Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring by Henry J. Eyring

Apr 09, 2009 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I haven't read many biographies. I checked this out because our library had it (I'm checking out every single book published by Deseret Book- I need all the LDS stuff I can get!) Anyway, this particular biography is about Henry Eyring, President Henry B. Eyring's father. I really enjoyed this book. It took me a lot longer than most fiction books, but that's because I had to actually think about what was happeneing- not a bad thing in my mind. Being a math mind, all the chemistry and physics talk...more I haven't read many biographies. I checked this out because our library had it (I'm checking out every single book published by Deseret Book- I need all the LDS stuff I can get!) Anyway, this particular biography is about Henry Eyring, President Henry B. Eyring's father. I really enjoyed this book. It took me a lot longer than most fiction books, but that's because I had to actually think about what was happeneing- not a bad thing in my mind. Being a math mind, all the chemistry and physics talk interested me, but reading about Henry's life and how he viewed the world- well, it left me feeling like I could do much, much better myself. The chapters on his life paradoxes were particularly interesting to me; he seemed to have the key to understanding anything. He tried as hard as he could to learn everything possible but still accepted that there were things he would never learn in this life. He believed that science and religion work together, rather than providing opposing views (which is how I felt, especially in biology with the whole evolution thing). And he was funny- multiple times I caught myself laughing out loud at something he would say. I also enjoyed reading about his ancestors, mostly because I'm a sucker for pioneer stories, and also because Henry was born in an LDS community where some of my great's were raised (I wonder if they knew each other?!?) There were many parts that left me uplifted, but this story most of all (Henry B. Eyring has actually used this in a recent Conference talk):

"Dad was the senior high councilor in his stake, and he had the responsibility for the welfare farm. An assignment was given to weed a field of onions, so Dad assigned himself to go work on the farm. He never told me how hard it was, but I have met several people who were with him that day. I talked to one of them on the phone, and he said … that the pain was so great that Dad was pulling himself along on his stomach with his elbows. He couldn’t kneel. The pain was too great for him to kneel. Everyone who has talked to me about that day has remarked how Dad smiled and laughed and talked happily with them as they worked in that field of onions.

"Now, this is the joke Dad told me on himself afterward. He said he was there at the end of the day. After all the work was finished and the onions were all weeded, someone said to him, “Henry, good heavens! You didn’t pull those weeds, did you? Those weeds were sprayed two days ago, and they were going to die anyway.”

"Dad just roared. He thought that was the funniest thing. He though it was a great joke on himself. He had worked through the day on the wrong weeds. They had been sprayed and would have died anyway.

"When Dad told me this story, I knew how tough it was. So I asked him, 'Dad, how could you make a joke out of that? How could you take it so pleasantly?' He said something to me that I will never forget, and I hope you won’t. He said, 'Hal, I wasn’t there for the weeds.'"

303 pages, 2009 total: 7021(less)

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Mar 06, 2008 Rosa rated it 4 of 5 stars

FINALLY- A book that is completely logical about science and religion. I have always believed that one could be a true scientist and have a testimony of God and His work. I highly recommend this book to all those who have an appreciation for science (especially if you love the physical sciences). I wish that I would have had a better understanding of physics so that I could have an even deeper appreciation of Eyrings contributions. Eyring was an incredible man, insanely intelligent, loved his fa...more

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May 26, 2013 Lon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Henry Eyring was a scientist of international renown. His theoretical and experimental work in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s drew on the principles of quantum theory in better unlocking the mysteries of radioactive dating and other phenomena in the field of geology and chemistry. As a Mormon, his openness to science in general, and to evolution and pre-historic (and pre-Adamic) humans specifically, was considered refreshing by some in the LDS community and also as heretical by a few fundamentalists an...more Henry Eyring was a scientist of international renown. His theoretical and experimental work in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s drew on the principles of quantum theory in better unlocking the mysteries of radioactive dating and other phenomena in the field of geology and chemistry. As a Mormon, his openness to science in general, and to evolution and pre-historic (and pre-Adamic) humans specifically, was considered refreshing by some in the LDS community and also as heretical by a few fundamentalists and anti-intellectuals in the same community. This was a generation after scientifically trained leaders like Elder Talmage and Elder Widstoe held respected positions in the Church, but before Joseph Fielding Smith's views and the views of his son-in-law B.R. McConkie had so pervasively infected Church culture with a contempt for scientific inquiry and the empirical method. Eyring often found himself in the position of promoting reason to the religious and also defending faith to the scientific community. While supremely confident, he nonetheless displayed the true scientist's trait of openness to new ideas and an ability to cast aside old theories when they no longer proved faithful to new data; likewise, he displayed the true spiritual seeker's trait of openness to new ideas and an ability to cast aside commonly held assumptions (or even scriptural accounts) if they are contradicted by new reliable and incontrovertible evidence.

He learned this attitude towards truth from his father, who not only allowed his son to study at the university, but encouraged him with the reassurance that “…in this church you don’t have to believe anything that isn’t true. You go over to the University of Arizona and learn everything you can, and whatever is true is part of the gospel."

He took that as his mantra through life. The following quote is typical:
"I am obliged, as a latter-day saint, to believe whatever is true, regardless of the source."

Conversely, when it came to his attitude towards scripture or teachings of the leaders of the church, he was just as obliged to NOT believe whatever seemed NOT to be true, regardless of the source. But he was slippery about committing himself to belief in things that expressly challenged orthodox, scripturally-based views (e.g., no death before the Fall). He seemed to hide behind the maxim that he would believe whatever was true, and leave it at that. He was once asked, for example, if he believed that there were humans who lived before Adam and Eve. Well, of course he did--he was a student of the fossil record and radioactive dating and carbon dating--but his answer, both witty and non-committal, nevertheless reveals a great deal of wisdom. What did he believe? He responded: "I believe whichever way it turns out to have actually been.”

A few more quotes of his:

"The scientific spirit is a spirit of inquiry, a spirit of reaching out for truth. In the final analysis, this spirit is likewise of the essence of religion."

"It is interesting to recall that, in ages past, religious men felt that their faith hinged on the notion that the earth was flat. However, when it was found to be round, they discovered that their basic religious ideas had survived without perceptible damage. In fact, the great underlying principles of faith were brought into bolder relief when the clutter of false notions was removed from about them."

"There are some people who throw away the scriptures and restrict themselves to science and related fields. Others use the scriptures to the exclusion of other truth. Both are wrong. Latter-day Saints should seek after truth by all avenues with earnest humility. There is, of course, no conflict in the gospel since it embraces all truth. Undoubtedly, however, science is continually challenging us to think through again our conceptions of the gospel."

"The assumption that because a man understands something about the operation of the Universe he will necessarily be less faithful is a gratuitous assumption contradicted by numberless examples. God, who understands all about the Universe, is apparently not troubled by this knowledge…If the Church espouses the cause of ignorance it will alienate more people than if it advises men to seek after the truth even at some risk."
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Dec 27, 2012 Janean rated it 3 of 5 stars

I would suggest that the reader (unless he/she is a chemist) not get bogged down in the first chapter. If I were the editor, I wouldn't have put that as the first chapter.
Here are my favorite quotes:
I would recommend that the reader doesn’t get discouraged with the first chapter, but keeps going.
P.4 Dad told him, “in this Church you don’t have to believe anything that isn’t true.”
As a scientist:
• He was good at simplifying and visualizing things.
• Developed the absolute rate theory (ART) chemi...more

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Jan 31, 2010 Anthony rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a good book. I connected with Mr. Eyring's thoughts and approaches to the science / religion 'delima'. I liked this exerpt in particular, "...So this, then, is sort of the picture that I would give you and end on the note that I can't see any difference between the kinds of arguments that you make to support religion and the arguments that you make to support science. I understand, of course, that there are contradictions of all kinds in science, and there are contradictions between sci...more This was a good book. I connected with Mr. Eyring's thoughts and approaches to the science / religion 'delima'. I liked this exerpt in particular, "...So this, then, is sort of the picture that I would give you and end on the note that I can't see any difference between the kinds of arguments that you make to support religion and the arguments that you make to support science. I understand, of course, that there are contradictions of all kinds in science, and there are contradictions between science and religion, and there are contradictions between various parts of religion in every human mind (but not in God's mind; in a billion years you'll have your problems solved, if you can wait)."

I also especially like Henry's father's advice when he left for school, "...in this Church you don't have to believe anything that isn' t true. You go over to the University of Arizona and learn everything you can, and whatever is true is part of the gospel."

I also connected with Mr. Eyring's approach to work, science, discovery, etc.. There were several instances about how Mr. Eyring really loved his work, had good determination, and loved continually learning. One story I thought was particularly enjoyable was about how his son Hal was getting some tutoring from his father at Physics. One week they were working on a problem that they had worked on the week before. Henry was upset with the lack of progress that Hal had made on the problem over the past week. He said, "Hal, we were working this same kind of problem a week ago. You don't seem to understand it any better now than you did then. Haven't you been working on it?" Hal admited that he hadn't and then Henry went on to say, "You don't understand. When you walk down the street, when you're in the shower, when you don't have to be thinking about anything else, isn't this what you think about?" Henry then said that he thought Hal better get out of Physics.

Finally, I loved this quote by Mr. Eyring: "Geologists search for the meaning to be read into the piled-up strata of the earth much as a historian might turn the pages of an ancient, damaged manuscript. The astronomer seeks the answer to his questions in the depths of space. Still other men concentrate on the scriptures alone. The wise man searches all these and other sources, knowing that all are communications from the same divine source and certain that, if followed far enought, all will guide him back to the Divine Presence."
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Jul 03, 2009 Alan Marchant rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mormonania, nonfiction

Mormon. Scientist.

Unfortunately, that's about all there is to this kindly but shallow tribute to the beloved Mormon chemist. I wish I could give the book a better rating, but as biography, it disappoints.

Here's some of what's missing:
How did Henry Eyring relate to the women in his life (besides his two mothers)?
To what extent did Church responsibilities influence Eyring's transition from a scientist to an administrator, and how did he manage the change?
There are scant allusions to Eyring's paren...more

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Dec 29, 2008 Jim rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is a good insight into the life and thinking of Henry Eyring. His choice to maintain faith and to wait for all the right answers before committing to beliefs on contested questions where science and religion are at odds is healthy, although somewhat cowardly. His clear choice is to have faith with all the positive aspects belief brings to life.

If religion and science are really about finding the truth, then his approach is the best avenue. However, religion often declares the truth, a...more

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May 17, 2010 Mitzi rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was less of a biography than a memoir about Henry Eyring. It's written by his grandson and so is treated with less objective observation than a real biography would be. In fact, in some ways it was more of a religion book than a biography book at all. The author presents an ideal and then explains why Eyring exemplifies it. It made for an interesting format but one that repeated ALOT of experiences and quotes, which I think, ultimately was a disservice to Eyring's life by making it seem the...more

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Mar 29, 2009 Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book with a bookclub and thought it was very interesting and insightful. He was obviously a very bright man and his personality came through in the book. Coming from a science household, I could relate to physics problems on the chalkboard it reminded me of days we developed photos in the basement when I was young.

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May 04, 2009 Jon Cox rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: history-politics, non-fiction, philosophy-religion

This book had some good stories in it, like the story of Henry Eyring trying to teach Albert Einstein about the resurrection and getting stumped by Einstein's question about whether dogs will be resurrected. The book also contains some good philosophy about the mix of science and faith. However, I did not enjoy the structure of the book. Because it was written to highlight and explicate characteristics of Henry Eyring rather than his life, the stories are chronologically jumbled and at times con...more

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Jan 13, 2009 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: church

So I just loved the last three pages of this book. This man has truly been able to get a grasp on relgion and life. So the following is the last few pages from the book that really touched my heart.
"So for me, I've made a picture of the world. It may be right. It may be wrong. But for me it is very real, and I've had experiences for me which are real, and so for me the onlyt thing that I can do is say, "Try what the Savior said: try it and see if it works, and you;ll find that it does work and t...more So I just loved the last three pages of this book. This man has truly been able to get a grasp on relgion and life. So the following is the last few pages from the book that really touched my heart.
"So for me, I've made a picture of the world. It may be right. It may be wrong. But for me it is very real, and I've had experiences for me which are real, and so for me the onlyt thing that I can do is say, "Try what the Savior said: try it and see if it works, and you;ll find that it does work and that it's tremendously important." Of course it's everything. I mean, you can't put anything in comparison with it. It's really true. I mean, if there is a God who cares and whether we like it or not we're going to stand in judgment (in my case you might speculate that it might be quite soon--thank you, but I don't think it will be that soon), but anyway I've always thought of this picture; I've thought this thinkg that kind of makes me do a little better. I've thought, if the Lord is really just and a little bit harsh, He might just put on that screen up there while all of you are watching in the hereafter and say, "Old Man Eyring --do you remember the night that he preached to you down at the BYU and osunded so noble and fine? Here is what he is really like, here'e the movie of the fellow from the time he was a little boy up throught the whole years. And he had the gall to go down there and preach to you and talk like a Saint, and he's a scoundrel."
Now, that would make me do better. I mean, just to think that makes me try to do a little better. But I don't think He'd do that; I don't think He'd be that harsh. But you know the test of what you ought to do? You ought to live in such a way that you would be perfectly happy to have everything that you do known. And if you don't do that, maybe you'd better change a little bit. I'd say if you're doing somthing that you hope poeple don't know, God knows them, and if He wants to He'll turn that movie on for you. I mean, He'll at least turn it on in your own mind. He may not be so unkind as to show it to all the neightbores, but He will let you see it and He'll remind you, and if you're doing some things right tonight or tomorrow or any other time that you don't care to have anybody else know--or you wouldn't even want to know about them yourself or have to think about them very clearly--I think we better quit. I mean, that' the best test for me to try to do better. I don't want to even look at myself; I mean, I'm not very bad, I'm not even bad enought to be interesting. But dull as I am I wouldn't want to do that; so don't look for anything, because I'm kind of harsh on my graduate students and expect a little more of them and take more of the credit sometimes than I ought to; you know, just not as noble as I ought to be. My wife drives me up here tonight and did it beautifully, and we get over in the parking lot and she talks a little bit about how we ought to have gotten closer, and I get a little bit out of patience and say, "Well, we can't always be perfect," and she remembers. But all of us have got things we've got to do better.
So we ought to make a picture of the world like mine or make a better one, make one that squares with reality more, and in it I think will come this idea: that you are going to have to live with yourself, and that your neightbores may have to know about you a certain amoungt, and that there is going to be a judgement, and that the world is really beaurigul, and really it's a wonderful place to live and lots more wonderful if you live in such a way that you can live with yourself.
So this, then, is sort of the picture that I would give you and end on the note that I can't see any difference between the kinds of arguments that you make to support religion and the arguments that you make to support science. I understand, of course, that there are contradictions of all kind in science, and there are contradictions betweeen various parts of religion in every human mind (but not in God's mind; in a billion years you'll have your problems solved, if you can wait).
And there aren't any problems, really, but I always feel a little bit unhappy when somebody tells me that they'll give me a beautiful picture that reconciles everthing. Baloney. I mean, I can't reconcile chemistry, and they're going to take the whole world and reconcile it and relgion and science and everything in it? I can't do that. I like contradictions. I like a little bit of a mess, and I am glad when one of the brethren says saoething that I think is a little bit foolish, because I think if the Lord can stand him, maybe He can stand me. So that's it, and I think that maybe there's a certain stumbling block that some of us have: we expect other people to be a kind of perfection that we don't even attemt to approach ourselves. We expect the brethren or the bishop or the stake president or the General Authorities to be not human, even. We expect the Lord to just open and shut their mouths, but He doesn't do that--they are human beings; but they're wonderful, and they do better than they would if it weren't for the Lord helping them. I think I would say this, that I don't think there's a finer group in the world than the bishops of the Latter-day Saint Church. Some of the aren't what they ought to be, but just by-and-large you won't find a more devoted group of men than that.
So that's my answer to this remark--somebody says that a student is down here at BYU and he's a member of the Church, but he's a mess. And I say, "Yes, I agree. But you ought to see what the fellow would be like if it weren't for the Church." And that's what the gospel does. It takes all of us withour faults and makes us better. It's a wonderful thinkg, and there isn't anything like the gospel. If we can live close to it and approach, at least, the life of the Savior in the kind of way that we put other people's interests before our own and in general try to be helpful, we can have a heaven on earth, and life will be a wonderful thing. And it's really true, in my opinion."
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Nov 11, 2009 Randy rated it 4 of 5 stars

So many facets of this book did not fit standard expectations for biographies that it is hard to give a rating.

For lack of a better word, I would describe the book as a "soft" biography. It is intentionally not objective (written by Eyring's grandson), but still contains great information.

The reading is easy and enjoyable, but sometimes the biographer seems to make it just a bit too personal, referring to Eyring using the familial "Grandpa" at times, as an example. Such phrases and passages we...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone

Recommended to Linda by: Todd Alder

This book is special to me for many reasons. One, I personally knew Dr Eyring's second wife Winnifred, who everyone just called Sister Eyring. She was one of the first people I met when I moved to Utah because she was directly involved with the LDS Business College which I attended. So for sentimental reasons I wanted to read this. Another reason I was so happy with this book is the fact that someone I respect is voicing the exact opinions my husband has. Believe me that is rare. The life of a s...more

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Nov 17, 2010 Aaron rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is awesome for those who find themselves balancing a belief in science and in religion. Henry Eyring was a very remarkable person who embraced the contradictions between the two and came out better for it. There were some very memorable quotes in the book, many of which are personally meaningful to me.

The only sub-par aspect of the book, in my opinion, is the narration. It seemed that themes were identified in Eyring's life, not so much because they were there, but more because they we...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Beth Pearson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book a few years ago when my book club picked it. Definitely not my kind of book. I felt extra robbed when I figured out it was about Henry Eyring's (of the 1st Presidency) FATHER, not him. Since it was for book club though, I persevered.

And learned a lot. Besides learning about an amazing, extraordinary life, I learned that there is smart and there is SMART! Some of Eyring's ideas and thoughts were explained in laymen terms, but I still had to read them 2 or 3 times to "get it."

Mo...more

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Jul 06, 2008 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is very interesting. I love President Eyring so
it was easy to love a book about his father. I love
that it talks about science and the church and how he
stood up for what he believed even being a great scien
tist of our time

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Mar 14, 2010 Chrystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lds-authors, non-fiction

I loved this book. I think since I read, "Reflections of a Scientist" first that I got the best in the shorter version first. But I'm glad I got to know his background and personality and history better from this larger edition. I wish I could have had Henry Eyring as a professor. I admire his attitudes and faith. I enjoyed the part about paradoxes: Confidence and Humility, Discipline and Creativity, Freedom and Obedience, Reasoning, More than Reasons, Fundamentals, Not Conventions, and People,...more I loved this book. I think since I read, "Reflections of a Scientist" first that I got the best in the shorter version first. But I'm glad I got to know his background and personality and history better from this larger edition. I wish I could have had Henry Eyring as a professor. I admire his attitudes and faith. I enjoyed the part about paradoxes: Confidence and Humility, Discipline and Creativity, Freedom and Obedience, Reasoning, More than Reasons, Fundamentals, Not Conventions, and People, Not Public Opinion. I want to work harder at mastering these contradictions in myself. I enjoyed seeing how he was able to master both sides of these paradoxes.

I loved a lot of quotes in this book and so I don't forget them, I'm going to add them here:

"This Church doesn't require you to believe anything that isn't true."

" The thought of 'no end of things to learn' excited Henry. Rather than being discouraged by the prospect of an eternity of problem solving, he found it rejuvenating: 'One never really grows old as long as there are higher peaks still to be climbed. If each day brings a new challenge with an opportunity to pit one's best efforts against a hostile environment, life remains as interesting and stirring at sixty as at twenty. "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?"

"There are few ways in which good people do more harm to those who take them seriously than to defend the gospel with arguments that won't hold water. Many of the difficulties encountered by young people going to college would be avoided if parents and teachers were more careful to distinguish between what they know to be true and what they think may be true. Impetuous youth, upon finding the authority it trusts crumbling, even on unimportant details, is apt to lump everything together and throw the baby out with the bath."

"I try to see what the gospel really depends on. I try to keep from worrying about the kind of things I am not sure about. If I start arguing about them, I'll get it half wrong and maybe nearly all wrong -- because I don't understand them. These matters are unfinished. They will be clarified in due course." (I loved how he made it clear that just because man is confused doesn't mean it can't be explained, God understands it and will teach us everything in His time.)

"There are unsuccessful bright people who are so overcritical that they cannot even stand their own creativeness. Being critical slows down creativity because when you first get an idea, it generally does not come full-blown like Athena from the mind of Jove. If you are horrified because it is not perfect to begin with, you may abandon it. To be a successful scientist, it is often useful to be a happy muddler."

"Do the best you can with what you have about you. The future will take care of itself."

"I try to live up to my ideals even though I fail at times. I tremendously admire those around us who have this sense of duty. In the vastness of the universe we are not alone, but are really looking to a higher Power. Religions is a living, real thing for me. I don't see how it is possible to be happy without it. The idea that one is a brother to one's neighbor and the obligation that we have to life the burdens of those around us is more important than material things. Happiness is more a function of worthwhileness than the possession of material things."

"Whether Adam's father lived on this earth or somewhere else would seem of secondary importance to me. Adam was the one whom God recognized as presiding over the first dispensation and as such, with Eve his wife, became our first parents. If God did or did not use organic evolution to prepare the bodies to house His spirit children I remain unconcerned. I think the scientific evidence on organic evolution, like everything else, should stand or fall on its merits. Being trained as a geologist, it answers many otherwise difficult problems for me, and I find no conflict with it and the Gospel."

"Some people have pointed to some member of the Church and said, 'Now Dr. Eyring, that's one of your brethren, and he's not what he ought to be.' My answer is this, 'Well, you ought to see what he would be like if it weren't for the Church.' "

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Dec 03, 2009 Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I loved this book. And I highly recommend it to anyone who has trouble balancing "logic" with "faith."

I am typically not one to read biographies, but this one sounded really good to me and came with a good recommendation and I'm glad I read it. While giving the story of Henry Eyring and his life, it showed how it's possible to a scientist, believe in scientific things, believe in logical things, but still have a strong and vibrant faith.

Eyring was a high caliber scientist who worked with Einste...more I loved this book. And I highly recommend it to anyone who has trouble balancing "logic" with "faith."

I am typically not one to read biographies, but this one sounded really good to me and came with a good recommendation and I'm glad I read it. While giving the story of Henry Eyring and his life, it showed how it's possible to a scientist, believe in scientific things, believe in logical things, but still have a strong and vibrant faith.

Eyring was a high caliber scientist who worked with Einstein and other famous scientists throughout his life. He spoke out on science and religion often for the Church with the hush hush support of its leaders (they often called on him to give such talks).

Being a contemporary of Joseph Fielding Smith, it showed in various parts of the book, how they disagreed (quite vehemently at times) but still remained friends. This being because Smith believed in a literal interpretation of scripture i.e. 7 days of 24 hours for the creation period; and Eyring believed what Science, specifically geology, showed to be the facts of a much older Earth.

He lived by the credo that the Church only requires its members to believe truth and that if the members feel threatened by science, they should change realize that they should not, if it is true science they it shouldn't conflict with the gospel, and if it does then we don't fully understand what's going on yet.

What I really like was that he said that religion's fear of science is often misguided because when great scientific changes have happened in the past, they have not affected religion as religion thought they might. When the Earth was finally accepted as being round and not flat, or when it was discovered/accepted that the Earth was not the center of the Universe (both ideas strongly opposed by religion), religion wasn't adversely affected! Nothing changed other than philosophies of man, and this had no bearing on the gospel truths that matter to man's salvation. Eyring pointed out that it is the same with many scientific things that religion fears today.

Although the book never states whether Eyring believed in organic evolution, it does point out that he studied organic evolution a lot, and that he certainly entertained the idea that that was how God achieved creation, though he obviously couldn't be sure.

Great stuff with too many quotes and parts I liked to pick just one or a few to put in this review.(less)

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Mar 08, 2009 CarrieLyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It is not organized like a typical biography. Rather we know the key details of Eyring's life--his major scientific contributions and his unjust failure to receive the Nobel Prize--from the outset. Then we learn how his experiences fit together thematically. This makes the book more useful as a reference for talks or lessons. And it also works really well. The author--Eyring's grandson--remains detached and unbiased so that if you read it without knowing it was writte...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Cissy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I didn't love the organization of this biography, though I understood that thematic rather than chronological chapters probably made quoting Henry Eyring more natural; but it made it tricky to follow at times. That preference notwithstanding, I loved learning about such a brilliant, faithful man. His own words are the best reason to read this. He had excellent ideas and great turn-of-phrase; his strong personality and voice come right through the pages. What I really want to do is go read all hi...more

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May 28, 2009 Tiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: spiritual

I really enjoyed this book. The organization is a little different, but I didn't think it was confusing. Some of my favorite quotes:

"That I was not born smarter is really not my fault." --Henry Eyring
--- I loved his self-deprecating humor.

"As a devout Latter-day Saint the important fact for me is that the Lord is directing the affairs in His Universe, not exactly how He does it. Whether or not some organic evolution was used or is operating seems to me to be beside the point. He is infinitely wi...more I really enjoyed this book. The organization is a little different, but I didn't think it was confusing. Some of my favorite quotes:

"That I was not born smarter is really not my fault." --Henry Eyring
--- I loved his self-deprecating humor.

"As a devout Latter-day Saint the important fact for me is that the Lord is directing the affairs in His Universe, not exactly how He does it. Whether or not some organic evolution was used or is operating seems to me to be beside the point. He is infinitely wise. I just work here. If He told me in detail how He works I'm sure I wouldn't understand much of it." -- Henry Eyring -- This brought to mind my wonderful Astronomy instructor at Ricks College, who bore testimony of the omnipotent power of God and taught that since God was all-knowing and all-powerful that it was possible that God had used the Big Bang to create the Universe. But not to worry too much about it because we'd all find out sooner or later.

From Brigham Young: "As for the Bible account of the creation we may say that the Lord gave it to Moses, or rather Moses obtained the history and traditions of his fathers, and from these picked out what he considered necessary, and that account has been handed down from age to age and we have got it, no matter whether it is correct or not, and whether the Lord found the Earth empty and void, whether he made it out of nothing or out of the rude elements, or whether he made it in six days or in as many milllions of years, is and will remain a matter of speculation in the minds of men unless he gives revelation on the subject. If we understood the process of creation there would be no mystery about it, it would all be reasonable and plain, for there is no mystery except to the ignorant."

"The gospel is to be found not only in the scriptures but in every detail of the world, if we can but read it." Henry Eyring

"In this Church you don't have to believe anything that isn't true. You ... learn everything you can, and whatever is true is part of the gospel. The Lord is actually running this universe." Ed Eyring, Henry's father

If you've ever felt it difficult to reconcile your religious views with science, this is a great read. Wonderful biography.(less)

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Nov 13, 2011 Mike rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-religious, lds-books

Not many biographies inspire me to the core the way that Mormon Scientist did. His confidence in not only his faith, but confidence in the way that science works with God not against. Everything in the universe testifies of God, Henry's testimony of this put in such logical terms was so enlightening for me.

He gives us hope and confidence in whatever educational/work pursuit that we undertake. Eyring basically states that you don't need to leave your faith at the door when going to work, let the...more

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Aug 14, 2009 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you don't read this book, I'll sum up: science and religion can and should coexist. Parts of this book are redundant and the author's portrayal of his grandfather is expectedly biased. However, there are a enough good quotes and anecdotes to make this a worthwhile read.

My favorite quotes are:

"If you can't explain something to an eight-year old, you don't really understand it yourself."

(In response to if he was ever embarrased when a theory he had was later proven false) "I have no apologies....more

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Nov 21, 2008 AnnaMay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. I love it when a book makes me feel as though my mind is enlarged and I'm a better, more whole and ocmplete person. This book about President Eyring's dad (how I like to think of him) left me feeling that way. Even though it is early in the morning and I'm tired, I've just finished reading it and I feel invigorated and inspired and uplifted.

Henry J. Eyring has a way of writing that is kind of like a conversation with him in my livingroom would go, I'd imagine. You know when you're sitting...more Wow. I love it when a book makes me feel as though my mind is enlarged and I'm a better, more whole and ocmplete person. This book about President Eyring's dad (how I like to think of him) left me feeling that way. Even though it is early in the morning and I'm tired, I've just finished reading it and I feel invigorated and inspired and uplifted.

Henry J. Eyring has a way of writing that is kind of like a conversation with him in my livingroom would go, I'd imagine. You know when you're sitting with an older relative and they begin telling stories and you wish you had a tape recorder going for posterity's sake? Eyring's writing is like this, only way more beautiful and organized.

I was especially appreciative of how this book was organized. Each part led neatly into the next and urged me to keep reading. The very first chapter (not the intro) was the most difficult for me to get through, and then the rest of the book was like the yummy reward for doing so. I even enjoyed looking over the notes at the end of the book and learned what 'heat death' is and even appreciated a comparison of General Lee and God. :) It was nice that Eyring kept the book at a high enough level that I had to sue my intellect (what little there is :) to understand it. I felt like my brain was getting good exercise, yet not in a tedious way (like running on a treadmill really hard while staring at a white wall. It was more like running up a beautiful mountain trail at a nice pace).

Enjoy being enlightened!

An excerpt I like:
p 290. "Henry's respect for others helped him build not just their confidence in themselves, but also their faith in God. Because of his simple manner, he could speak of the Creator in a way that was both understandable and encouraging. His unusual combination of insight and humility made it seem that God might not be so far off after all, that a conversation with Him might be pleasant and fun. More than his science, that was Henry's great talent and his gift to this world. By treating people as though they were important, he built their love for themselves. And by testifying simply of a caring Heavenly Father, he built their love for God."

Isn't that excellent writing? The whole book is that way.(less)

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Apr 29, 2008 Kwarner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Interesting insight into the life and faith of one of the premier scientists of the last century.

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Feb 03, 2013 VeeDawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think the description of this book is a good one: "This is a book about science and Mormonism. It demonstrates why one of the Church's highest-profile intellectuals was also one of its humblest believers. In fact, this story of Henry Eyring shows how intellect and belief go hand-in-hand and how simple, faithful people can change the world."
I loved how his father told him he never had to believe anything that wasn't true. This is a good book if you love science or if you love religion. He...more

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Jan 13, 2009 Doran Barton rated it 4 of 5 stars

This biography on Henry Eyring, father of LDS General Authority Henry B. Eyring, written by Eyring's grandson (Henry J. Eyring), is an insightful and inspiring look at a man who managed to gracefully balance his passion for religion and science in an era when it was increasingly expedient that sides be taken.

The author did some very interesting things with how the book is organized. It doesn't flow chronologically, but it works.

There are lots of excerpts from speeches and letters, some of whic...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Bronwyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book would be difficult to understand for someone not of the Mormon faith--because of all the references made to specific organizational structures and the people/positions within. However, I enjoyed learning about Henry Eyring, the scientist and man of faith, especially the seemingly simplistic views he had in reconciling the two. His attitude about so many things was refreshing and underscores his humility, even while being a well regarded scientist! Certainly not something most well educ...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book and immediatly had to read "Faith of a Scientist" afterwards. Henry Eyring is a brilliant man, and I'm so grateful for his life--I feel like I have been influenced by reading these two books.

Some of my favorite quotes/ideas:
"Obedience is the price of freedom."
(From his father Ed): This religion that we have is only truth. It is not anything else. So don't get nervous. Don't get worried about anything that you learn. Go and study geology and biology and organic evolution and anth...more

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Dec 11, 2010 Sara ♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Dad; Lisa; scientifically-minded people

Shelves: 2010, challenge-fall-2010, nonfiction, religious, books-i-own

I really really liked this book. Henry Eyring was a REALLY interesting person! I was really excited to see what he, as a world-renowned scientist had to say about the relationship between science and religion. And he had some great stuff to say. I wish I'd written down this one quote. I bought the book for my dad, so when I get it in the mail, I'll fill it in here. I'll paraphrase for now. He met with a man once and that man asked Henry how he thought God had created the world/man/etc. And he an...more I really really liked this book. Henry Eyring was a REALLY interesting person! I was really excited to see what he, as a world-renowned scientist had to say about the relationship between science and religion. And he had some great stuff to say. I wish I'd written down this one quote. I bought the book for my dad, so when I get it in the mail, I'll fill it in here. I'll paraphrase for now. He met with a man once and that man asked Henry how he thought God had created the world/man/etc. And he answered by saying, "I believe in whatever way it turns out to really have happened." (That's definitely not the exact wording, but it's close.) That made me chuckle. :D

Anyway, I find it highly amusing that people have a hard time putting the science/religion puzzle together. Ooh, I really like that analogy now that I think of it. It's like there's a 1000 piece puzzle, and we've got 75 pieces, and we're trying to make the whole picture with them, but it's just not going to happen. God's gotta give us the rest of the pieces first, you know? PLUS, as it turns out, about 25 of those pieces we have go to a different puzzle. (Those would be the scientific principles we THINK are correct, but aren't—like the "the earth is flat" piece we threw out a few hundred years ago. In the future, scientists will make new discoveries that better explain natural phenomena and the we thought we knew are gonna be phased out just like the earth being flat.) Good times. Someday, we'll get all the pieces, complete with the picture from the box, and THEN it will be MUCH easier to throw out the bad pieces and put the puzzle together. :)

In my mind, I reconcile things like so: The Earth was created in 6 "creative periods" (rather than the LITERAL 24-hour days) and God was in charge of that creation. The means by which he created stuff... well, the Bible doesn't really say, does it? So there's all SORTS of wiggle room there! For now, I'm happy knowing that God had it all figured out (hence our being here), which means I don't have to worry about it. As far as the entire spectrum of science goes (not just creation/evolution issue), God knows everything. Man does not. We only understand a tiny fraction of the way the world works—the way the human body works! So, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to automatically believe everything scientists say—especially when they start rationalizing that science makes God obsolete. Nice try, but I'm not going there.

ANYWAY. Favorite quotes:

p. 170: "I think anybody can feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost if he is humble, humble enough to pray, humble enough to really want to, and to live in accordance with the teachings of the gospel."

p. 212: "My father's advice [upon going off to college] left much maneuvering space. A ship in port may snap if tied up too tightly, but never gets far out of line riding at the end of a good anchor which leaves it free to maneuver. A too narrow dogmatism has always, and will always, defeat itself."

p. 215: "Obedience to Gospel principles can make a man master of himself, and thus of his own destiny; there is no greater freedom than that. Nothing of importance is ever accomplished by man except by obedience to correct principles. Obedience is the price of freedom."(less)

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