I have many strong feelings about the historical figure that is Fritz Haber.
Admittedly, I had read this biography as the first step in a lengthy research project that will consumed about a third of my time in the second semester of last year (the other two-thirds of my time were my thesis. yaaaay). I was spurred to study this often forgotten scientist after hearing the rumour that this book does not put much stock in; that Haber's wife, Clara Immerwahr, the first women to receive a doctorate in chemistry from the university of Breslau, committed suicide because of Fritz's efforts during World War One to create a variety of poisonous gases, which is a very compelling story.
This biography is beautifully written. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in chemistry at the turn of the century, or the condition of German science and the German people during the First World War. Fritz Habar is considered a war criminal in some circles and just a good scientist in others. Today in our more modern age can stand to learn much from the ethical conundrum that Fritz found himself in as a scientist for the majority of his adult life.
I give this book a 10 out of 10. It was really fantastically written and has a good list of sources that it used. Unfortunately it's harder to find information on Fritz Haber, my own research for the paper I wrote relied heavily on this book and one written by Haber's son. Many people want to forget that Haber existed even though he was the first to synthesise nitrogen of fertilisers; without which we could not have industrial farming. This is a good book for anyone who is interested in World War One from a more German perspective to read.
Admittedly, I had read this biography as the first step in a lengthy research project that will consumed about a third of my time in the second semester of last year (the other two-thirds of my time were my thesis. yaaaay). I was spurred to study this often forgotten scientist after hearing the rumour that this book does not put much stock in; that Haber's wife, Clara Immerwahr, the first women to receive a doctorate in chemistry from the university of Breslau, committed suicide because of Fritz's efforts during World War One to create a variety of poisonous gases, which is a very compelling story.
This biography is beautifully written. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in chemistry at the turn of the century, or the condition of German science and the German people during the First World War. Fritz Habar is considered a war criminal in some circles and just a good scientist in others. Today in our more modern age can stand to learn much from the ethical conundrum that Fritz found himself in as a scientist for the majority of his adult life.
I give this book a 10 out of 10. It was really fantastically written and has a good list of sources that it used. Unfortunately it's harder to find information on Fritz Haber, my own research for the paper I wrote relied heavily on this book and one written by Haber's son. Many people want to forget that Haber existed even though he was the first to synthesise nitrogen of fertilisers; without which we could not have industrial farming. This is a good book for anyone who is interested in World War One from a more German perspective to read.
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