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The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius

Graham Farmelo

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The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius

by Graham Farmelo
Save up to 35%
The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius - Thryft
The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius - Thryft

Unveiling the enigma of a quantum visionary.

If you’re intrigued by the human facets behind towering scientific intellects, "The Strangest Man" presents a compelling blend that you’re likely to appreciate. Graham Farmelo delves into the intricacies of Paul Dirac’s personal and professional life, offering a nuanced portrait that contrasts his groundbreaking contributions to physics with his private challenges and unique personality. It's a biography that not only celebrates genius but also humanizes it in the context of its time, making it a thought-provoking read.

  • Guardian First Book Award Nominee for Longlist (2009)
  • PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography Nominee (2010)
  • Costa Book Award for Biography (2009)
  • Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology (2009)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Sale

The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius

by Graham Farmelo
Save up to 35%
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780571222780
Author: Graham Farmelo
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Date of Publication: 2009-01-01
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Science, Biographies & Memoirs, History
Related Topics: Memoir, Physics, Biography, Mathematics, Microhistory, Popular Science, Biography Memoir
Goodreads rating: 4.01
(rated by 7173 readers)

Description

Paul Dirac was one of the leading pioneers of the greatest revolution in 20th-century quantum mechanics. One of the youngest theoreticians ever to win the Nobel Prize for Physics, he was also pathologically reticent, strangely literal-minded, and legendarily unable to communicate or empathize. Through his greatest period of productivity, his postcards home contained only remarks about the weather. Based on a previously undiscovered archive of family papers, Graham Farmelo celebrates Dirac's massive scientific achievement while drawing a compassionate portrait of his life and work. Farmelo shows a man who, while hopelessly socially inept, could manage to love and sustain close friendship. 'The Strangest Man' is an extraordinary and moving human story, as well as a study of one of the most exciting times in scientific history.
 

Unveiling the enigma of a quantum visionary.

If you’re intrigued by the human facets behind towering scientific intellects, "The Strangest Man" presents a compelling blend that you’re likely to appreciate. Graham Farmelo delves into the intricacies of Paul Dirac’s personal and professional life, offering a nuanced portrait that contrasts his groundbreaking contributions to physics with his private challenges and unique personality. It's a biography that not only celebrates genius but also humanizes it in the context of its time, making it a thought-provoking read.

  • Guardian First Book Award Nominee for Longlist (2009)
  • PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography Nominee (2010)
  • Costa Book Award for Biography (2009)
  • Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology (2009)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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