On the Beauty of Science: A Nobel Laureate Reflects on the Universe, God, and the Nature of Discovery [Hardcover]

Herbert A. Hauptman (Author), D. J. Grothe (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1591024609 | ISBN-13: 978-1591024606 | Publication Date: January 31, 2008

'Does the scientist's world conform to the real one? Nature usually answers this question with an emphatic 'No!'. It has in fact been said that Nature delights in saying 'No' and only with the greatest reluctance condescends to reveal her secrets. For this reason the scientist's life is not an easy one. However, on those rare occasions when his world does conform to the real one, and for this reason does throw light on the world around us, the rewards and the satisfactions are great and more than compensate for the many disappointments' - Herbert A. Hauptman. In this memoir of a long, distinguished career devoted to scientific research, world-renowned mathematician Herbert A. Hauptman recounts both the joys and the disappointments of his lifelong quest to induce nature to 'reveal her secrets'. In 1985, Dr. Hauptman received the greatest honour that any scientist can receive, when the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded him and his colleague, Jerome Karle, the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Drs Hauptman and Karle were recognised 'for their outstanding achievements in the development of direct methods for the determination of crystal structures'. This work has proved to be of the greatest importance because it relates molecular structure to biological activity, thus permitting a better understanding of life processes and making possible the development of many new disease-fighting drugs. Dr. Hauptman vividly describes the difficulties of the mathematical work that led up to his discovery as well as his joy when he finally hit upon a method of unravelling the structure of crystals. In addition, he provides a personal account of his background, family, his formative studies in high school and college, and the experiences that motivated him to pursue a life devoted to scientific research. A strong advocate of the naturalistic worldview and a critic of supernaturalism in any form, he reflects on the alleged compatibility of science and religion and emphasises the importance of scientific understanding for contemporary civilisation. Complete with an appendix containing the original monograph (co-authored with Jerome Karle), which became the basis for their Nobel Prize-winning work, this fascinating and moving memoir offers important insights into the nature of scientific research and the value of the scientific outlook on life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In an era when pop star Miley Cyrus can put out an autobiography at the grand age of 15, it's refreshing to read a memoir from someone who has a life worth recording. Herbert A. Hauptman is one of this area's living treasures. He won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1985 for his groundbreaking work in X-ray crystallography, research that helped pave the way in the development of powerful drugs. But the 91-year-old Hauptman, long affiliated with the medical research institute that bears his name, isn't widely known here. Hopefully Hauptman's new memoir will help him draw the recognition he deserves. At its best, Hauptman's memoir is a provocative account of his views on science as it relates to society, politics, education and religion. On the Beauty of Science is a sure-to-be-controversial call to arms, as Hauptman argues forcefully that science and religion are incompatible and that Americans must learn to think more critically about science and other issues. Hauptman's memoir is sure to inspire a passionate debate between believers and nonbelievers, and I'll bet that was his desire all along." --Buffalo News, Sunday, November 2, 2008

About the Author

Herbert A. Hauptman (Buffalo, NY) is president of the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, research professor in the Department of Biophysical Sciences, and adjunct professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University at Buffalo. Besides the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Dr. Hauptman has received many other honors, including election to the National Academy of Sciences. He is the author of more than 170 publications.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 113 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (January 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591024609
• ISBN-13: 978-1591024606
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,901,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On The Beauty of the Man, December 18, 2008

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CSF - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Beauty of Science: A Nobel Laureate Reflects on the Universe, God, and the Nature of Discovery (Hardcover)

This enlightening book is a unique look into the life and work of one of the most distinguished scientists of our time, Dr. Herbert Hauptman. Dr. Hauptman describes his Nobel Prize winning work from the perspective of a man, husband, and father with a deep love and dedication to his work and his family. Dr. Hauptman's vision in writing this book was to help others not only come to understand better the great importance of basic science in today's advanced technological society but also to gain an appreciation of the beauty of mathematics and the indispensable role which mathematics plays in making such a society possible. In this book Dr. Hauptman has achieved his goal. Dr. Hauptman's wisdom and compassion for his work and life serves as an inspiration for people young and old.

3.0 out of 5 stars Review ..., November 26, 2011

By 

Sean J. McHale (Valrico, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: On the Beauty of Science: A Nobel Laureate Reflects on the Universe, God, and the Nature of Discovery (Hardcover)

I have a very specific interest in the Doctor. My review isn't a general one and shouldn't inform others. We met several times.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A DISAPPOINTMENT, December 1, 2008

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P. Judkins (NY, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On the Beauty of Science: A Nobel Laureate Reflects on the Universe, God, and the Nature of Discovery (Hardcover)

This is a very poorly written book. Perhaps partly typified by a typographical error, when the author relates having worked for the "Navel" Research Laboratory (p.34). I imagined he may have looked for God by contemplating his belly button.

I was attracted to the book to see what a brilliant scientist/mathemetician had to say about the relationship of God and science. I can summarize what he said. There is no compatibility. Also there is no justification,philosophy or wisdom in the chapter devoted to the subject. I am no wiser for having perservered to read the whole chapter. He gave me nothing to either disagree or agree with, I only know his opinion, not his rationale.

His tale of his stint in the Navy during WWII made me aware of the opinion the Navy had of him as an officer. His most challenging assignment was as a base fire marshall where he was pretty much left to being supervised by enlisted personnel. In uniform he was lost.

Dr. Hauptman was awarded the Nobel Prize for being the first to find a mathmatical solution for understanding x-ray crystallography, a subject somewhat above my ability to understand and appreciate. Perhaps the book should be recommended only to those who are curious about that subject, not to anyone interested in him reflecting on the subject of God,the universe and the nature of discovery, the come-on printed on the book's cover.