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This autobiography by Fred Basolo (Morrison Professor of
Chemistry Emeritus, Northwestern University) is an excellent
first volume for a new series entitled Profiles in Inorganic
Chemistry. This scientific travelogue is a very personal
account of the life of a pre-eminent chemist of the 20th century
who played a leading role in the renaissance and advancement
of inorganic chemistry after WWII. The life story of Fred
Basolo is an example of the American dream. The youngest son
of poor Italian immigrant parents, born and raised in Coello,
Illinois, he became the president of the American Chemical
Society and received almost all of the applicable domestic
and international awards for excellence in chemical research
and teaching.
The book includes significant discussion of the development
of Basolo's chemical research and the emergence of his new
ideas, many of which led the way in the development of inorganic
chemistry in the last half of the 20th century. As he traces
this history, Basolo presents cameo descriptions of a who's
who in inorganic chemistry as he travels through laboratories
around the world and reciprocates as host in his laboratory
at Northwestern University.
Basolo has always been a people person, and this is strongly
reflected in his autobiography. Wherever he is, he is always
interested in what his friends and colleagues are thinking
and doing, from their latest hot research results, to where
the best golf course in eastern Europe is located, to some
political/administrative maneuvering within the National Academy
of Sciences or the American Chemical Society. This all makes
for very interesting reading.
Who should read this book? Chemists interested in a historical
and scientific perspective of the post-WWII renaissance in
inorganic chemistry and the foundations for the modern development
of the field; those interested in the histories of organizations
such as the National Academy of Sciences, Gordon Research
Conferences, American Chemical Society, and the International
Conference on Coordination Chemistry; those interested in
fine food and drink, including how to acquire a taste for
akvavit; those searching for a good golf course abroad (those
lecture tours weren't all work); and anyone who needs convincing
that scientists are human and enjoy the give and take of personal
interactions. In short, this autobiography should be read
by anyone who has experienced the joy of doing chemistry or
is contemplating such a career path. You won't be disappointed.
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