Great Minds
The Candid Science series of books contains well over 200 conversations witli famous scientists, including more than 100 Nobel laureates. These in-depth conversations cover the stories of scientific discoveries and the exciting human dramas behind them. Advances in science have spectacularly changed our understanding of the world and provided previously unimaginable benefits for all mankind. There exists a gap between scientists and the rtst of society. The conversations in Candid Science hdp bridge this gap, and they chronicle many of che stories of science and scientists chat mark our age.
World Scientific Imperial College Press www.viiorld5cientjfic.cam www.icpress.ca.uk WORLD SCIENTIFIC IMPFRIAI ( Ol I.EGF PRESS
CANDID SCIENCE Conversations with Famous Chemists by 1st van Hargittai (Budapest University of : ,,,'i.lirUI Technology and Economics, Hungary) edited by Magdolna Hargittai C;,*DID SCIENCE (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)
"... tstvan Hargillai ...is brilliant at drawing his subjects out, tactfully asking them the right questions and thus providing us with an insider view of what . . P JL t- • A chemistry in the 20tli century has been like ... these people are extraordinarily successful chemists, and enthusiasts for it. They make the book delightful E 5 Ail Î 4P to browse. Maybe it will, as it should, produce enthusiasts in its turn; it should be on everyone's bedside table. " Chemistry & Industry
"... the conversations in this twok encapsulate a time that is past, and leave the reader with a comforting ^ glow ... the editor has conducted his interviews with sympathy and collected hif material with care, For this, he is to be commended. His hook will be enjoyed by chemists and non-chemists alike." Nature
"... I found this book exceedingly hard to put down. Because such intimate revelations are usually not made public, this work constitutes a valuable The interviewees include some of the outstanding historical document and is one that I feel should be chemists of cur time: read by every chemist." Chemistry in Britain Linus Pauling |ohn D. Roberts EnvinChargaff Richard R. Ernst "This book, of course, can be opened on any page Frank H.Weslheimer Eiji Osawa and read with pleasure. The personal speaking Gertrude B. Eiion Elena C. Gal'nern style of the text, in contrast to laboriously written Carl Djerassi IvanV. Stankt-vith paragraphs, makes it easy reading ... There is plenty Paul J. Scheuer of useful information, interesting adventure, and Harold W. Kroto valuable advice in the text. The book will be enjoyed Ay ban Ulubelen R, Buckminster Fuller by all who have some interest in chemistry, and is lohn W, Cornlorlh Richard E. Smalley highly recommended." Vladimir Prelog Robert F. Curl Australian Journal of Chemistry Derek H. R. Barton Wolfgang Kratschmer Odd Hassel Robert L. Whetlen Readership: Chemists. Michael J. S. Dewar Philip E. Eaton John A. Ponle R. Stephen Berry 52Bpp |an 2000 Roalcl Hoffmann Kenneth S. Pitzer 1-86094-151-6 USS78 £48 1-86094-228-8
CANDID SCIENCE H Conversations with Famous Biomédical Scientists by Istvân Hargittai {Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary) edited by Magdolna Hargittai (Hungarian Academy 01f Sciences)
"The hook is easy to read ... Overall, they give an accurate flavor of biomédical research
Choice
"The present selection of interviews gives a cross section covering a broad range ol topics, personalities, and circumstances of recording. I agree with Hargiltai's evaluation and heartily recommend his book, suitable for both complete reading or browsing, to biomédical scientists, biochemists, chemists, historians of chemistry and or science, arid general readers interested in the'inside story'of the workings of 20th-century science. " The Chemical Educator
"/ heartily recommend this book, suitable for both complete reading or browsing, to biomédical scientists, biochemists, chemists, historians of chemistry and of science The interviewees include some of the greatest minds in generally, and general readers interested in ihe biomédical field: the 'inside story' of the workings of 20th- century science." James D. Watson Richard Henderson Chemical Heritage Maclyn MtQirty Aaron Klug Readership: Biomédical scientists, Joshua Lederberg JohnT. Finch biochemists, and general readers. Arthur Kornljerg Sidney Allman Frederick Sanger Edward B. Lewis 616pp Mar 2002 François Jacob Rita Levi-Monlalcinl 1-86094-280-6 US$82 £56 Walter Gilbert Liirs Ernster 1-86094-288-KpWO US$38 £26 BennoMuller-Hill Torvard C. Laureni Marshall W. Nirenberg George Klein Daniel Nathans D. Carleton Cajclusek Paul Berg Charles Weissmann Kary B. Mullis Frederick C Robbins Gerald M. Erielman Rosalyrt Yalow César Mi I stein James W, Black Atfred G. Gilman K. Su ne D. Bergstrom Giinter Blobel John R. Vane George K, Racida Salvador Moncada Max F. Perutz Robert F. Furchgotl CANDID SCIENCE III More Conversations with Famous Chemists by Istvân Hargittai (Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary} edited by Magdolna HargilLii (Hungarian Academy of Sciences}
"This book makes interesting tight reading, especially for chemists who have watched the field develop over (he past 30 to 60 years ... it makes a worthwhile contribution to the oral history of science, and I recommend it for both libraries and individuals." Nature
"Istvân Hargittai's interviews with eminent scientists are a lively and important way of entering the minds of prominent chemists ... this makes a wonderful bedside book that attractively opens up a gallery of people, and a window onto the development of science." Chemistry & Industry
"/ have come back to these interviews time after lime after my first read through, it's always inspiring to read about people who are good at whattheydo. To paraphrase lack Ounitz, if you want value for your money in a predictable way, The interviewees include some of the greatest chemists I think Hargiltai's book is a good value. I strongly in Ihe world: recommend it." Southwest Retort Glenn T. Seaborg Paul D. Boyer "Hargitlai has done a superb job in selecting William N. Lipscomb John E.Walker both chemical topics and appropriate interview Neil Barllett Herbert A. Hauptman subjects who know the topics lint-band ... Ronald J. Cillespie Jack D, Dunitz Candid Science ill is an interesting source Lawrence S. Bartell Hartmut Michel of information on both current and recent F&ul von Ragué Schleyer Johann Deisenhofer chemistry and its practitioners, from a first- AI beri Eschenmoser Robert Huber band perspective of those practitioners. It Gilbert Stork Manfred Eigen also promises to be a valuable sourcebook for Endre A. Balazs John C. Polanyi historians of the chemistry of this lime." Alfred Bader Dudley R, Herschbach The Alchemist, The ChemWeb Magazine Jacquelin K. Barton Henry Taube Readership: Chemists and other scientists. AdBax Rudolph A. Marcus Donald I, Cram llya Prigiigine 520pp Mar 2003 Jean-Ma rie Lehn Anatol M. Zhabofinsky 1-86094-336-5 US$78 £48 Bruce Mer ri fie Id Richard N. Zare 1-86094-337-3 (pbk) US$34 £21 Arpâcl Furka Paul (. Crutzen Guy Ourisson Reiko K LI roda Mildred Cohn Stephen M awn CANDID SCIENCE IV Conversations with Famous Physicists by Magdolna Hargittai (Hungarian Academy of Sciences) & I si van Hargittai /Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary)
"I recommend this handy volume, admirably suited for complete rending or browsing, not only to historians of physics and of science but a/so ta practicing scientists, especially beginning ones, as well as to students, who will surely benefit from these inspiring stories by some of physics' tending luminaries." The Chemical Educator
Readership: General readers and physicists.
728pp Apr 2004 1-86094-414-0 US$118 £87 1-86094-416-7 (pbk) US$58 £43
The interviewees include famous personalities of our time:
Eugene P. Wigner Wolfgang Ketterle Steven We in berg Laszlo Tlsza Yuval Ne'eman Edward Teller Jerome I. Friedman John A. Wheeler Mart in us Vellman Freeman J. Dyson Gerard '! Hooft John C, Polkinghorne Leon M. Lederman Hennit B. Mandelbrot Valentine L. Telegdi Kenneth C, Wilson Val L. Fitch Mildreds. Dresselhaus Maurice Goldhaber Catherine Brechignac John N. Bahcall Philip Anderson Rudolf MuHbJimr Zhores I, Alferov Arno A. Penzias Daniel Tsui Robert Wilson Antony Hewish Owen Chamberlain Jocelyn Bell Burnc-tl Marcus L, E, Oliphant Joseph H. Taylor Norman !:. Ramsey Russell A. Hulse David E. Pfitcharct David Shoenberg WORLD SCIENTIFIC I PRfSS
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Istvân Hargittai is Professor of Chemistry at the Budapest University of Technology
and Economics and Research Professor at Eotvos University. He is a member of the
Hungarian and Norwegian Academies of Sciences and the Academia Europaea.
He holds a Ph.D. degree from Eotvos University, D.Sc. degree tram the Hungarian
Academy of Sciences, and is Dr. h.c, of Moscow University, D.Sc, h.c. of the
University of North Carolina, and Dr. h.c. of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Magdolna Hargittal is Research Professor of Structura I Chemistry of me Hungarian
Academy of Sciences at Eotvos University in Budapest. She is a member of the
Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Academia Europaea. She holds a Ph.D.
degree from Eotvos University, a D.Sc. degree from the Hungarian Academy of
Sciences, and a D.Sc. h.c. of the University of North Carolina,
Batazs Hargittai is Associate Professor of Chemistry at Saint Francis University
in Loretto, Pennsylvania, He has a M.Sc. degree from Northwestern University
and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on
studying the folding properties of smal] compact peptides and on the synthesis
of novel crown ethers. He is married to Michèle, a Ph.D. Research Associate in
biochemistry at Pennsylvania State University; they have one son, Matthew Aaron,
and one daughter, Stephanie Denise.
• USA World Scientific Publishing Co. IRC. r Warrsn StwelS»lM01^0!.Hackf!nsKI(.NJ 07601. IS* W-tm tit 1 SES 9177 2W5 Toll-fre* I «00 W 7562 E-mjitsal(B9wspt.wm
• UK World Scientific Publishing (UK) Ltd.
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• SINGAPORE World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. Fanet Road. P 0 Bw 128, SINGAPORE 9Ï 2805 Fan: 65 6467 7667 TO: 65 6466 5775 E-mait sal8s6wsoc.Miin.sg
0 CANDID SCIENCE V Conversations with Famous Scientists by li.ii,i/s Hargldai tSaint Francis University, ioretto, Pennsylvania) & Istvân Hargittai (Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary)
From the Forewords to the Candid Science Volumes
".. the Hargittais are to be congratulated ors yet another masterful Candid Science volume. " Candid Science V, Arvid Carlsson Nobel Laureate
"... share ... common hopes for a fruitful future for science and humanity ..." Candid Science IV, Arno Penzias Nobel Laureate
"... it will stimulate the reader to think in new directions." Candid Science III, Herbert A. Haupfman Nobel Laureate
*... these volumes are exceedingly worthwhile and can be enjoyed by all, young and old. " Candid Science II, Arthur Kornberg Nobel Laureate The interviewees include famous personalities of our time:
"... one is sharing iii a conversation ..." Donald Coxeter Nelson Leonard Candid Science, Lord Porter iohn Con way Princess Chulabhorn Nobel Laureate Roger Pen rose Linus Fouling Miklris Bodanszky Readership: General readers and scientists. Alan Mackay Dan Shechtman Melvin Calvin 712pp Apr 2005 Charles Townes Donald Huffman 1-86094-505-8 US$93 £60 Arlhur Schawlow Akin MacDiarmid 1-86094-5u6-6(pbk) US$56 £34 Leon Cooper Alan Heeger Alexei Abrikosov Jens Christian Skou Luis Alvarez Paul Lauterbur William Pickering Cuniher Stem William Fowler Iohn Sulston Vera Rubin Renal» Dulbecco Neta Bahcall Saruch Blumberg Rudolf Peierls Arvid Carlsson EmilioSegrè Oleh Hornykiewicz Harold Agnew ftiul Greengarrl Clarence Larson Eric Kandel CANDID SCIENCE VI More Conversations with Famous Scientists by Istvar Hargittai (Budapest University of Technology dnd Economics, Hungary) & Magdolna Hargittai (Hungarian Academy of Sciences/
Candid Science VI concludes the series by narrating the conversations with famous scientists from the biomédical sciences, chemistry, and physics. There are 31 Nobel laureates and 11 other luminaries among them.
Readership: General readers and scientists. 820pp (appro*.) Winter 2006 1-86094-693-3 US$132 £76 1-86094-694-1(pbk) US$62 £36
The interviewees include some of [he outstanding scientists in the wortd:
Francis Crick Irwin Rose Burton Rich ter Sydney Brenner Alexander Varshavsky Samuel Chao Chung Ting Matthew Meselson Osa mu Hayaishi Martin L Perl Paul M. Nurse Ada Yonath Carlo Rubbia R. Timothy (Tim) Hunt Isabella Karle Simon van der Meer Seymour Benzer lerome Karle Douglas D. Osheroff Chrisliane Nusslein-Volh.irri Yuan Tseh Lee Jack Stein berger WernerArber Darleane Hoffman Ma sa tosh i Koshiba David Baltimore Richard L. Garwin Riccardo Giaccom ]. Michael Bishop Donald A, Glaser Brian D. Joseph son Harold E. Varmus Nicholas Kurti Ivar Giaever Peter Mansfield Herbert Kroemer VitalyL Ginzburg Avrani Hershko James Cronin David Cross Aaron Ciechanover Wolfgang Panolsky FrankWilczek