The Pope of Physics

"[A] superb biography . . . [the authors] have produced a definitive study of Fermi's life and work."—Andrew Crumey, The Wall Street Journal

“[The Pope of Physics is] the first popular cradle-to-grave biography in English of the most famous Italian scientific investigator since Galileo Galilei . . . [The authors] quickly hit their stride with a lucid account of how Fermi was born in 1901 to a middle-class family in Rome and became one of the very few physicists to be in the front rank in both theory and experiment.”—Nature

"[An] impressive new biography . . . [Segrè and Hoerlin] have combined sophisticated understanding of Fermi’s scientific achievements with intimate, often charming stories of the famed physicist’s personal life, to create a book that’s both intelligent and extremely engaging . . . a story filled with drama, creativity, adventure."—The Washington Post

“Had Fermi turned his intuition to the problem it is likely that fission would have been discovered in Italy in early 1935, and not nearly four years later in Germany. Were that the case, Segrè and Hoerlin point out, it is possible that Hitler would have had an atomic bomb to use during the Second World War."—Gregg Herken, New York Times Book Review

"Few writers are better positioned than that duo to bring Fermi's story to light . . . Combining family lore with intensive research, Segrè and Hoerlin offer unique insights into Fermi's life and work, set against the background of politics and the early years of the Atomic Age."—Dallas Morning News

"Fermi, who excelled in so many areas . . . resists simple iconization . . . a quick-paced and highly readable account that manages to distill Fermi's rich and productive life into a little over 300 pages . . . [a] welcome and admirable biography."—Natural History magazine

“By placing stunning scientific advances into historical context, this engaging biography of Nobel Prize–winning Italian physicist Enrico Fermi (1901–1954) captures the life and times of one of the 20th century’s most creative and hard-working scientists . . . fans of pop science and history will thoroughly enjoy this entertaining and accessible biography of a scientist who deserves to be better understood.”—Publishers Weekly, starred and boxed review

"[An] illuminating biography of the immigrant genius who earned a prime place among the elite scientists who watched the planet’s first mushroom cloud rise above New Mexico sands . . . By exploring Fermi’s friendships, his marriage and family life, and his postwar concerns about morality in an atomic age, the authors also give readers glimpses into something of Fermi’s personal, nonscientific attributes. A balanced portrait, rich in revealing anecdotes."—Booklist, starred review

“Given his role in ushering in the Atomic Age, it is surprising that, until now, there has been no major biography of Fermi in English; The Pope of Physics: Enrico Fermi and the Birth of the Atomic Age . . . does an excellent job of filling that gap . . . Happily, the authors’ clear explanations ensure that the reader is not only able to follow Fermi’s contributions to science, but also understand their impact on his life story . . . this comprehensive and enjoyable biography is a valuable introduction to the life of Fermi.”—BookPage

“The authors use this biography of Fermi's life—beginning with his university days, when he immersed himself in the new field of quantum physics, and culminating in his own groundbreaking accomplishments—to engagingly chronicle the major developments in nuclear physics that were the focus of his life's work . . . A vivid retelling of events that still shape our lives today.”—Kirkus Reviews

"Readers of history and physics will enjoy learning about this theoretical and experimental physicist, whose name lives on in the fermion particles, the element fermium, and the national accelerator lab near Chicago."—Library Journal