Homer Kissinger invented the peak displacement kinetic method that bears his name in the mid-1950s when he was an intern at the National Bureau of Standards. Because the method is rapid, easy-to-use, reliable, and uses readily available differential scanning calorimetry instrumentation, it is one of the most commonly used kinetic tools, having more than 2000 literature citations. The development of the method. Kissinger's scientific biography, advances to the approach, and practical experimental applications are reviewed. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.