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Jeff Schmidt

b. 1946

American physicist

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About Jeff Schmidt

Born 1946. Jeff Schmidt is an American physicist and journalist.

Jeff Schmidt is a physicist who wrote the 2000 book Disciplined Minds, a critique of the socialization and training of professionals.

Termination of employment controversy Schmidt was fired from his job of 19 years as an associate editor for Physics Today, the magazine of the American Institute of Physics (AIP), on allegations that he wrote the book on his employer's time. The book starts: "This book was stolen. Written in part on stolen time, that is." Schmidt contended, however, that he was fired for "protesting discriminatory hiring practices" at AIP, and that the "stolen time" quotation was an exaggerated allusion to counterculture icon Abbie Hoffman, who wrote Steal This Book. He added that "writing this radical book during break time in the office felt like stealing time because the ideas that I was expressing seemed so out of place with the corporate-type atmosphere of the office."

Legal settlement The public campaign in turn led to a legal case, carried by Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, a law firm specializing in civil liberties, that produced an undisclosed financial settlement for Schmidt, including anti-discrimination policy changes at AIP. even though AIP did not admit any wrongdoing, it admitted that Schmidt "consistently received positive job reviews" and rehired Schmidt, who immediately resigned.

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Important facts

Born
1946
Birth century
Nationality

People in Jeff Schmidt's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jeff Schmidt's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jeff Schmidt?

American physicist

When was Jeff Schmidt born?

Jeff Schmidt was born in 1946.

What is Jeff Schmidt's occupation?

Jeff Schmidt is a physicist and journalist.

What nationality is Jeff Schmidt?

Jeff Schmidt is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jeff Schmidt

· Wikidata: Q6174916

· DBpedia: Jeff Schmidt (writer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jeff Schmidt. https://biography.guide/jeff-schmidt/

MLA: "Jeff Schmidt." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jeff-schmidt/.

Chicago: "Jeff Schmidt." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jeff-schmidt/.

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