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Keeper of the Nuclear Conscience: The Life and Work of Joseph Rotblat

Author: 
Andrew Brown
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Joseph Rotblat was the Jewish nuclear scientist whose disillusionment with nuclear weapons encouraged him to become one of the prime architects of the anti-nuclear movement, and resulted in his lifelong efforts to promote social responsibility in science. His founding of Pugwash and his humanitarian work ultimately led to his being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Rotblat's life, from his boyhood in Warsaw under siege and occupation in World War I to an active old age that brought honours and public recognition, is a compelling human story in itself. What gave it significance is the single-minded dedication to peaceful causes, particularly through his pursuit of nuclear disarmament. A key member of the British team that demonstrated the feasibility of the atomic bomb, he was so appalled by the use of the bombs against the Japanese that he founded the Pugwash organization to engage scientists from East and West to prohibit weapons of mass destruction. The story of his life reflects his global actions and his efforts were acknowledged when he was jointly awarded, with Pugwash, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995. Set against a backdrop of profound changes to the global order - World War II, the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, we also learn of his own personal tragedy. Andrew Brown's biography sets out a life whose work poses deep and important questions about science and society. This compelling account draws on full access to Rotblat's archives and presents the full scope of his life: his childhood overcoming poverty and anti-Semitism, his efforts to become a scientist in Warsaw, his work on Britain's nuclear programme, his lifelong dedication to peaceful causes, and his determination to uphold the ethical application of science. Ultimately, we discover a great man whose profound conscience shaped his life and work, and the legacy he leaves today.

Index: 

1. Growing up in Warsaw
2. Liverpool
3. Paradise Denied
4. The bitterness of victory
5. Stepping off the atomic train
6. Bart's, bikini and the BBC
7. Remember your humanity
8. Pugwash
9. Of mice and Moscow
10. Towards a test ban
11. Eggheads and Warheads
12. Years of eclipse
13. Latent progress
14. Reaching for the impossible?
15. An old man in a hurry

About the author: 

Andrew Brown trained and worked as a physician in London and then practised for 20 years as a radiation oncologist in New Hampshire. This is the third biography in which he has explored the careers of scientists, with special attention to the impact of their work on world events. He now plans to return to clinical practice.

Product details

Author: 
Andrew Brown
Pub date
Feb 2012
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Keeper of the Nuclear Conscience: The Life and Work of Joseph Rotblat