...[a] superb biography ... Given the authors’ personal connections, their scientific expertise, and the wealth of research they have undertaken, it is clear that they have produced a definitive study of Fermi’s life and work.
Segrè and Hoerlin have combined sophisticated understanding of Fermi’s scientific achievements with intimate, often charming stories of the famed physicist’s personal life, to create a book that’s both intelligent and extremely engaging.
Perhaps understandably, the authors are most assured and informative when writing about Fermi’s contributions to science ... But except for their account of the young Fermi as one of the precocious scientists known as the 'Boys of Via Panisperna' — the location of the University of Rome’s physics department — there is little in the book that is new, and that has not already been covered in other works.
Combining family lore with intensive research, Segrè and Hoerlin offer unique insights into Fermi's life and work, set against the background of politics and the early years of the Atomic Age.
