Excellent

Anyone interested in modern day physics will enjoy this biography. Well written,extensively researched, and easy to understand even for the non-scientist

7 people found this helpful

Good Book About An Important Scientist

This is a good book about a scientist who truly changed the world, Enrico Fermi. Sometimes called the father of the atomic age, he rose from a stable middle class environment in Rome--not a real hotbed of science at the time--to become one of the world's great physicists. This book presents a comprehensive treatment of his relatively short life (he died at 53).

This is a book that can be read a multiple levels. There is a certain level of science in it, but it would probably be overly simplistic for those who have studied physics. There are parts of it that are challenging for a non-scientist such as myself to follow in detail, but the author is really good at explaining the gist of why certain events are important. The story moves well and does not get bogged down, even though it is rather lengthy.

The book provides a very good study of the man. Fermi comes across as an outstanding colleague, particularly in his later years. He had many friends and admirers. He did not just plant himself in his laboratory. He insisted on having lunch (apparently for about two hours) each day with colleagues. He liked to hike and swim. He was quite athletic. He was a good husband, perhaps not as good a father, but rather typical for his time.

I think the book provides a good--and sympathetic--treatment of Fermi and the scientists who were involved in the Manhattan Project. It is extremely easy to criticize them from the space of nearly 80 years. It must be remembered that most of the scientists had immigrated from a Europe dominated by Nazi Germany. Many had worked at German universities. Germany was the epicenter of physics in the 1930s. So they had personal knowledge of the abilities of German scientists, and considerable concern about them developing an atomic bomb. Einstein himself signed a letter to Roosevelt that led to the start of the project. The book covers all of this in great detail, and allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions.

The narration is very good. Definitely worth your time if you have any interest in the subject.

6 people found this helpful

Great book

Excellent overview of the the life of a great scientist. Better than the Pope of Physics book. Good discussion from primary sources.

3 people found this helpful

Good, could have been better

The subject matter, Enrico Fermi, is excellent. A truly inspiring and interesting individual worth learning about! My issues are with the author’s interpretation of feelings of embarrassment or inadequacy that he pushes onto Fermi without any evidence of their existence. He interprets how scientists must feel about events, but he isn’t a scientist and doesn’t know. He simply thinks Fermi should have been embarrassed and obsesses about it. I generally like the narrator, but am very tired of poor pronunciation of Italian words by English speakers who also insist on layering on stereotype NY mafia accents. Italians do not speak that way!

2 people found this helpful

One of the key figures of 20th Century Science

This is a highly listenable book about one of the 20th Century's greatest scientists, Enrico Fermi. It is strange that he has been "forgotten" in a way that Einstein and Oppenheimer have not, because his work on the inner workings of the atom and how nuclear decay happens are key to how the atomic age and bomb came about. Fermi was well-loved and an excellent teacher - his personality comes through in this book, and I wish there were more teachers and scientists like him around today. There is a fair amount of physics in the book, explained clearly, though it may be a little difficult for someone who has no science interest.

2 people found this helpful

Great listen on the life of Enrico Fermi

I am not a physicist and therefore did not know his contributions prior to listening this book. It is a great listen to anyone who wishes to know his contributions to the field of physics. The narrator was great and this makes listening excellent. Many times I felt I was present as a witness to the events being described.

I would encourage anyone with interest in the biographies of scientists to hear / read this book. They will come away more informed and strengthened in their pursuit of excellence in science.

2 people found this helpful

Fabulous

One of the best books I have ever read and I am not a scientist or

2 people found this helpful

Great story

A little extra effort in researching the correct pronunciation of foreign names, locales, etc, would add to the listeners’ experience. Otherwise, well done! Commendable reading!

2 people found this helpful

Enjoyable story, the narration less so

I enjoyed the overall story of this important scientist I had only heard about with regard the Manhattan project. But, the Author I thought was over the top in terms of often too frequent adulation of Fermi. Whether I felt this way due to the Author or the Narrator I’m not sure but it does prevent me giving higher marks.

1 person found this helpful

Great book, bad editing

What made the experience of listening to The Last Man Who Knew Everything the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the book very much. The details about the Fermis, the speculation of the author is useful and guarded, and the narrator was nice. There was some bad editing or something which made the audio in the last part of the book jump repeat.

1 person found this helpful