Wisdom of the Martians of Science refers to five scientists whose brilliance contributed to shaping the modern world. John von Neumann was a pioneer of the modern computer; Theodore von Kármán was the scientist behind the US Air Force; Leo Szilard initiated the development of nuclear weapons; the Nobel laureate Eugene P Wigner was the world's first nuclear engineer; and Edward Teller was the father of the hydrogen bomb. They were born and raised in Budapest, were forced out of Hungary and then from Germany, they became Americans, and devoted themselves to the defense of the United States and the Free World.
They contributed significant discoveries to fundamental science ranging from the properties of materials to the application of the symmetry principle in physics, to creating information theory, to game theory. The areas in which we can learn about their wisdom include applications of science to past, present and future real-world needs; defense; education; environment; human nature; humor; politics; religion; weather modification, and others.
This book shows the wisdom of the Martians by presenting their thoughts and ideas in their own words and placing them into context. Their wisdom is intriguing, witty, provocative and thought provoking. It extended over many aspects of life and culture that impinge on our existence. While we cannot always agree with what they say, they are never boring. The power of their words and their philosophies will inspire the readers to pursue their own dreams.
Sample Chapter(s)
Chapter 1: Introduction (977 KB)
Contents:
- Introduction
- John von Neumann's Wisdom
- Theodore von Kármán's Wisdom
- Leo Szilard's Wisdom
- Eugene P Wigner's Wisdom
- Edward Teller's Wisdom
- Final Thoughts
Readership: Scientists and lay persons.
"This book is about five famous scientists, whose lives followed similar paths in the rocky terrains of the twentieth century. As Jewish–Hungarians they had to immigrate to the United States; as outstanding scientists, they were leading figures in the development of modern physics and computer science; and as believers in democracy and freedom, they assumed important roles in the global political fight for these ideas. The book by Balazs Hargittai and István Hargittai presents their views, feelings and wisdom through quotes from their writings, with comments from the authors. This makes a fascinating, memorable and sometimes provocative reading."
László Lovász
President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and
Wolf-Prize Laureate Mathematician
"Balazs and István Hargittai have produced a wonderful book, which should be on every scientist's coffee table and in the reading room of every university library. The book is not only immensely interesting, but also illustrated with an exceptional collection of photographs."
Anders Bárány
former Deputy Director of the Nobel Museum, Stockholm
"Wisdom comes with age, yet much of the wisdom collected here was acquired long before its time. Mathematical talent gave these five Hungarians an early start, sharpened by the turmoil in Europe through which they were forced to make their escape. The refuge they found in America gave them time and opportunity to reflect. Here, set in just the right amount of historical context, is a group portrait of their time. Insights abound — yet the miracle of how this constellation of genius appeared at this critical moment in history remains no less astonishing for being so well explained."
George Dyson
author of Turing's Cathedral: The Origin of the Digital Universe
"Wisdom of the Martians of Science is unputdownable for anyone curious about how science in the mid-twentieth century transformed our planet. Five Hungarians, the 'Martians', in America led this transformation. Geniuses all but each very different. We hear them in their words, placed in context, to marvel how oppression and adversity did not bend their drive. No matter what our opinions of each of them, and some such as Teller generate strong responses, we cannot but be amazed at their 'octopus-like' approaches. Their tentacles curl around every problem from basic to applied, from politics to defence, from making bombs to making peace. These are the Hargittais at their best, taking us back in time to sit on a roller-coaster ride through science. Fasten your seat belts and enjoy."
K VijayRaghavan
FRS, Distinguished Professor and
former Director of The National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore
"I recommend highly the Hargittais' book. It is a stimulating read of the thinking and views of five Hungarian born scientists (the fictional Martians). They significantly contributed to fundamental changes of our life from the harnessing of the energy of the atom (and the need to live with the atom bomb) to the emergence of the computer age."
George A Olah
Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, 1994
"Five scientific pioneers were outstanding geniuses, first as a group of Budapest boys, then as bravely original individuals in their science, social ideas, and spiritual insights. This book reveals both their brilliance and their humanity."
William Lanouette
author of Genius in the Shadows: A Biography of Leo Szilard, the Man Behind the Bomb
"Wisdom of the Martians of Science is a strong and often charming group profile of five great Hungarian scientists of an earlier age. The book is simple in structure, learned and reasonable in tone, and generous with photographs and telling details. It is a marvelous book and I hope that it finds a wide audience."
Andrew Szanton
co-author of The Recollections of Eugene P Wigner
"No one is better acquainted with the lives of the Martians of Science — five Hungarian geniuses who put their extraordinary talents to work in the cause of democracy and freedom — than the father-and-son team of Istvan and Balazs Hargittai. With widely-varying personalities, from the imperious Edward Teller to the courteous, soft-spoken Eugene Wigner, the five had in common, in addition to their incredible brains, a shared history as émigré Hungarian Jews who made new lives in the United States, and whose contributions in the fields of physics, rocketry, and computer development played a critical role in their adopted country's victory in World War II. Much has been written about these men, but only the Hargittais have allowed us a glimpse into their souls through their own words, put in context by the authors. I am the daughter of one of the Martians, John von Neumann, and knew several of the others personally, but this group portrait has given me new insights that I treasure."
Marina v N Whitman
Professor of Business Administration & Public Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and
author of The Martian's Daughter
"Through direct quotes from the five characters and commentaries from other people who knew them, the authors offer an insight into the thinking of such great minds, which they find instructive and entertaining."
CERN Courier
"The book should appeal to historians interested in this period of science, and to the general reader who wishes to get to know better these individuals whose work influenced so much the second half of the 20th century."
Chemistry World
