Status Updates From The Making of the Atomic Bomb

Ernest Rutherford discovers the essential make up of the atom a few years after radio waves are discovered by Hertz in 1883, and x rays in 1895 by Roentgen. In a 140 years man goes from measuring invisible rays to today.

Leo Szilard, Hungarian scientist, has left Hungary following WWI, like the host of Hungarians who came to be known as the Martians. Brilliant and original. He switches from electrical engineering to physics and studies directly under Physics icons like von Laue, Wigner, and Einstein.

Rereading for the 3rd or 4th time? Last was 2019. Beautifully written comprehensive single volume summary that details 20th century physics to include biographical information and the wars. Reads like a well written novel. I read it the second time and began to understand the physics I’d let flow over me the first time. A truly terrifying topic that we struggle with today. One of my top five science books ever.