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The Man Who Broke Reality

Niels Bohr and the Making of Modern Physics
Brief Description
After Einstein and Oppenheimer, Niels Bohr was the most influential physicist of the 20th century. He was the central figure in the development of quantum mechanics (contra Einstein with whom he clashed). Due to his Jewish ancestry, he had to escape from his native Denmark during... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

After Einstein and Oppenheimer, Niels Bohr was the most influential physicist of the 20th century. He was the central figure in the development of quantum mechanics (contra Einstein with whom he clashed).

Due to his Jewish ancestry, he had to escape from his native Denmark during the Second World War and ended up working on the Manhattan project to build an atomic bomb for America, a programme run by Robert Oppenheimer who idolised him.

This first popular biography tells his remarkable life story, including what really happened in 1943 in Copenhagen when he famously challenged his former student Werner Heisenberg for working on the Nazi atomic bomb, and lucidly explains his revolutionary scientific ideas.

The Man Who Broke Reality is a compelling read that sheds light on the life and work of a remarkable scientist.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349136578

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 October 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: The Bridge Street Press

Illustration: 30 integrated b&w photos / illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 480

About the Author

Philip Ball is widely recognized as one of the UK's leading science communicators. He is a regular contributor to Nature, New Scientist, The Guardian, The Observer, Prospect, New Statesman, and other publications. He has a degree in chemistry from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in physics from the University of Bristol. Philip was an editor at Nature for over two decades.

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