Book Review: The Life and Science of Harold C. Urey
Written by Dr. Matthew Shindell, curator of planetary science in the Space History Department of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, “The Life and Science of Harold C. Urey” is the biography of the famous chemist, Dr. Harold C. Urey. The book was published in 2019 by The University of Chicago Press and is part of the ‘synthesis’ series — a collection of books of the history of chemistry. Despite being a part of the ‘synthesis’ series, this book is easily read as a standalone.
The book opens with a high-level introduction of Urey’s life, including the discovery that won him the Nobel Prize in 1934, his involvement in the Manhattan Project, his interest in the Moon’s origin, and his complex, evolving views of science and religion. This preview gives the reader a taste of how Dr. Shindell understands who Urey was, and how he will portray Urey’s professional and personal development throughout the book.
Through seven, in-depth chapters, readers follow Urey from his boyhood home in Indiana across the US, along both the East and West coasts. You learn of the likely motivations for key decisions in his life, such as the decision to move from Hopkins to Columbia to Chicago to California, and of his relationships with other scientists, including Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, and J. R. Oppenheimer. In the final chapters, you understand why Urey was called “the real modern father of lunar science” despite his ultimate frustrations while working with NASA.
Throughout the journey you read of Urey’s life, a recurring theme is the relationship between science and religion, as professed by Urey during his public speeches. Dr. Shindell explains how Urey’s childhood and adult experiences shaped Urey’s view of this complex topic.
Each chapter has subheadings throughout to separate key parts of Urey’s life, which make it convenient for reading over multiple sittings. Additionally, there are frequent in-text quotes from Urey’s letters to friends and colleagues, from which you read the scientist’s own words, as well as quotes from people that knew him. This book is appropriate for audiences with and without a science background and will be enjoyed by anyone interested in science history, Cold War science politics, or the 1960’s space age.
After reading “The Life and Science of Harold C. Urey”, I am inspired by the legacy left behind by the renowned chemist. Despite his humble beginnings and trying “to shed his ‘raw’ characteristics”, Urey accomplished much throughout his life and influenced multiple fields of science. His story is encouraging for all aspiring chemists.
Purchase “The Life and Science of Harold C. Urey” here: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/L/bo43987910.html
or
Read more about the author, Dr. Matthew Shindell, here: https://airandspace.si.edu/people/staff/matthew-shindell
Learn more about the ‘synthesis’ book series here: https://www.sciencehistory.org/synthesis-book-series#:~:text=Synthesis%2C%20a%20series%20of%20books,its%20diverse%20roles%20in%20society.
