A Lifelong Quest for Peace: A Dialogue

by Daisaku Ikeda and Linus Pauling

Book Overview

Linus Pauling is celebrated as one of the greatest scientific minds of the last century, whose decisive contributions to an astonishing diversity of fields - including organic and inorganic chemistry, quantum mechanics, molecular biology and medicine - still remain in many respects definitive. Pauling was additionally a tireless campaigner against the perils of nuclear conflict, and his contributions to both science and peace were recognized by...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1845118898
• ISBN13: 9781845118891
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris & Company
• Length: 114 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Thought-provoking

I found this book thought-provoking, interesting and inspiring.

Highly Recommended

I read this book after viewing the Soka Gakkai-sponsored Linus Pauling exhibit (see paulingexhibit.org). This book is the long-awaited dialogue between two-time Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Linus Pauling and Soka Gakkai International President Daisaku Ikeda, carried out over three years, covering many interesting subjects. Admirers of Dr. Pauling, especially those with an interest in Buddhism, will be delighted.

Two Great Minds

America's preeminent scientist and peace activist Linus Pauling (1901-94) and Daisaku Ikeda have worked for decades in the cause of disarmament, international understanding, and lasting peace. Both are absolute pacifists. A timely publication at a critical juncture in world affairs, this book is the product of their discussions held at Soka University, Los Angeles, in 1987. While the dialogue spells out their efforts and prescriptions for dealing with the current peace issues, it also relates Pauling's recollections of his childhood, his development as a scientist, and many episodes about his life and the people he has known--Albert Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer among them. This volume gives a broad and personal glimpse of Pauling, recipient of two unshared Nobel Prizes (1954 for chemistry and 1962 for peace).Dr. Pauling first met Mr. Ikeda in Los Angeles in 1987, then again in 1990 and twice in 1993, before his death in 1994. His son, Linus Pauling, Jr., later recollected his father's pride in their joint publication, as follows: "My father met President Ikeda in his later days and mentioned him to me on many occasions, .........." A Lifelong Quest for Peace, gives the reader an opportunity to become acquainted with Dr. Pauling, who was always active and vocal in his advocacy of responsible and humane progress in science and a superb role model for today's young people, on whose shoulders the problems of the twenty-first century rest

Tina Turner Introduced Me To Daisaku Ikeda's Writings

Tina Turner is the reason I found this book, and all others by Daisaku Ikeda, president of the Soka Gakkai International. After hearing Tina Turner speak about her Buddhist practice in interviews, and hearing her give credit to Buddhism for her happiness and in life, I decided to look further into it myself.Tina mentioned Daisaku Ikeda as the person who brought Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, the practice of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, to America. This is the Buddhist practice to which Tina attributes her spiritual fulfillment and strength. Thanks to Tina's explanations, I was able to locate the Soka Gakkai International and from there I discovered many profound, inspirational and educational writings by Daisaku Ikeda. This book is just one of Mr. Ikeda's many contributions to further the understanding of Buddhist principles and their application in every day life.I highly recommend that anyone interested in the Buddhist practice of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo read the writings of Daisaku Ikeda to learn more about Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.

A Meeting of Two Great Minds

America's preeminent scientist and peace activist Linus Pauling (1901-94) and Daisaku Ikeda have worked for decades in the cause of disarmament, international understanding, and lasting peace. Both are absolute pacifists. A timely publication at a critical juncture in world affairs, this book is the product of their discussions held at Soka University, Los Angeles, in 1987.While the dialogue spells out their efforts and prescriptions for dealing with the current peace issues, it also relates Pauling's recollections of his childhood, his development as a scientist, and many episodes about his life and the people he has known--Albert Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer among them. This volume gives a broad and personal glimpse of Pauling, recipient of two unshared Nobel Prizes (1954 for chemistry and 1962 for peace).Dr. Pauling first met Mr. Ikeda in Los Angeles in 1987, then again in 1990 and twice in 1993, before his death in 1994. His son, Linus Pauling, Jr., later recollected his father's pride in their joint publication, as follows: "My father met President Ikeda in his later days and mentioned him to me on many occasions, but I was particularly struck by the fact that in my father's office, at the time I started working there, which was in late 1991, there was a stack of books: the book on peace published by President Ikeda and my father, A Lifelong Quest for Peace. I noticed that my father tended to pass out a copy of this book to distinguished visitors who came to see him, and I think that he had considerable pride in participating with President Ikeda on this book. President Ikeda and my father were complementary in many ways.... My father, coming from his scientific background that dealt with facts and statistics, and President Ikeda with his philosophical training dealing with concepts, managed to come together, bringing these two viewpoints to a mutual understanding, an understanding that lay within each of them." A Lifelong Quest for Peace, gives the reader an opportunity to become acquainted with Dr. Pauling, who was always active and vocal in his advocacy of responsible and humane progress in science and a superb role model for today's young people, on whose shoulders the problems of the twenty-first century rest.