Chemical Creativity: Ideas from the Work of Woodward, Hückel, Meerwein and Others [Paperback]

Jerome A. Berson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 3527297545 | ISBN-13: 978-3527297542 | Publication Date: April 14, 1999 | Edition: 1

Where are the origins of chemical ideas? How did the pioneers in chemistry recognize the fundamental intellectual issues of their time? What skills of reasoning and experiment did they use to solve these problemes? How did the circumstances of personality and competition influence their careers and scientific accomplishments? If we can answer these questions, we may be able to improve our own chances of success in research.


?This is a marvelous book of people and chemical ideas! The author, Jerry Berson, is known as a chemical stylist, a physical organic chemist possessed of the highest analytical powers. In a unique approach to the history of chemistry (indeed the history of science) he brings that style, as well as his insider's knowledge and a perceptive sensivity to the societal setting of chemists, to the analysis of some key chapters in modern organic chemistry.? Roald Hoffmann, Nobel Laureate

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Jerome A. Berson Chemical Creativity Ideas from the Work of Woodward, Hückel, Meerwein, and Others How did the pioneers in chemistry recognize the fundamental intellectual issues of their time? What skills of reasoning and experiment did they use to solve these problemes? How did the circumstances of personality and competition influence their careers and scientific accomplishments? If we can answer these questions, we may be able to improve our own chances of success in research. »This is a marvelous book of people and chemical ideas! The author, Jerry Berson, is known as a chemical stylist, a physical organic chemist possessed of the highest analytical powers. In a unique approach to the history of chemistry (indeed the history of science) he brings that style, as well as his insider’s knowledge and a perceptive sensivity to the societal setting of chemists, to the analysis of some key chapters in modern organic chemistry.« Roald Hoffmann, Nobel Laureate

About the Author

Jerome A. Berson received a B.S. in chemistry from the City College of New York in 1944. After a brief period in the industry with Hoffmann-La Roche in New Jersey, he served in the Army of the United Stated (1944-1946, China-Burma-India Theater). In 1946, he entered graduate study at Columbia University where he took M.A. and Ph.D. degrees with W. von E. Doering. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University (with R. B. Woodward) in 1949-1950. Subsequently, he taught chemistry at the University of Southern California (1950-1963), the University of Wisconsin (1963-1969), and Yale University (since 1969). He is presently Sterling Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Yale.
His research group has concentrated its efforts on the elucidation of reaction mechanisms and the synthesis of molecules of theoretical interest. In the latter category, a principal activity has been the study of non-Kekul? compounds.
In recent years, he has written on the history of science, producing a number of articles and two books, both published by Wiley-VCH: Chemical Discovery and the Logicians' Program (2003) and the present book, Chemical Creativity.

Product Details

• Paperback: 198 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH; 1 edition (April 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3527297545
• ISBN-13: 978-3527297542
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.5 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,535,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good historical look at the most important chemists, August 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Chemical Creativity: Ideas from the Work of Woodward, Hückel, Meerwein and Others (Paperback)

J. Berson touches on the most important and influential chemists of the history. Although a well written book, it did lack some detail and more recent discoveries using these influences. However, the book did contain enough information to keep the reader interested without getting too technical, ie. no Ph.D necessary to understand his work. I recomend this book as a creativity booster for those graduate students in chemistry who are still trying to find their way.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For chemists only, January 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Chemical Creativity: Ideas from the Work of Woodward, Hückel, Meerwein and Others (Paperback)

Although it is an excellent book in many respects, it doesn't really tackle the whole issue of creativity. Non-chemists be warned! This book is intended for professional chemists and any non-chemists (or even lapsed chemists) will find much of this book is totally unreadable. A great pity.