Douglas Rayner Hartree: His Life in Science and Computing

Rating:
Summary: Review
Review: An interesting review of the life and work of Hartree. Though his contributions to science are significant, Froese Fischer exaggerates the impact of his contributions. Instead of giving a realistic account of an ordinary scientist, Froese Fischer attempts to give an extraordianry account of an extraordinary scientist - which Hartree is not. However, the book does provide much information that would not have otherwise been available to the public.

Rating:
Summary: A service to science
Review: Charlotte Froese Fischer has done science in general and computer science in particular a great service by portraying the life and work of Douglas Rayner Hartree. He was not only a notable pioneer in atomic theory, numerical analysis and computer software but as well, probably more than any other person, did more to demonstrate the enormous value of the differential analyzer to science and technology - and by no means least to the theory of automatic control. The book reveals Hartree as a wonderful teacher and friend. It is sad to reflect that his intense dedication to the war effort during World War II may have shortened his life.

Arthur Porter
Professor Emeritus
University of Toronto