The Pope of Physics

Enrico Fermi and the Birth of the Atomic Age

By: Gino Segre, Bettina Hoerlin

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

Enrico Fermi is unquestionably among the greats of the world's physicists, the most famous Italian scientist since Galileo. Called "the Pope" by his peers, he was regarded as infallible in his instincts and research. His discoveries changed our world; they led to weapons of mass destruction and conversely to life-saving medical interventions. This unassuming man struggled with issues relevant today, such as the threat of nuclear annihilation and the relationship of science to politics. Fleeing Fascism and anti-Semitism, Fermi became a leading figure in America's most secret project: building the atomic bomb.

The last physicist who mastered all branches of the discipline, Fermi was a rare mixture of theorist and experimentalist. His rich legacy encompasses key advances in fields as diverse as cosmic rays, nuclear technology, and early computers. In their revealing book, The Pope of Physics, Gino Segrè and Bettina Hoerlin bring this scientific visionary to life. An examination of the human dramas that touched Fermi's life as well as a thrilling history of scientific innovation in the 20th century, this is the comprehensive biography that Fermi deserves.

©2016 Gino Segrè and Bettina Hoerlin (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Segrè and Hoerlin draw an engaging portrait of a man with boundless curiosity who delighted in his work; fans of pop science and history will thoroughly enjoy this entertaining and accessible biography of a scientist who deserves to be better understood." ( Publishers Weekly)

Great Book

I've been a fan of the history of physics for over 60 years. This nook did not disappoint.

The Pope!

I found this audiobook both enjoyable and concise, offering a fascinating historical perspective. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of science or physics. Understanding Fermi’s story is a crucial piece in grasping the broader picture of our current scientific knowledge.

excellent

great book, excellent narration. A must read for any student of the history of modern physics

terrific!

loved reading this! extremely intriguing and interesting. It's a treat for every science noob to a geek

The man behind the myth.

This was a great read; fusing Fermi's personal turmoils, world politics and the events that created the nuclear age, all connected through the Pope's resolute and steady composition.

Not as good as ‘The last Man Who Knew Everything’

Not as good as The Last Man Who Knew Everything.’ Second best book about Fermi nonetheless

Excellent, but...

Seriously lacking in covering the Manhattan project. Otherwise fills a definite gap in literature about the birth of modern physics.

Beautiful!

I just loved this audiobook. Very interesting, both the science part and the story of the Popes life. Highly recomend it.

Madame Curie was Polish, not French.

Wonderful story, I’ve enjoyed it tremendously, however, portraying Marie Curie as French is a mistake. She was Polish. Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie, known simply as Marie Curie. Polish physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields. Her husband, Pierre Curie, was a co-winner of her first Nobel Prize, making them the first-ever married couple to win the Nobel Prize

Engaging Portrait of Fermi

This is a biography of Enrico Fermi (1901- 1954). He is Italy’s greatest scientist since Galileo. Fermi was called Pope by his peers. Fermi’s discoveries covered a broad range from semiconductors, transistors to MRI’s, nuclear reactors to the atomic bomb. He won the Nobel Prize in 1938 in physics for his work on artificial radioactivity produced by neutrons. Winning this award allowed the Fermi family to go to Stockholm, Sweden and from there they escaped to the United States. They fled Italy and its fascism and anti-Semitism just prior to World War II. Fermi’s wife was Jewish. They had two children. Fermi became a professor at Columbia University in New York City, then the University of Chicago and also worked on the Manhattan project.

The book is well written and meticulously researched. Segre and Hoerlin do a great job of bringing Fermi to life in an easily readable fashion. Fermi was one of the greats in the field of physics at a time of many great men such as Lawrence, Oppenheimer and Einstein. I was most interested in the descriptions of life in Italy from 1900 to 1939. The authors did an excellent job in bringing these years to life.

The book is about ten and half hours long. Tim Campbell does a good job narratoring the book. Campbell is a voice over artist and audiobook narrator.