J. D. Bernal : The Sage of Science
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Review
Apart from taking its place as the best existing account of Bernal's life and work, Brown's book provides an inspiring introduction to the academic culture of the 1920s and 1930s, a period which to those living through it seemed to overflow with hope, challenge, and passion. (Richard Barnett, Lancet )
Bernal was himself a Colossus, and Andrew Brown has written a biography to match. It should stand as a classic. (Walter Gratzer, Current Biology )
Andrew Brown does an outstanding job of weaving together the many strands of Bernal's complicated life to create a hugely entertaining and enjoyable biography. (Robert Matthews, BBC Focus )
This complex and fascinating life is related with clarity and admirable organisation by Andrew Brown. Brown succeeds in not being overwhelmed by his subject. His book is strong on the science, but strikes a good balance between the scientific work and the many other strands of Bernal's career. He gives a real sense of the astonishing range of his subject's achievements. (Jon Turney, THES )
Marvellous book. (Brian Cathcart, New Statesman )
In this distinguished and definitive biography, Andrew Brown lays open the mystery of Sage. Brown writes with a historical flair rare in science writers. (Brenda Maddox, Sunday Times )
To read this book is almost to relive the European intellectual life of the last century. Andrew Brown's account of Bernal's scientific work is written with extraordinary clarity... he takes us on a thrilling voyage. (Sebastian Faulkes, The Spectator )
...admirable book... (Graham Farmelo, Sunday Telegraph )
This is a very fine (and large) book. Much more than a biography, because of Bernal's involvement in so many sociological issues of his day, it takes the form of a social history of the first half of the twentieth century. (Kenneth C. Holmes, Nature ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Bernal was himself a Colossus, and Andrew Brown has written a biography to match. It should stand as a classic. (Walter Gratzer, Current Biology )
Andrew Brown does an outstanding job of weaving together the many strands of Bernal's complicated life to create a hugely entertaining and enjoyable biography. (Robert Matthews, BBC Focus )
This complex and fascinating life is related with clarity and admirable organisation by Andrew Brown. Brown succeeds in not being overwhelmed by his subject. His book is strong on the science, but strikes a good balance between the scientific work and the many other strands of Bernal's career. He gives a real sense of the astonishing range of his subject's achievements. (Jon Turney, THES )
Marvellous book. (Brian Cathcart, New Statesman )
In this distinguished and definitive biography, Andrew Brown lays open the mystery of Sage. Brown writes with a historical flair rare in science writers. (Brenda Maddox, Sunday Times )
To read this book is almost to relive the European intellectual life of the last century. Andrew Brown's account of Bernal's scientific work is written with extraordinary clarity... he takes us on a thrilling voyage. (Sebastian Faulkes, The Spectator )
...admirable book... (Graham Farmelo, Sunday Telegraph )
This is a very fine (and large) book. Much more than a biography, because of Bernal's involvement in so many sociological issues of his day, it takes the form of a social history of the first half of the twentieth century. (Kenneth C. Holmes, Nature ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Graham Farmelo, Sunday Telegraph
""...admirable book...""
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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The newest and grandest liner in the White Star fleet, Celtic, sailed from Queenstown harbour without fanfare. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The newest and grandest liner in the White Star fleet, Celtic, sailed from Queenstown harbour without fanfare. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After reading this delightful biography one cannot help wondering what Desmond Bernal actually was. Just because he spent most of carreer at Cambridge studying rontgen-cristallography - to which he made important contributions, just short of winning him a Nobel - doesn't make him a scientist.
Rather he was an adventurer who happened to be good at physics and mathematics. So after doing a lot of the planning for D-day he went for Normandy himself, spending just a couple of days before leaving for the Pacific front of WWII to do the planning there. His military carreer stopped shortly after the war, as he remained a staunch communist, applauding Stalin even after his death. It didn't stop him to lead a James Bond kind of live when it came to women.
Andrew Brown has done a really fine job in portraying this multitalented man, who is easily overlooked in the history of science or war, just because he wasn't the kind of person who would dedicate himself completely to one cause (or person).
Rather he was an adventurer who happened to be good at physics and mathematics. So after doing a lot of the planning for D-day he went for Normandy himself, spending just a couple of days before leaving for the Pacific front of WWII to do the planning there. His military carreer stopped shortly after the war, as he remained a staunch communist, applauding Stalin even after his death. It didn't stop him to lead a James Bond kind of live when it came to women.
Andrew Brown has done a really fine job in portraying this multitalented man, who is easily overlooked in the history of science or war, just because he wasn't the kind of person who would dedicate himself completely to one cause (or person).
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This fine book is lucidly and beautifully written. Subjects like this can be daunting for the non-scientist, but even these aspects are elegantly explained. And it is by no means all about science - Bernal was, it seems, a swordsman of prodigious appetites, which must surely make him a gift for portrayal in some trashy Hollywood flick. His scientific contributions to the Second World War effort are engagingly described, and his ludicrous politics laid bare.
If you can't read it yourself, give it to that bright but hormonally charged nephew of yours.
If you can't read it yourself, give it to that bright but hormonally charged nephew of yours.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
The First Molecular Biologist
5 July 2008
Format:Paperback
.D.Bernal(1901-1972) was a genius level crystallographer who made original contributions to the study of protein structures in the early days of X-ray crystallography.The author portrays him as the first molecular biologist, although he was trained as a physicist. He worked at Birkbeck College and at the Royal Institution. He helped plan the D-Day landings in Normandy, and helped train proteges such as Dorothy Hodgkins and Helen McGaw.He served as an advisor to Lord Mountbatten in the far east. Unfortunately he was also an ardent communist and seemed to feel that scientific research was better organized in the USSR than in the west. He failed to condemn the Soviet liquidation of its geneticists or the biology of Lysenko.
This in-depth biography contains many quotes from Bernal's extensive writings on subjects at the interface of science and politics.
Not omitted are Bernal's many love affairs and open marriage.
Many of the great figures of 20th century science come into this book, including Lord Rutherford(Bernal was one of two people Rutherford loathed),Francis Crick, Max Perutz( who was Bernal's student), John Kendrew ,"Solly" Zuckerman, William and Lawrence Bragg and Lord Cherwell
( the other person Rutherford loathed).
The book will appeal most to the scientifically inclined, although there
is nothing really technical to understand. Bernal came close to understanding the helical structure of DNA. Ironically Francis Crick wanted to work with Bernal, but was sent away by his secretary.
The book started slowly, but became really interesting in the part about WW II as Bernal's career accelerated toward what seemed to be a crash
over his communist ideas.We learn about the British plan(never realized) to construct a huge aircraft carrier out of ice reinforceed with wood pulp.
Bernal was a true polymath, able to discuss diverse subjects such as art and architecure as well as science, and had the sort of mind that could comprehend and organize vast masses of data, making him valuable in tasks like assessing bomb damage during the Blitz.
Overall, an absorbing interesting book.
This in-depth biography contains many quotes from Bernal's extensive writings on subjects at the interface of science and politics.
Not omitted are Bernal's many love affairs and open marriage.
Many of the great figures of 20th century science come into this book, including Lord Rutherford(Bernal was one of two people Rutherford loathed),Francis Crick, Max Perutz( who was Bernal's student), John Kendrew ,"Solly" Zuckerman, William and Lawrence Bragg and Lord Cherwell
( the other person Rutherford loathed).
The book will appeal most to the scientifically inclined, although there
is nothing really technical to understand. Bernal came close to understanding the helical structure of DNA. Ironically Francis Crick wanted to work with Bernal, but was sent away by his secretary.
The book started slowly, but became really interesting in the part about WW II as Bernal's career accelerated toward what seemed to be a crash
over his communist ideas.We learn about the British plan(never realized) to construct a huge aircraft carrier out of ice reinforceed with wood pulp.
Bernal was a true polymath, able to discuss diverse subjects such as art and architecure as well as science, and had the sort of mind that could comprehend and organize vast masses of data, making him valuable in tasks like assessing bomb damage during the Blitz.
Overall, an absorbing interesting book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Great service and price
26 Oct 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Book was received very promptly, and with reasonable price and shipping. Book is everything I hoped for and more - a brilliant exposition of J.D. Bernal's controversial and thought-provoking writings.
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