The Life and legacy of G.I. Taylor - George Batchelor (1996)

Published by Cambridge University Press in 1996 - the story of the long and productive life of Geoffrey Ingram Taylor.  One of the greatest minds of the twentieth century - he was an active and productive researcher for more than 60 years.  apart from Taylor series, if you come across some mathematics or a physical principle with the name Taylor on it, GI is probably the Taylor in question. Taylor was the grandson of George Boole.  On testament to his talent is that Taylor was able to accurately measure the yield of the early atomic tests by dropping some scraps of paper and observing them.  Likely the authority on blast waves in the late 1940s.  His contributions range from gravity waves in the atmosphere, to turbulence, to electrohydrodynamics.  Read the book to learn about this highly original mind - and then, if you are able to understand them, read his collected papers (in 4 volumes) - many of his ideas are still waiting to be followed up.