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The Persistence of a Paradox: Paul Hermann Müller
Paperback
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Publisher: Michael Webster
Published: Jan 4 2026
Pages: 178
Weight: 0.47
Height: 0.41 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
Behind every world-changing discovery lies a story of ambition, genius, and often, unintended consequence.
The story of Paul Hermann Müller is the ultimate twentieth-century paradox. Born in 1899, this quiet, methodical Swiss chemist spent years in the lab, driven by the need to find an effective insecticide. His discovery of DDT was a scientific triumph, earning him the 1948 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and halting the catastrophic spread of diseases like typhus and malaria, saving millions of lives worldwide. Müller was hailed as a humanitarian hero, his creation the foundation of modern public health campaigns across the globe.
Yet, the very chemical stability that made DDT a miracle cure also led to its downfall. Its extreme persistence caused it to accumulate and biomagnify up the food chain, leading to the widespread ecological damage documented by Rachel Carson's Silent Spring.
This comprehensive biography delves into the life of the man caught between scientific brilliance and catastrophic unintended consequences. Drawing on detailed analysis, archival research, and a cultural exploration of DDT's global impact, this book presents a nuanced, balanced appraisal of Müller's character and methodical work. It illuminates the enduring global dilemma posed by his discovery: the tragic, ongoing tension between the immediate necessity of human well-being and the long-term integrity of the environment. Approx.178 pages, 34400 word count
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