Making Waves: Stories From My Life

Yakov Alpert, a scientist internationally respected for his research on the ionosphere and magnetosphere, selected an apt title for his most recent book. Scientists familiar with Alpert's pioneering papers and books in radio‐wave physics over many decades will immediately recognize the significance of the first part of the title, Making Waves . It is unlikely however, that many could imagine the challenges faced by Alpert in the former Soviet system to produce these achievements and present them to the outside world. The second part of the title, “Stories from my Life,” relates to these episodes, which are vividly described in the book. It is also strongly tied to the first part of the title, because to survive as a productive scientist, Alpert had to make waves within the established bureaucracy in addition to making them within the ionosphere. He did so with a high degree of integrity as illustrated in the book's epilogue. Here, Alpert states,“…I have always found it difficult, even impossible, to behave in such a way as to be in contradiction with myself, to be at odds with my own conscience. I am aware that such a stance can lead to conflict with others…It helped to save my self‐respect… What I say here can also be an answer to those in the West who have asked me,‘How did you save yourself? What is your secret?’”