“The author of this biography, the theoretical physicist Herbert Frohlich, provides an engaging and consistent mix of scientific and personal narratives that describe the many accomplishments that Frohlich attained throughout his life. Frohlich was a figure who had a decisive influence, often as a “man ahead of his time,” in a variety of fields, including meson theory and biology. His reputation spanned the globe, and his peers held him in high esteem. His career spanned more than half a century. Although he is best known for his contributions to the theory of dielectrics and superconductivity, he also worked in many other fields. His most important legacy is the pioneering introduction of quantum field-theoretical methods into condensed matter physics in 1952, which completely revolutionized the subsequent development of the subject matter. Herbert Frohlich’s magnetic personality shines through in Gerard Hyland’s account, which is both engaging and informative and was written by Gerard Hyland.”
