Great Physicists

Thirty renowned figures are put under the spotlight by Prof Cropper and their genius is explored to show how they have changed our understanding of life and the universe. The physicists range from Galileo with his discoveries that were considered blasphemous, right through to Stephen Hawking who has pioneered new research into and understanding of black holes and cosmology. Cropper's skill is in putting a human face to people who blazed trails while largely remaining anonymous in terms of their personal qualities. He reveals that they were a pretty eccentric bunch though not without their winning ways. Some could be friendly and affable, others would happily filch the work of underlings and put their own names to it. The book reads like a Who's Who of greatness but it has the benefit of the sort of depth and substance not normally found when looking only at the achievements of Einstein and so on.(Kirkus UK)