This book is an enthusiastic account of Pierre Laszlo's life and pioneering work on catalysis of organic reactions by modified clays, and his reflections on doing science from the 1960s to 1990s. In this autobiography, readers will discover a first-hand testimony of the chemical revolution in the second half of the 20^th century, and the author's perspective on finding a calling in science and chemistry, as well as his own experience on doing science, teaching science and managing a scientific career.

During this period, Pierre Laszlo led an academic laboratory and worked also in three different countries: the US, Belgium and France, where he had the opportunity to meet remarkable colleagues. In this book, he recalls his encounters and collaborations with important scientists, who shaped the nature of chemistry at times of increased pace of change, and collates a portrait of the worldwide scientific community at that time. In addition, the author tells us about the turns and twists of his own life, and how he ended up focusing his research on clay based chemistry, where clay minerals were turned in his lab to catalysis of key chemical transformations. Given its breath, the book offers a genuine information on the life and career of a chemist, and it will appeal not only to scientists and students, but also to historians of science and to the general reader.

 

 

Chapter 1: Family and Upbringing

Chapter 2 : A series of great teachers
Chapter 3: Premises from childhood and adolescence
Chapter 4: Becoming a chemist
Chapter 5: Learning the ropes at Princeton
Chapter 6: Life in Princeton
Chapter 7: Chemistry in the Sixties
Chapter 8: Coworkers Of Note
Chapter 9: Remarkable Scientists
Chapter 10: Seminars and conferences
Chapter 11: Personal impact of philosophy of science
Chapter 12: Joy and Pride of Writing
Chapter 13: Teaching = to raise
Chapter 14: Examining students: opportunity or chore?
Chapter 15: Roving and Foraging Widely - or Wildly?
Chapter 16: Visiting professorships
Chapter 17: Skipping the Norms
Chapter 18: Meaningless Fads, Meaningful Changes
Chapter 19: Me-too chemistry
Chapter 20: What Have I Achieved?.-  Chapter 21: Personal papers and public archives
Chapter 22: Lecturing Trips.-Chapter 23: Books that were influential
Chapter 24: This Was Then
Chapter 25: Now and Later.