The first full biography of the man whom Roger Adams called the greatest chemist in America. Carothers took an infant science called polymer chemistry, defined it, and guided it toward its present maturity. Hermes tells the story of Carothers's sudden dramatic research successes—the discoveries that led to neoprene and nylon—and his relentless slide into depression, alcohol, and suicide, through revealing letters to his professional colleagues, family, and college classmates.

"Reading Enough for One Lifetime, the story of nylon and the suicide at age 41 of the inventor, brought tears to my eyes."—Joseph Labovsky, laboratory assistant to Wallace Carothers

"All those interested in a human interest fragment of the history of technology should find [the book] fascinating."—Robert D. Lipscomb, DuPont (retired)