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Pauling: Charismatic, Controversial, and Tough

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Pauling: Charismatic, Controversial, and Tough BOOKS Pauling: Charismatic, Controversial, and Tough Reviewed by John D. Roberts its philosophical paradoxes. Numer­ ous other judgments are made by Linus Pauling is beyond any doubt Serafini, but not always consistent­ one of the great figures of 20th cen­ ly. Certainly, such judgments are tury science—imaginative, charis­ within his prerogatives, although I matic, wide-ranging, and controver­ do not find many of them convinc­ sial. The story of his life is important ing. for the history of science and the One's skepticism of the level of relationship between science and accuracy of a book or news report is government, as well as for its inspi­ definitely aroused when events are ration for potential young scientists described that one has personal and, indeed also, for its intense hu­ knowledge of, or participated in, man interest. Is Anthony Serafini's and these events are incorrectly re­ "Linus Pauling: A Man and His ported (or are actually nonevents). Science," the definitive book for With much of this sort of thing, the these purposes? It is interesting and whole fabric of a report becomes easy reading (at least for scientists). Pauling, with 1954 Nobel Prize, doubtful. This is a serious problem But definitive it is not. surrounded by the ladies of his family with Serafini's book. For example, this book is not the The text is set in two sizes of type. place to find out about Pauling's Smaller type is used for direct quo­ chemical achievements. The author, tation, either of written material or who has a Ph.D. in philosophy and A recent biography gives of tape-recorded conversations. teaches philosophy and religion at short shrift to Linus These seem generally accurate, even Centenary College, Hackettstown, if devoid of the appropriate context. N.J., does little more than quote oth­ Pauling's chemical The material set in larger type is ers on Pauling's work on chemical something else again. The parts that bonding. Nothing is said about Pau­ achievements and his cover matters that I actually know ling and E. Bright Wilson Jr.'s "In­ about are riddled with inaccuracies troduction to Quantum Mechanics"; success at teaching and incredibly poor checking of nor about Pauling's superb under­ names. A few examples where I am graduate textbooks; nor of his teach­ involved directly should be illustra­ ing; nor of the steady stream of "Linus Pauling: A Man and His tive. Thus, on page 63,1 am quoted world-famous chemists, such as Science" by Anthony Serafini, Para­ as being highly impressed with Wilson, George Willard Wheland, gon House, 90 Fifth Ave., New morning seminars given at Caltech Martin Karplus, William Lipscomb, York, N.Y. 10011, 1989, 310 pages, before World War II, at a time when Alexander Rich, Jack Dunitz, and $22.95 I was still an undergraduate at the Mathew Meselson, who were so University of California, Los Ange­ strongly influenced by Pauling at les, and had no connection with Cal­ California Institute of Technology. As a philosopher, Serafini sug­ tech; page 73, I am not a student The account of Pauling's early life gests that Pauling will be excluded of Howard Lucas; page 236, while is very interesting (if accurate), and from "history's great thinkers" by I did, indeed, once "go to the mat" there is substantial detail about his his unwillingness to reach out and with Linus on a professorial ap­ entry into molecular biology, his ef­ grasp the philosophical and other pointment, it was certainly not forts to halt nuclear testing, and his humanistic dimensions of quantum over the appointment of Harden advocacy of vitamin C to reduce in­ mechanics, and especially the un­ McConnell. A few of the misspelled cidence of the common cold, as well certainty principle, during the peri­ names or misidentifications: page as its use in cancer therapy. Sera­ od of his studies in Germany, when 94, Dorothy Semenow, Caltech's fini's approach emphasizes the sen­ he was but 26. Perhaps so, but al­ first woman graduate student; page sational and the controversies, for though argumentation on deter­ 88 and elsewhere, Carl Niemann; which there is ample documenta­ minism has been profound and is page 144, Charles C. Lauritsen, a re­ tion. But it should not be forgotten currently very interesting with re­ nowned physicist; in the photo­ how tough, tireless, persistent, and spect to the theory of chaos, Pauling graphs, John Slater, of whom there shrewd Pauling was in pursuing his showed real genius in seeing where is quite a bit in the text, is misidenti- goals against great odds, entrenched quantum mechanics could lead, fied, as is Linda Kamb, Pauling's dogma, and personal animosities. rather than getting bogged down in daughter. Some disputable flat-out 66 January 29, 1990 C&EN statements include: page 75, "pro­ virtually every nonacademic matter was delighted later, when he re­ tein molecules several feet long"; and seemed to have substantial signed his professorship, that he page 102, the hydrogen bond "dis­ powers to dispense the division's was willing to retain a connection covered" by Maurice Huggins, discretionary funds. Most of the aca­ with the division as research asso­ when it dates back to at least 1912; demic functions were handled by ciate. page 141, Throop Hall at Caltech faculty committees with power to Irrespective of their own political "flattened" by the 1971 earthquake; act. In contrast to MIT, teaching of inclinations, the Caltech chemistry page 218, Don M. Yost "survived to undergraduate courses was prized faculty has always held Pauling in 97!" (he was born in 1893 and died by the professors and, for many the highest regard for his encour­ in 1977). The list is hardly reassur­ years, Pauling taught freshman agement, his enhancement of the ing to me about those events where I chemistry himself, usually with stature of Caltech chemistry, his en- do not have direct knowledge. backup from one of the younger fac­ livenment of seminars, his fantastic With the Sturm und Drang that is ulty when he was out of town. Any contributions to science, and his commonly associated with Pauling, of the professors could give a gradu­ vivid demonstration that a rugged one might well wonder what it was ate course at any time, provided individualist can make a difference. really like to be his faculty col­ only that it was planned well The personal warmth that he ex­ league. I have been one since 1952, enough in advance for a description presses when he smiles and his and it has been a most rewarding to be submitted for largely routine large, luminous eyes beam at you is experience. As far as I know, Pau­ approval by the whole Caltech fac­ an unforgettable experience. ling only became acquainted with ulty. John D. Roberts, now Institute Pro­ my work when I gave a couple of Pauling pleased me by his ability fessor of Chemistry, Emeritus, at Cali­ seminars at Caltech about 1950. Lat­ to delegate authority, his long look fornia Institute of Technology, served as er, as chairman of the division of forward with respect to the divi­ chairman of the division of chemistry chemistry and chemical engineer­ sion's future, his emphasis on re­ and chemical engineering there from ing, he conveyed Caltech's offer of a search rather than courses to deter­ 1963 to 1968 and 1973 to 1974 and as professorship with warmth and en­ mine the fitness of graduate stu­ vice president, provost, and dean of the thusiasm. He was extremely helpful dents for doctoral research, and his faculty from 1980 to 1983. Priestley in making the case to the institute fostering of the general Caltech medalist for 1987, his autobiography for admission of women graduate spirit of "let's do what's right for our will be published in early 1990. D students so that Semenow could students rather than adhering to transfer from Massachusetts Insti­ rules." Serafini says that Caltech's tute of Technology to continue her A. A. Noyes and, to at least some E. W. R. Steacie and Science in Canada. doctoral research with me. Then, in degree Pauling himself, were an­ M. Christine King, xii + 243 pages. 1954, after some extended discus­ tagonistic to organic chemistry. University of Toronto Press, 340 Nagel sions, he put his weight behind ac­ That does not fit with my under­ Dr., Buffalo, N.Y. 14225.1989. $35. quiring a Varian NMR spectrometer standing that Caltech wanted to Surface Preparation Techniques for Ad­ to be used principally by my re­ hire both James B. Conant and Alex­ hesive Bonding. Raymond F. Wegman. search group. He never attempted to ander Todd in the 1930s, and did xxii + 150 pages. Noyes Publications, influence the scope or direction of bring aboard Carl Niemann, Laszlo Mill Rd. at Grand Ave., Park Ridge, my work nor to instill any political Zechmeister, and Edwin R. Buch- N.J. 07656.1989. $42. wisdom. man during that period. Certainly, I Symmetry in Molecules and Crystals. The situation at Caltech during found the atmosphere, the adminis­ M. F. C. Ladd. 274 pages. John Wiley the active Pauling years was posi­ tration, the supporting staff, and & Sons, 605 Third Ave., New York, tively bucolic compared with the magnificent younger physical N.Y. 10016.1989. $51.95. turbulent times I encountered when chemistry colleagues, such as Ver- Thermal Accommodation and Adsorp­ Arthur C. Cope was rebuilding the ner Schomaker, Norman Davidson, tion Coefficients of Gases. Vol. 2-1. chemistry department at MIT. The and Harden McConnell, extremely S. C. Saxena, R. K. Joshi. xxxvi + 412 Caltech professorial group was important to my own chemical de­ pages.
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