A. I. Kitaigorodsky (1914–1985)

"Professor Alexander Kitaigorodsky, Doctor of Science in physics and mathematics, is well known not only among his professional colleagues but to a wide circle of readers as well, for he is an ardent popularizer of science.
In I am a Physicist, Prof. Kitaigorodsky takes up a difficult but worthwhile task: that of introducing the young reader to the world of science and showing the world surrounding him through the eyes of a physicist. He has succeeded remarkably in this endeavour. A scientist in love with his profession, he conveys the complexity of the problems faced by contemporary physics, the intensity of scientific quest and the excitement involved in it with flare and imagination.
If there is one thing Alexander Kitaigorodsky does not lack it is versatility. The range of problems he raises is truly staggering. What is the measure of patience? Is telepathy possible? Is money spent on scientific missions and conferences justified? What is the relative importance of the natural and applied sciences? What does the word ""explanation"" mean? What, if any, are the differences between man and machine? How has physical thinking changed since Aristotle's time? How should a young man go about choosing a profession?
And these are but some of the problems he touches upon. However, for all his diversity of approach, Prof. Kitaigorodsky has a definite singularity of purpose, which is to reveal to the reader the role of physics in natural science and the role of natural science in science and life."
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