New Book on Quantum Genius Paul Dirac Offers Accessible and Engaging Introduction to the Physicist

NEW YORK - April 16, 2016 - PRLog -- When he co-won the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics, British theoretical physicist and mathematician Paul Dirac was reluctant to accept the award because he disliked honors and publicity of any kind. For the same reason, 20 years later he turned down a knighthood, as he did not want to be addressed as "Sir Paul." Due to these eccentricities, Albert Einstein once described Dirac as "balancing on the dizzying path between genius and madness."

These and many more anecdotes about Dirac's life, work, and often-quirky personality traits are outlined in Helge Kragh's new book, Simply Dirac. Most of all, the book delves into the fundamental contributions and immense influence that Dirac (1902-1984) has had on the development of quantum theories.

His landmark book, The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, introduced that new science to the world and the "Dirac equation" was the first theory to reconcile special relativity and quantum mechanics.

Simply Dirac also deftly explores the physicist's "peculiar and eccentric" character, which the author describes as "taciturn and introverted, with virtually no social skills."

Yet, despite his idiosyncrasies, Dirac, who held the Lucasian Chair of Mathematics at Cambridge University and taught there for 40 years, had productive professional relationships with such eminent 20th-century scientists as Niels Bohr, Richard Feynman, and Peter Kapitza, among others.

In Simply Dirac, Kragh blends the scientific with the personal, and invites the reader to get to know both Dirac the quantum genius and Dirac the social misfit. Featuring cameo appearances by some of the greatest scientists of the 20th century and highlighting the dramatic changes that occurred in the field of physics during Dirac's lifetime, this fascinating biography is an invaluable introduction to a truly singular man.

Set for release in April 2016 by educational publisher Simply Charly, the book is the first in a series that will focus on influential historical figures from diverse fields.

Simply Dirac may be pre-ordered on Amazon at http://simplycharly.com/people/paul-dirac/read/books/simp....

About SIMPLY CHARLY

Simply Charly is a one-stop portal to a wealth of information about some of the world's most prominent historical figures. Geared to students, teachers, and anyone interested in learning more about the great men and women who changed the world, the site's mission is to become the leading online source for everything visitors want to know about these groundbreaking individuals.