Linus Pauling could beconsidered the American cowboy of science. His approach to thediscipline evinces the same pioneering spirit that drove the earlysettlers to explore and conquer ever-widening frontiers.Pauling has always been willing to take risks in proposing controversialnew scientific theories: his ground-breaking work on sickle-cellanemia, the theory of anesthesia, chemical bonding, and his near-victoryin the DNA race show the tremendous range of his professional talentsand curiosity.Pauling's approach to life and his roleas a public figure reflect the same brand of risk-taking andcontroversy. Active as a peace crusader and humanitarian, he has neverhesitated to question the political or scientific establishments.He engendered hostility among the scientists of the Manhattan project(developers of the atomic bomb), expressed opposition to 1943 wartimeinterment of Japanese-Americans, openly defended J. Robert Oppenheimerduring the "Red Scare" period, and worked toward a nuclear test-bantreaty in the 1950s.Anthony Serafini uses letters,documents, and interviews with Pauling's contemporaries to take thereader through the many facets of Pauling's life, including his studentdays, triumphs in chemistry, a 1962 Nobel Peace Prize, and more.Anthony Serafini is a professor of philosophy at Centenary College. Inaddition to a PhD in Philosophy, he has a degree in Biology. He has alsorun a business for several years, has worked as a newspaper editor, andhas taught journalism at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Hispublished essays and articles have appeared in professional journals aswell asmagazinessuch as Omni and Science.