Stalin and the scientists: a history of triumph and tragedy, 1905-1953
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Publisher:
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Pub. Date:
2017
Language:
English
Description
“One of the finest, most gripping surveys of the history of Russian science in the twentieth century.” —Douglas Smith, author of Former People: The Final Days of the Russian Aristocracy
Stalin and the Scientists tells the story of the many gifted scientists who worked in Russia from the years leading up to the revolution through the death of the “Great Scientist” himself, Joseph Stalin. It weaves together the stories of scientists, politicians, and ideologues into an intimate and sometimes horrifying portrait of a state determined to remake the world. They often wreaked great harm. Stalin was himself an amateur botanist, and by falling under the sway of dangerous charlatans like Trofim Lysenko (who denied the existence of genes), and by relying on antiquated ideas of biology, he not only destroyed the lives of hundreds of brilliant scientists, he caused the death of millions through famine.
But from atomic physics to management theory, and from radiation biology to neuroscience and psychology, these Soviet experts also made breakthroughs that forever changed agriculture, education, and medicine. A masterful book that deepens our understanding of Russian history, Stalin and the Scientists is a great achievement of research and storytelling, and a gripping look at what happens when science falls prey to politics.
Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in 2016
A New York Times Book Review “Paperback Row” selection
“Ings’s research is impressive and his exposition of the science is lucid . . . Filled with priceless nuggets and a cast of frauds, crackpots and tyrants, this is a lively and interesting book, and utterly relevant today.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A must read for understanding how the ideas of scientific knowledge and technology were distorted and subverted for decades across the Soviet Union.” —The Washington Post
Stalin and the Scientists tells the story of the many gifted scientists who worked in Russia from the years leading up to the revolution through the death of the “Great Scientist” himself, Joseph Stalin. It weaves together the stories of scientists, politicians, and ideologues into an intimate and sometimes horrifying portrait of a state determined to remake the world. They often wreaked great harm. Stalin was himself an amateur botanist, and by falling under the sway of dangerous charlatans like Trofim Lysenko (who denied the existence of genes), and by relying on antiquated ideas of biology, he not only destroyed the lives of hundreds of brilliant scientists, he caused the death of millions through famine.
But from atomic physics to management theory, and from radiation biology to neuroscience and psychology, these Soviet experts also made breakthroughs that forever changed agriculture, education, and medicine. A masterful book that deepens our understanding of Russian history, Stalin and the Scientists is a great achievement of research and storytelling, and a gripping look at what happens when science falls prey to politics.
Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in 2016
A New York Times Book Review “Paperback Row” selection
“Ings’s research is impressive and his exposition of the science is lucid . . . Filled with priceless nuggets and a cast of frauds, crackpots and tyrants, this is a lively and interesting book, and utterly relevant today.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A must read for understanding how the ideas of scientific knowledge and technology were distorted and subverted for decades across the Soviet Union.” —The Washington Post
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ISBN:
9780802125989
9780802189868
9780802189868
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Grouping Information
Grouped Work ID | 7b202dab-53ac-0f4a-2282-97439efff692 |
---|---|
Grouping Title | stalin and the scientists a history of triumph and tragedy 1905 1953 |
Grouping Author | simon ings |
Grouping Category | book |
Grouping Language | English (eng) |
Last Grouping Update | 2024-05-02 07:03:10AM |
Last Indexed | 2024-05-02 07:05:23AM |
Solr Fields
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Ings, Simon
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Ings, Simon
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display_description
“One of the finest, most gripping surveys of the history of Russian science in the twentieth century.” —Douglas Smith, author of Former People: The Final Days of the Russian Aristocracy
Stalin and the Scientists tells the story of the many gifted scientists who worked in Russia from the years leading up to the revolution through the death of the “Great Scientist” himself, Joseph Stalin. It weaves together the stories of scientists, politicians, and ideologues into an intimate and sometimes horrifying portrait of a state determined to remake the world. They often wreaked great harm. Stalin was himself an amateur botanist, and by falling under the sway of dangerous charlatans like Trofim Lysenko (who denied the existence of genes), and by relying on antiquated ideas of biology, he not only destroyed the lives of hundreds of brilliant scientists, he caused the death of millions through famine.
But from atomic physics to management theory, and from radiation biology to neuroscience and psychology, these Soviet experts also made breakthroughs that forever changed agriculture, education, and medicine. A masterful book that deepens our understanding of Russian history, Stalin and the Scientists is a great achievement of research and storytelling, and a gripping look at what happens when science falls prey to politics.
Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in 2016
A New York Times Book Review “Paperback Row” selection
“Ings’s research is impressive and his exposition of the science is lucid . . . Filled with priceless nuggets and a cast of frauds, crackpots and tyrants, this is a lively and interesting book, and utterly relevant today.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A must read for understanding how the ideas of scientific knowledge and technology were distorted and subverted for decades across the Soviet Union.” —The Washington Post
Stalin and the Scientists tells the story of the many gifted scientists who worked in Russia from the years leading up to the revolution through the death of the “Great Scientist” himself, Joseph Stalin. It weaves together the stories of scientists, politicians, and ideologues into an intimate and sometimes horrifying portrait of a state determined to remake the world. They often wreaked great harm. Stalin was himself an amateur botanist, and by falling under the sway of dangerous charlatans like Trofim Lysenko (who denied the existence of genes), and by relying on antiquated ideas of biology, he not only destroyed the lives of hundreds of brilliant scientists, he caused the death of millions through famine.
But from atomic physics to management theory, and from radiation biology to neuroscience and psychology, these Soviet experts also made breakthroughs that forever changed agriculture, education, and medicine. A masterful book that deepens our understanding of Russian history, Stalin and the Scientists is a great achievement of research and storytelling, and a gripping look at what happens when science falls prey to politics.
Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in 2016
A New York Times Book Review “Paperback Row” selection
“Ings’s research is impressive and his exposition of the science is lucid . . . Filled with priceless nuggets and a cast of frauds, crackpots and tyrants, this is a lively and interesting book, and utterly relevant today.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A must read for understanding how the ideas of scientific knowledge and technology were distorted and subverted for decades across the Soviet Union.” —The Washington Post
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eBook
eBook
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Books
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7b202dab-53ac-0f4a-2282-97439efff692
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9780802189868
itype_catalog
Adult Book Non-Fiction
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Non Fiction
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947 I55 2017
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Sacramento Public Library
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Central
primary_isbn
9780802125989
publishDate
2017
publisher
Atlantic Monthly Press
Grove Atlantic
Grove Atlantic
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Communism and science -- Soviet Union
Science and state -- Soviet Union
Soviet Union -- Politics and governmemt -- 1925-1953
Stalin, Joseph, -- 1878-1953
Science and state -- Soviet Union
Soviet Union -- Politics and governmemt -- 1925-1953
Stalin, Joseph, -- 1878-1953
title_display
Stalin and the scientists : a history of triumph and tragedy, 1905-1953
title_full
Stalin and the Scientists A History of Triumph and Tragedy, 1905–1953
Stalin and the scientists : a history of triumph and tragedy, 1905-1953 / Simon Ings
Stalin and the scientists : a history of triumph and tragedy, 1905-1953 / Simon Ings
title_short
Stalin and the scientists
title_sub
a history of triumph and tragedy, 1905-1953
topic_facet
Communism and science
History
Nonfiction
Politics
Politics and governmemt
Science
Science and state
Stalin, Joseph
History
Nonfiction
Politics
Politics and governmemt
Science
Science and state
Stalin, Joseph
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