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general reader, scientists will also find the their clarity and insight, these essays are The opposite of essays edifying. Weisskopf does not outstanding. present physics as an activity isolated from Wolfgang Pauli and Werner Heisen­ knowledge values and emotions. Quite the contrary. berg are each the subject of Weisskopf's John S. Rigden He shows us how physics and the humani­ attention. Pauli is typically the subject of ties arise from the same universal values many anecdotes; Weisskopf adds to them and complement each other. Teachers at and, in the process, brings insights to The Privilege of Being a Physicist. By all levels would be well advised to read Pauli's intriguing personality. In the case Victor F. Weisskopf. W.H. Freeman: and ponder the contents of the book. Too of Heisenberg, Weisskopf's admiration of 1989. Pp.235. $17.95, £12.95. often science instruction takes the form of the man prompts an explanation of his transmitting bits of knowledge that are wartime activities; this account is based h IS appropriate that the most prominent isolated from any scientific, cultural or largely on Inner Exile (Birkiiuser, 1984) , word in the title of Victor Weisskopf's human context. But such bits of know­ the recent book by Heisenberg's widow, book is Privilege. Through talent and hard ledge provide students with no under- and in comparative terms it is somewhat work, Weisskopf has gained an inter­ more generous than the findings of con­ national reputation and has attracted temporary historians such as Alan D. many honours; yet he is that rare kind of Beyerchen (Scientists Under Hitler; Yale man who regards it all as a privilege. University Press, 1977). For readers familiar with two of Implicitly, Weisskopf extends the same Weisskopf's earlier books, Knowledge generosity to American physicists. If and Wonder (Doubleday, 1962) and quantum physics can be said to have had a Physics in the Twentieth Century (MIT determining influence in Weisskopf's life, Press, 1972), the appearance of this new so can his experiences at Los Alamos. In work will be a happy event. It brings to­ 1943, Hans Bethe persuaded Weisskopfto gether 16 essays: two were written speci­ join the team at Los Alamos and work on fically for the book, the others have the development of the atomic bomb. mostly appeared over the past ten years Weisskopf became one of the prime (although four of them have been ex­ movers in the Manhattan Project. When panded for the present collection). The the war ended, however, he refused to subjects covered are some of the principal participate in the further development of ideas of twentieth-century physics, two of nuclear weapons; rather, he helped to the physicists who participated in the crea­ form the Federation of Atomic Scientists, tion of those ideas, and the relationship of a group whose purpose was to alert the science to culture and to society. public to the dangers of nuclear war. In The theory of quantum mechanics was making this decision, Weisskopf differed created during the years 1925-1927. For with many of his fellow physicists who on those who followed events, it was a time of the one hand called for an end to the arms intellectual exhilaration and purgation. race and on the other continued to Conundrums that had plagued physicists develop successive generations of nuclear during the early years of the twentieth weapons. As the history of the post-war century were suddenly resolved - pro­ period is now being written, it is apparent vided they were willing to accept nature that one of the primary driving forces of on entirely new terms and think in entirely the arms race has been the ability and new ways. To engage one's mind in think­ willingness of physicists to realize techni­ ing about such a conceptually rich subject, cal possibilities which have inevitably and to do so in the fundamental ways that proved irresistible to political and military were required to create the formalism of leaders. In this regard, Weisskopf might quantum mechanics, is an experience that have expanded his concept of the privilege alerts the mind to the broad place of Weisskopf - a rare kind of man. of being a physicist to include more directly physics in human activities. standing of science. Weisskopf goes and more insistently the idea of responsi­ With just a touch of sadness, Weisskopf further: in the chapter "Teaching bility. As for himself, Weisskopf's respon­ has acknowledged that he came to physics Science", he asserts that "science is the sibility has been fulfilled : in the book he "three years too late"- too late, that is, opposite of knowledge" and portrays continues to call for an end to the madness to be an active participant in the creation science as the product of curiosity and of nuclear weapons. of quantum mechanics (Physics in the questioning which can lead to a "fuller, The essays were written over a period of Twentieth Century, p.4). Starting in 1929, more meaningful life". years, so there is some repetition; I suggest however, he made many seminal contri­ Weisskopf is at his best when he writes that each of them should be read indivi­ butions through the application of quan­ about the ideas of physics. In "What is dually (rather than consecutively). In this tum mechanics to our understanding of Quantum Mechanics?", written specifi­ fashion , they will reinforce each other matter. Moreover, he has been one of cally for this collection, we learn how "the while each is savoured. 0 those theoretical physicists who has primal shapes of nature" bring stability to JohnS. Rigden is Director of Physics Programs thought deeply about the ideas of quan­ atoms and how the uncertainty inherent in at the American Institute of Physics. 335 Fast tum mechanics and about the interpreta­ nature really brings the certainty that 45th Street, New York, New York 10017, USA. tion of this incredible theory. In addition , renders all atoms of a given element iden­ he knew personally men such as Bohr, tical. This essay, along with "What is an • Part 2 of Solly Zuckerman's memoirs, Heisenberg and Pauli who were the archi­ Elementary Particle?", "Contemporary Monkeys, Men, and Missiles: An Autobiography tects of quantum mechanics and he bears Frontiers in Physics" and "The Origin of 1946-1988, has been published in the United their influences. This is the background the Universe", reveals not only the depth States by W. W. Norton. Price is $22.50. The that Weisskopf brings to his writing. of Weisskopf's understanding, but also British edition was reviewed by William Although they were written for the demonstrates his expository skill. For Cooper in Nature 336, 285 (1988). NATURE · VOL 338 · 27 APRIL 1989 715 © 1989 Nature Publishing Group