Max Planck

The brilliant physicist who discovered quantum theory.

This biography follows Max Planck from his childhood among a family of scholars through his first years as a professor and his search for answers to the fierce battles over quantum theory as he sort to get his revolutionary ideas accepted by his colleagues. Eventually, Planck was given recognition for his immense contributions and received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1918.

While Planck's scientific career was filled with success after success, his private life was beset with tragedy, losing a wife, son and two daughters in middle age. In his later years, the Nazis came to power and he and his family suffered as he sought to protect Jewish scientists in Germany and resist Hitler in what ways he could.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Sirius Biographies series brings together entertaining biographies of leading figures within scientific world and beyond, tracing their lives, legacy and the pioneering ideas that made them world-famous.