The Turbulent Journey of Wallace Hume Carothers

This chapter chronicles the ups and downs of Wallace Hume Carothers' professional and personal life, detailing his struggles with teaching and alcoholism following his master's in chemistry. It highlights his tumultuous experiences at the University of Illinois, the contrast between his academic achievements and personal despair, and his eventual success with DuPont in the field of polymers. Through a blend of humor, nostalgia, and poignant insights, the narrative captures the complexity of Carothers' character and the implications of his scientific contributions.