Ann Finkbeiner

A biography of the Jasons, a loose group of top US scientists who independently work on both classified and non-classified projects of their own choosing, mostly for the Defense Department. I knew the names of many of the physicists named in the book (and who I didn't know were Jasons), and was surprised to discover that a former academic adviser of mine is now a member. It was an interesting glimpse into this secretive group of scientists and their role in US science policy throughout the cold war and beyond, mostly through interviews with members, supplemented with material from unpublished internal histories from both the DoD and the Jasons themselves.… (mer)