Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.