Fame or Oblivion? - by Loren Graham (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Why do some creations flourish while others fade into obscurity?

In Fame or Oblivion? the author makes a provocative thesis: that Russian society has historically nurtured literary and artistic genius while stifling technological innovation. Based on the tools of cultural and historical analysis, the book examines how social patterns, economic systems, and institutional support-or lack thereof--influence the outcomes of creative achievements.

From the enduring heritage of Tolstoy and Tchaikovsky to the forgotten names of the inventors of early computers and lasers, this work put into contrast Russia's world's known contributions to literature, music, and mathematics with its underrecognized pioneers in science and technology. It argues that invention does not exist per se, but requires a huge environment of support, investment, and societal readiness.

Though rooted in Russian history, the book offers a universal lens--inviting readers to reflect on the correlation between genius and recognition, and to consider how societies can better harness the full spectrum of human ingenuity.

Review Quotes

"Loren Graham's long career as a historian of science and technology in Russia and the Soviet Union had enormous influence on the way scholars understand the development of scientific thought and scientific innovation in autocratic societies. Through his large body of published work and his training of several generations of students, he shaped the whole way experts nowadays think about these subjects. Of particular importance, Graham explained how, even when living under conditions of stifling repression and murderous state violence, Russian and Soviet mathematicians, physicists, chemists, and engineers managed to achieve great strides in scientific research and technological adaptation."

-Mark Kramer, Director of Cold War Studies and Senior Fellow, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University

"Celebrated as the 'dean of the history of Russian and Soviet science, ' Loren Graham generously shared his insights with generations of students--including myself, to my great good fortune. For him, history is an enigma that calls for paradoxical answers. His writing challenges stereotypes, sparks debate, and inspires further inquiry. The hallmarks of his scholarship--its extraordinary breadth and boldness of argument--are vividly displayed in this book."

--Slava Gerovitch, MIT, author of From Newspeak to Cyberspeak and Soviet Space Mythologies