the print edition, I’d be checking for references to support surprising facts included (e.g. Boltwood’s petty and/or prejudiced intrusion to block academic honors intended for Marie Curie and Albert Einstein).

The chapters at the end include the author’s interesting interpretation of the Curies’ personal relationship with radium, even after it should have been obvious that proximity to radium and x-rays came with significant health risks.

The summation of the fates of the main “characters” of the book and their scientific inquiries after Hitler took power, and then after WWII made for a satisfying conclusion, including the implied open questions.

Great account of a genius ahead of her era

Great bio of a genius caught up in an era where women were denied access to study, professions and positions, and insight into a host of discoveries in physics, chemistry and medicine, now applied to everyday life across home, manufacturing, science and war. Curious anecdotes also of everyday life and society from late 1800s to the Nazi era and second world war.