Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
In the 1930s, the pioneering Danish scientist Inge Lehmann (1888–1993) made a groundbreaking discovery about the nature of Earth. Analyzing data from earthquakes, she determined that the heart of the planet is a solid inner core. Her discovery overturned the widely accepted theory of the core being fluid, but she trusted her calculations: “If I am right, and I know I am,” she wrote in a letter. A fiercely independent thinker, Lehmann forever changed our understanding of our planet.
If I Am Right, and I Know I Am provides a powerful portrait of an extraordinary woman while guiding readers through the fascinating history of earth science. Hanne Strager tells the story of Lehmann’s life and accomplishments, recounting how she battled inner demons and a mental breakdown and how she overcame pervasive prejudice to forge her own path in a male-dominated scientific world. In Lehmann’s era, women were expected to conform to rigid roles and were discouraged from pursuing serious academic careers. Even as Lehmann became a leading geophysicist, she had to navigate not only gender bias but also the isolation of being a lone woman in an overwhelmingly male field. Strager also follows the traces of an elusive love letter linking Lehmann romantically to another woman. The first biography of Lehmann, this book seamlessly weaves together her personal life and scientific achievements, highlighting her resilience and brilliance.
— Arthur L. Lerner-Lam, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
A remarkable yet little-known figure, Inge Lehmann made pivotal contributions to geology by decoding seismic data that settled many open questions, including the structure of Earth’s core, in the 1930s. This brilliant and extremely well-researched biography of a pioneering scientist chronicles her triumphs and tribulations, ultimately revealing the sheer joy of scientific discovery while documenting how science is powered by passion and perseverance. Beautifully written, it is a fascinating and must-read account for anyone interested in the history of scientific ideas and what the life of the mind entailed in the twentieth century.
— Priyamvada Natarajan, Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor of Astronomy and professor of physics, Yale University
Strager intersperses some discussion about early geoscience throughout the book, always in an accessible manner and without oversimplifying.
We now have a biography of [Inge] Lehmann. [Author Hanne] Strager pieces together Lehmann’s life in great detail, as well as providing potted histories of the scientific areas that Lehmann contributed to. I came away from it with great admiration for Lehmann and an appreciation for how lonely life was for many women scientists even in recent history.
Prologue: The Love Letter
1. Cracks in the Foundation
2. I Must Get Out of Here
3. The Earth Trembles
4. The Greatest Wish in the World
5. Collapse
6. Moving the Continents
7. Emptiness
8. A New Beginning
9. Beneath the Surface
10. Shadow Zone
11. A Rocky Chair in Geophysics
12. Marie Tharp and the Seafloor
13. You Are One of Us
14. Farewell
Epilogue: The Notebook
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index