The Impossible Man

Roger Penrose and the Cost of Genius

De: Patchen Barss

Narrado por: Jonathan Beville

The first biography—“a stunning achievement” (Kai Bird, American Prometheus)—of the dazzling and painful life of Nobel Prize–winning physicist Roger Penrose.

When he was six years old, Roger Penrose discovered a sundial in a clearing near his house. Through that machine made of light, shadow, and time, Roger glimpsed a “world behind the world” of transcendently beautiful geometry. It spurred him on a journey to become one of the world’s most influential mathematicians, philosophers, and physicists.

Penrose would prove the limitations of general relativity, set a new agenda for theoretical physics, and astound colleagues and admirers with the elegance and beauty of his discoveries. However, as Patchen Barss documents in The Impossible Man, success came at a price: He was attuned to the secrets of the universe, but struggled to connect with loved ones, especially the women who care for or worked with him.

Both erudite and poetic, The Impossible Man draws on years of research and interviews, as well as previously unopened archives to present a moving portrait of Penrose the Nobel Prize-winning scientist and Roger the human being. It reveals not just the extraordinary life of Roger Penrose, but asks who gets to be a genius, and who makes the sacrifices that allow one man to be one.

©2024 Patchen Barss (P)2024 Blackstone Publishing

Extraordinary portrait of a flawed genius

His scientific achievements are lucidly described, which in itself would make this worth reading. But the depth and details of his relationships with his kith and kin and colleagues transforms this into a moving work of literature.

beautiful language

excellent biography of one of the most significant scientists of our times. highly recommended for any one interested in fhe genius, flawed as it appears, behind some of the most brilliant ideas about cosmology

Flawed

The writing was good, and the details of Penrose’s private life were mildly interesting. Penrose’s contributions to physics are mentioned but not really explained at all, and Penrose’s views on consciousness are also mentioned, but not explored very deeply. If you want to expand your understanding of Penrose’s ideas on science, this book won’t help. If you want to hear about Penrose’s messed up family and love-life, well, this book kind of explores that. After finishing the book, I was a little sorry I read it. It felt a little like exploring a famous person’s trash can.

Penrose’s books are really pretty understandable (but do have quite a few equations, thus are not very popular). I would recommend reading the Penrose Wikipedia page for a more interesting read.

Some reviewers feel the author relied way too much on the 80 year old Penrose’s failing memories and viewpoints and did not capture the Penrose in his prime. I suspect there is some truth to this.

The narration was excellent.

Too much focus on his love life

Too little focus on his accomplishments. While background is interesting for context, this book eclipses Roger Penrose, the accomplished scientist, with a moons worth of excruciating personal detail.