Peace and War
Nonphysicists will find parts of this fascinating memoir unintelligible, but that should not be a deterrent. Seber, one of the most important theoretical physicists of this century, was a key member of the Manhattan Project, which developed the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War ll. He was also a close friend of Robert Oppenheimer. His memoir is replete with stories and anecdotes about physics, physicists, and his own personal life, though it is his wartime experiences that will likely generate the most interest here. One of the first people to view the damage caused by the bombs, he describes what he saw in letters to his wife, Charlotte. Serber's style is very matter of fact no matter what he is discussing, and though one wishes he had elaborated on certain aspects of his life and relationships, it is the science of physics that dominates his recollections. Historian Crease provides an excellent introduction, putting Serber and his work into the context of the times. Serber died in June 1997. Highly recommended for science collections.AKate Kelly, Treadwell Lib., Massachusetts General Hosp., BostonCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.