Reviews
'I have been doing some studying and have just finished reading an outstanding book, The Diamond Makers by Robert M Hazen … The book is of special interest to materials scientists.' Materials World, ‘Hazen represents the best of a rare breed … Most of us do not know that the immense pressures reached in the interior of cosmic bodies like the earth can also be generated in our laboratories. This fascinating book explains the technology and important results of this pathbreaking work.’Stephen Jay Gould, 'Hazen represents the best of a rare breed ... Most of us do not know that the immense pressures reached in the interior of cosmic bodies like the earth can also be generated in our laboratories. This fascinating book explains the technology and important results of this pathbreaking work.' Stephen Jay Gould, 'Hazen tells the very interesting and gripping story of the manufacture of artificial diamonds in this fine book.' R. Rudman, Choice, ‘Hazen tells the very interesting and gripping story of the manufacture of artificial diamonds in this fine book.’R. Rudman, Choice, ‘Sparkling gem of technological history … Multifaceted and gleaming with drama and wit.’Kirkus Reviews, "...a first-class, fascinatingly well written history of the exciting developments that led to the creation of diamonds even from peanut butter." Science Books & Films, 'Sparkling gem of technological history … Multifaceted and gleaming with drama and wit.' Kirkus Reviews, 'This is a scientific thriller. It has a rich cast of characters engaged in a quest (to make the first artificial diamonds); it has the lure of riches; it has the rivalry of the participants; and it has danger (not for nothing did high pressure researchers call their apparatus 'bombs').'Richard Stevenson, Chemistry in Britain, 'Hazen exposes struggles, rivalries, failures, and successes in a captivating story.' Library Journal, 'I have been doing some studying and have just finished reading an outstanding book, The Diamond Makers by Robert M Hazen ... The book is of special interest to materials scientists.'Materials World, ‘Hazen Exposes Struggles, Rivalries, Failures, and Successes in a Captivating Story.’Library Journal, ‘Very few scientists can convey the drama of scientific discovery and write as beautifully … Hazen is a natural storyteller.’Frank Press, Past President, National Academy of Sciences, 'Very few scientists can convey the drama of scientific discovery and write as beautifully … Hazen is a natural storyteller.' Frank Press, Past President, National Academy of Sciences, ‘… a compelling, nontechnical narrative covering centuries of history related to diamond, centred mostly around brilliant, often eccentric and controversial pioneers of research at high pressures … a thorough and exciting account.’Francis P. Bundy, Physics Today, 'Very few scientists can convey the drama of scientific discovery and write as beautifully ... Hazen is a natural storyteller.' Frank Press, Past President, National Academy of Sciences, 'Sparkling gem of technological history ... Multifaceted and gleaming with drama and wit.' Kirkus Reviews, '... a compelling, nontechnical narrative covering centuries of history related to diamond, centred mostly around brilliant, often eccentric and controversial pioneers of research at high pressures ... a thorough and exciting account.'Francis P. Bundy, Physics Today, 'This is a scientific thriller. It has a rich cast of characters engaged in a quest (to make the first artificial diamonds); it has the lure of riches; it has the rivalry of the participants; and it has danger (not for nothing did high pressure researchers call their apparatus 'bombs').' Richard Stevenson, Chemistry in Britain, '… a compelling, nontechnical narrative covering centuries of history related to diamond, centred mostly around brilliant, often eccentric and controversial pioneers of research at high pressures … a thorough and exciting account.' Francis P. Bundy, Physics Today, "Utterly absorbing...Hazen makes the story profoundly exciting, conveying the scientific passion of the researchers....It's a gem." The Washington Post, ‘This is a scientific thriller. It has a rich cast of characters engaged in a quest (to make the first artificial diamonds); it has the lure of riches; it has the rivalry of the participants; and it has danger (not for nothing did high pressure researchers call their apparatus ‘bombs’).’Richard Stevenson, Chemistry in Britain, ’I have been doing some studying and have just finished reading an outstanding book, The Diamond Makers by Robert M Hazen … The book is of special interest to materials scientists.’Materials World, ‘The Diamond Makers is a first-class, fascinatingly well written history of the exciting developments that led to the creation of diamonds even from peanut butter.’William D. Romey, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, 'The Diamond Makers is a first-class, fascinatingly well written history of the exciting developments that led to the creation of diamonds even from peanut butter.'William D. Romey, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, 'Hazen tells the very interesting and gripping story of the manufacture of artificial diamonds in this fine book.'R. Rudman, Choice, 'Utterly absorbing new history … Hazen makes the story profoundly exciting, conveying the scientific passion of the researchers … It's a gem.' Curt Suplee, The Washington Post, 'The Diamond Makers is a first-class, fascinatingly well written history of the exciting developments that led to the creation of diamonds even from peanut butter.' William D. Romey, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, "Hazen tells the very interesting and gripping story of the manufacture of artificial diamonds in this find book." Choice, 'Hazen represents the best of a rare breed … Most of us do not know that the immense pressures reached in the interior of cosmic bodies like the earth can also be generated in our laboratories. This fascinating book explains the technology and important results of this pathbreaking work.' Stephen Jay Gould, "Robert Hazen's The Diamond Makers is a compelling, nontechnical narrative covering centuries of history related to diamond, centered mostly around brilliant, often eccentric and controversial pioneers of research at high pressures...The Diamond Makers is the first mahor publication to cover the whole period from the human point of view, while maintaining scientific integrity...Hazen gives a thorough and exciting account of the history of diamonds and the efforts to synthesize them...As one of the surviving diamond-makers, I an able to vouch for the thorough and open-minded interviews Hazen conducted." Physics Today, "this book will appeal to the interested layperson...It was immensely satisfying to be able to put their entire story on context and have it come alive through Hazen's book." American Mineralogist, 'Utterly absorbing new history ... Hazen makes the story profoundly exciting, conveying the scientific passion of the researchers ... It's a gem.'Curt Suplee, The Washington Post, "There is virtually no way that The Diamond Makers could miss being an excellent work of great interest to geologists, mineralogists, gemologists, and science historians as well as the layman who enjoys a good read...a fascinating book...The story of diamond synthesis research is so excitingly told that any lay-person, even relatively young ones, would have a hard time putting it down once started and by the time he or she gets to the last page they will have painlessly picked up a lot of science and, most important, have come to realize that science can be pretty exciting stuff." Earth Sciences History