From Galileo to Gell-Mann: The Wonder that Inspired the Greatest Scientists of All Time: In Their Own Words

“A remarkably interesting collection of writings by scientists, setting their formally impersonal discipline in a rich context of humane experience and understanding. The book is an important contribution to a deeper understanding of the character of science and it deserves to be widely read.”—John Polkinghorne, author of Theology in the Context of Science
 
“This is an inspirational anthology of the thoughts and vision of scientists through the ages. A much needed antidote to the current dehumanizing of scientific discovery. A book which questions the very basis on which modern science is conducted and to take us back to the values and vision of why we investigate and try to explain the world in which we live.”—John Wood, professor, Imperial College, London; Chair of the European Research Area Board
 
In From Galileo to Gell-Mann, Marco Bersanelli and Mario Gargantini have gathered writings from over one hundred of the world’s brightest scientific minds on the question of “Why?”—specifically, why did these great scientists commit themselves so ardently to life in the laboratory? What was it that kept them dedicated to their research endeavors for years on end?
 
This new anthology is a goldmine of insight that previously could only to be found hidden deep within thousands of scattershot pages of footnotes from out-of-print journals, rare books, and unpublished papers. Among the most remarkable similarities that emerge when one considers together these writings from the likes of Albert Einstein, Gregor Mendel, Marie Curie, and others, is the sense of wonder and outright awe at what the study of the natural world can reveal.