"If ever there was a subject crying out for a good biography it is
Charles Richter, whose name we hear all too often on the news, a
tocsin of catastrophe. If ever there was the ideal person to write
his story it is Susan Hough, the seismologist who has so
successfully made her mission the intelligent popularization of her
calling. The combination of subject and writer is peerless-this is
a quite wonderful story, impeccably told. If ever there was to be a
Richter scale for biography, this surely merits a 9.5, at the very
least."--Simon Winchester, author of "A Crack in the Edge of the
World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906"
"Sue Hough brings Charlie Richter to life and, with him, the
founders of seismology in southern California. More than simply the
inventor of the magnitude scale, Richter was a brilliant, if
troubled, scientist and a poet who might have suffered from
Asperger's syndrome. Hough shows how this 'accidental seismologist'
(his Ph.D. was in theoretical physics) influenced the evolving
field of earthquake science and the public perception of earthquake
hazard and risk in California and the world."--Robert S. Yeats,
author of "Living with Earthquakes in California"
"The story of Charles Richter is a fascinating, albeit somewhat
disquieting, one. Susan Hough has done a remarkable job of
research, and her writing style makes this a very appealing
read."--Clarence Allen, Professor of Geology and Geophysics,
Emeritus, California Institute of Technology
""Richter's Scale" is the first biography of the world's most
famous seismologist. It tells a story well worth reading and full
of surprises. The book provides a remarkable perspective on how the
careerof an important scientist can develop in a way that is quite
far from a straight-line process. At the same time, it presents a
compelling and rather sad story of the personal struggles of the
man behind the Richter scale."--Clifford H. Thurber, University of
Wisconsin, Madison
"This is an extraordinary piece of scientific biography.
Although Charles Richter's name is a household word, even earth
scientists know little about the man. This first biography of
Richter gives a thoughtful and insightful view of the man, his
science, and his crucial role in developing seismology, public
awareness of earthquakes in southern California, and policies to
reduce earthquake hazards through safer construction. It will be of
great interest at a time when natural disaster mitigation is very
much in public consciousness."--Seth Stein, Northwestern
University
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