Linus Pauling in His Own Words: Selections from His Writings, Speeches, and Interviews

by Linus Pauling and Barbara Marinacci

Book Overview

In Linus Pauling in his Own Words the Two-time Nobel Prize winner, Linus Pauling who was known for his scientific discoveries and of his breadth of knowledge, which spanned discipline shares a selections from his work.

Edited by Barbara Marinacci, who knew Pauling well, has chosen from among more than 60 years of essays, letters, articles, books, speeches and interviews.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684813874
• ISBN13: 9780684813875
• Release Date: October 1995
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

premier chemist of the twentieth century

Linus Carl Pauling is regarded by many as the premier chemist of the twentieth century. Pauling received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 for his campaign against above-ground nuclear testing, and is the only person to win two Nobel prizes that were not shared with another recipient. The other people who have received two Nobel prizes are Marie Curie (physics and chemistry), John Bardeen (both in physics) and Frederick Sanger (both in chemistry). Later in life, he became an advocate for greatly increased consumption of vitamin C and other nutrients. He generalized his ideas to define orthomolecular medicine, which is still regarded as unorthodox by conventional medicine. He popularized his concepts, analyses, research and insights in several successful but controversial books centered around vitamin C and orthomolecular medicine

He trusted his own intellect - a great scientist's credo

Linus Pauling is the only person to date to win two unshared Nobel Prizes in science. His researches were in a wide variety of areas including nuclear science, genetics, molecular biology , X-ray chrystallography, mineralogy, physical chemistry. The most valuable parts of his memoirs are his descriptions of his own scientific work and discoveries. Pauling's motto was " Never put your trust in anything but your own intellect" and he was a tremendously independent researcher, and thinker. His reputation and his great work were in science, but he also thought out loud and independently on political and health subjects. I remember hearing him talk years ago at Harpur College in Binghamton New York. I was expecting to hear him talk about his scientific work and discoveries. Instead he went on endlessly about Vitamin C as a cure to all our health problems. Yes, Pauling along with being a pioneering intellect and scientist was a crank also. His crankiness had its political side in his Pacifism , a pacificism which led to his being accused of being a fellow traveler.(i.e.Communist ). In fact the idea that nuclear war is insane is one of the most sane ideas imaginable. But equating the US and the late Soviet Union as Pauling often did was mistaken and wrongheaded. Above all it is best to think of Pauling as a scientist. The enthusiasm he had in exploring nature is felt throughout this work. He believed himself and other scientists fortunate in that he thought scientists could appreciate and enjoy so much more of the world than others. He was a true American original , a pioneer researcher at the highest level, and not without a certain sense of humor. This book may not bear a cover- to - cover reading but whoever looks and searches in it will find much material for the investigating human soul.

Short story of his works

Book is about more his professional life more than his private life. After very short introduction his scientific life story is told through abbreviated sayings, speeches of his own. Since most of the text is from his speeches and abstracts you get a lot of his opinions and comments on various subjects including use of atomic power.

smart quotations from a smart biochemist

i hope that everybody who read this book realy deeply,could understand the true meaning of the two times noble price winner wich is gathered and explained in a very easy to follow,and the real messages that he explined in this super-book!this book reflects his total life-history, philosophy,orthomolecularly,and the real man as a human.very interesting book, and highly recommanded.

Chemisrty was only the beginning!

Pauling started with no intentional ambition of earning two Nobel Prizes. The passion for what he felt were the logical conclusions of his studies, resulted in his often controversial image. He did not realize the impact these opinions would have both on himself and the world. It's often surprising that few people understand the great influence this man had on the modern world. His voice in opposing nuclear testing, his insights into the value of nutritional supplements, and the many other, now common, issues he initited is truely inspiring. It is quite satisfying to read of a person whose personal ideals could withstand so much ridicule and resistance. Even more gratifying is that today these opinions are considered "mainstream". All considered, those intrested in science and the difficulties encountered in its advancement will find this a quite enjoyable reading.