Isaac Asimov was born in Petrovichi, U.S.S.R, between October 4, 1919 and January 2, 1920. Two different calendars were in use in the region where he was born, neither of which matches the calendar commonly used in Western societies, which is why even Asimov himself was unsure of his birthday. He chose to celebrate it on January 2. His parents were Judah Asimov, then head of a food co-operative, and Anna Rachel Asimov. In 1923, the Asimovs moved to Brooklyn, and in 1926, Judah Asimov opened his first candy store.

Isaac Asimov would avidly read the magazines for sale in the store, making sure that the magazines still looked new when he finished with them so that they could still be sold. Isaac Asimov became a naturalized United States citizen in 1928.

In 1935, he entered Seth Low Junior College, then transferred to Columbia University, earning a Bachelor of science...