Judging edward teller istvan hargittai

Judging Edward Teller: A Closer Look at One of the Most Influential Scientists of the Twentieth Century by Istvan Hargittai (Author). Foreword by Peter Lax, Recipient of the Nationwide Medal of Science and the Abel Prize Afterword by Richard Garwin, Recipient of the Nationwide Medal of Science and the Enrico Fermi Award. Many people know Edward Teller because the "Father of the H-Bomb." His title tends to generate excessive views. To his supporters he was a hero of the Cold War. To his detractors he was evil personified. Between these extremes was the life of the real man.

In this definitive and comprehensive biography, Hungarian scientist Istvan Hargittai, a personal acquaintance of Teller's, presents a balanced portrait of the multifaceted and enigmatic scientist towards the backdrop of a turbulent period of history. Taking pains to keep away from bias and preconceptions, Hargittai critically examines Teller's personality, family background, and the experiences that guided his actions--correcting many of the myths that others and Teller himself promulgated.

Drawing from the primary time on hitherto unknown archival material from Hungarian, American, and German sources, the creator offers recent insights that help the reader to understand Teller's motivations, his relationships with pals and foes, and his pushed personality. In addition to this research and his personal memories of Teller, Hargittai has interviewed for this e-book such prominent figures as Richard Garwin, Freeman Dyson, George A. Keyworth, and Wendy Teller (Edward Teller's daughter), amongst others.

Hargittai evaluations the significant aspects of Teller's life: his Jewish-Hungarian origins, pressured emigrations, brilliance in science, and devotion to the defense of the United States. He additionally discusses Teller's ruthless Machiavellism in achieving his targets, which included his pivotal position within the creation of the hydrogen bomb and the second weapons laboratory at Livermore, in addition to his damaging testimony towards physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. Teller's friends seen this testimony as a betrayal and, in impact, despatched him into internal exile, which Hargittai describes as more tormenting to him than his earlier emigrations.

The creator notes that Teller was typically referred to as "a monomaniac with many manias," corresponding to his fierce opposition to nuclear test bans in the course of the Cold Battle and, towards the end of his life, his role as propagandist for the Strategic Protection Initiative. But, his very excesses might have in truth contributed to the demise of the Soviet Union.

Who was Edward Teller--the true "Dr. Strangelove," the pushed crusader for the H-Bomb, the villain who destroyed Oppenheimer, or the devoted husband, a loyal friend, a patriot, and strongly idealistic scientist? This monumental work will reveal the contradictory nature of this advanced man in all his strengths, flaws, and brilliantce. 

Judging Edward Teller: A Closer Look at One of the Most Influential Scientists of the Twentieth Century 

 Istvan Hargittai (Author)

575 pages

Prometheus Books; First Edition edition (October 1, 2010)

 More details about this books.