reviews The Timetables of Science: A Chronology of the Most Important People and Events in the History of Science Alexander hellemans ana Bryan Bunch A To ~cnstoneBOOK, Slmon & ScnJster New Vork 1991 vl* 660 pp 21 5 A 27 8 cm $1 9 95.5 2 00 postage ano hand1 ng (PEJ Those already familiar with Touchstone Books' "Timetables" series (Urdang, L. The Timetables ofAmerican History; 1980 and Grun, B. The Timetab1esofHistory:AHorizontal LinkageofPeople andEvents; 1982) will welcome this latest addition to this popular series of oversize, inexpensive, one-volume reference paperbacks designed to provide the general public as well a s scholars with instant, handy access to progress in particular subjects on a year-by-year basis. The volume is a vast panorama of significant, chrondogicnlly nrrmgcd d~scoveries,inventions, and events in science and technolog). wcurnngfrom 2,400,000 llC {Hornmds in Africa manufacture stunt? tods, to 1\11 1988. .More than 10,000 scientific developments and accomplishments are concisely listed in an easy-to-read format--tabla with vertical time periods and horizontal scientific fields-to show the reader in a strikingly visual manner what happened, whomade it happen, and what else happened at the same time, i.e., the scientific, political, intellectual, cultural, and religious milieu of the time. The authors maintain that "the grawth of science is much like a stream", and their subject-by-subjecttimetables graphically depict the dominance of particular fields at given times, eg., physics in the early 20th century, when it becomes the main part of the stream. The tables also show where new streams merge into the main body of science. The book is divided into 10 chronologicalperiods: starting with "Science before there were scientists: 2,400,000-599 BC", and ending with 'The Coming Era: 1989-2000". The accelerating pace of scientific progress is reflected in the increasing number of entries for more recent times; with only a few exceptions entries are provided yearly from 1453. The book makes us realize how recent are many of the scientific and technological developments that seem to have always been with us. Because the authors "want to explain the context in which science takes place as it changes from period to period", they provide 10 "overviews", ranging in length from 2 U2 to almost 8 pages, for each of the 10 periods, and because they think that *short individual entries [in the tables] cannot dojustice to themost important ormast interesting developments in science", they have included 104 significant topics that are exolained hrieflv in boxes within the overviews or within the tmetnhlrs In addirinn to hem(( n us&l r e l c m c e book, this faxmating chronolu~yis eminently ruitcd fi,r browsing and is d~lficulttu put down mcc you have dipped into its mgroising ~
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Inclusion of references, a bibliography, or supplementary readings would have added to the volume's utility but would also have added to its length and price. I recommend this varied, authorita-
tive, and scholarly yet entertaining chronology to science instructors and students as well as to anyone interested in the history of science in general and of individual sciences in particular.
George B. Kauffman California State University, Fresno Fresno, CA 93740
Headline News, Science Views Dau!d Jarmul. Ed Nanonal Academy Press 2101 Consvt~lon Ave , N W. Wasnmgton. DC. 1991 x v + 238 pp 15 0 A 22 7 cm I I-stratons $24 55 HE $14 95 PB 101-s S3 00 each lor shipping and handling)((luantitydiscounk: 5-24 copies, 15%; 24-499 copies, 25%).
As Frank Press, President of the National Academy of Sciences, points out in his foreword to this attractive hook that was released an April 22,1991, the first day of National Science and Technology Week, "Opinion surveys and tests of U.S. students' knowledge show that public understanding of science and technology is weak. In the world of the 1990's and beyond, knowledge about science and technolagyis not afrill but anecessity."To combat this science illiteracy and toimprove public understanding of the scientific and technical aspects of important national issues the National Academy O p E d Service was initiated in 1983 under the directorship of longtimejournalist David J a m u l and under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council. The Service has become a respected and widely used source of commentary on scientific and technical topics far the nation's newspapers, providingmuchneeded analysis of issues oftenlimited to the news pages. It sends subscribing newspapers free weekly artides by-lined by prominent members of the scientific, technical, and health-care communities. The hook under review here, specifically designed to bridge the gap hetween scientific experts and the public, is a collection of 15 of these short (2-3 pages), easy-to-read science ap-ed articles that have appeared between May 12, 1985, and October 28, 1990, in more than 250 American newspapers including The Atlanta Constitution, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The Cleueland PlainDealer, TheDetmitNews, TheHouston Chronicle, TheMiami Herald, Newsday, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The San Francisco Chmnicle, and The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Amongthe authors are prominent researchers, academic,industrial, and governmental, including two Nobel laureates (Lean M. Ledeman, "Physics for Poets, Science for Society", and Herbert A. Simon, "The Challenge to Human Uniqueness"); engineers; physicians; science writers; university presidents; attorneys; consultants; presidents and members of the National Academy of
(Continued on page A31 Volume 68 Number 12 December 199;
reviews Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering; a governor; a retired admiral; a presidential science adviser; a s well as such observers of the scientific scene as TV star Bill Coshy, Ed.D. ("Getting the Facts Straight About Science") and ABC News host Hugh Downs ("Who Owns Antarctica?"). Among the topics discussed in an accurate and balanced manner are global warming, rising sea levels, the AIDS epidemic, infertility, spaceexploration,experimentationon animals, technology and traffic jams, the gender wage gap, the economy, child care, science phobia, risk assessment, science and politics, camputers, natural disaster protection, genetic engineering, radioactive waste disposal, pesticides, food and health, effective drug treatment, chromosomes, contraception, world hunger, agriculture, organ harvesting, evolution and creationism, minorities in science, education, scientific integrity, international competition, science priorities, andnumerous other science- andtechnology-related issues involved in daily life. Enlivened by 14 cartoons and drawings and provided with a handy, 12-page (two columnsper page) index, this user-friendly, up-to-date (one of the artides deals with "The Enerm Crisis Beyond the Persian Gulf? volume will he useful to sci&ce teachers and their students in general, and to those concernedwithissues of science and society in particular. It admirably fulfills its eoal of making. in Dr. Press' words. "science and technology interesting even-& people who struggled to pass high school chemistry."
George 8. Kauffman California State University, Fresno Fresno, CA 93740
Textbook Announcements Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Dictionar in Three Languages (plus phonetics):USA, GB - + D
F
J. C. Hifzke. J. C. Hitzke: Ilkirch, France, 1988. 21.2 x 29.2 cm. $50.00 PB.
Introduction to Polymers, Second Edition R. J. Youno and F! A. Loveii. ChaDman and Hall: New York. NY. 1991. i + z43 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.7 x 23.4 cm. $79.95193.95 HB, $35.00143.95 PB USlCanada. This textbook has heen modified and enlarged for the new edition. The intmduction and the chapters dealing with synthesis andcharacterization have beenreorganized, revisedand expanded to give a broader coverage. The chapters dealing with structure and mechanical properties have been expanded to include new topics. This volume discusses the synthesis, characterization, structure, and mechanical properties of polymers, giving approximately equal emphasis to each of these major topics. I t has thus heen possible to show the interrelationship ofthe different aspects of the subject in a coherent framework. The baak has been written to he, as far as is possible, self-contained, with most equations fully derived and discussed. I t is supparted by a large number of diagrams and micrographs and is referenced for more advanced reading. Problems have been supplied a t the end of each chapter so that students can test their understanding and practice the manipulation of data. Although the hook is written primarily for students taking courses in polymer science, other students and scientists in industry and research may find it a valuable hook for gaining a greater understanding of polymers.
Organic Spectroscopy, Third Edition William Kemp W. H. Freeman and Co.: New York, NY, 1991 ~ cm. $34.95 xxii + 393 pp. Figs. and tables. 1 5 . 6 23.4 HBl$24.95 PB. The third edition of this book provides an introduction to the application of spectroscopic techniques in organic chemistry. An extensive introductory chapter examines the differences between
A310
Journal of Chemical Education
NMR, IR, UV,and mass spectroscopy, pointing out their relative strengths and weaknesses. This provides students with the critical tools necessary to effectively evaluate the data that each provides. The four chapters that fallow explain the essential aspects of all the major spectroscopic methods. Finally, the reader is presented a n examination ofthe interrelationship between spectroscopy and chramatography-an area of continued growth and increasing importance.
Titles of Interest Agrochemicals: Preparation and Mode of Action R. J. Cremlyn. Wiley: New York, NY, 1991. x + 396 pp. Figs and tables. 15 x 22.8 cm. $47.95 PB.
Applied Inorganic Chemistry T W Swaddle. University of Calgary Press, Calgary, Canada, ~ cm. $34.95. 1990. xii + 331 pp. Figs. and tables. 1 5 . 7 23.6
The purpose of this baak is not to provide a n encyclopedia of specific technologies. Rather these topics are used to introduce some basic principles of applied inorganic chemistry that are of continuing relevance. Concepts or phenomena discussed in ostensihlv unrelated sections of the hook are extensivelv cross-referenced so as to e m ~ h a s i z ethe common scientific undeminnines of dweme terhnolo~w4practwes. Conversely, some suhjecri of current academic interest, iuchus bro~nor~a:anlcchc.mlrt~., whwh h a w h3d rrlat~vrlylttle rociocconornic lnlpact to date and whrrh mvolve highly complex chemistry, are given less consideration. A background of first-year general chemistry and introductory organic chemistry is assumed. ~
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Baywood's Technical Communication Series. Interviewing Practices for Technical Writers Earl E. McDoweiland Jay R. Gould, Series Editor. Baywood Publishing: Amityville, NY, 1991. 251 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.3 x 23 cm. $27.95 HB1$21 .OO PB.
Butterworth-Heinemann Series in Chemical Engineering. Modeling with Differential Equations in Chemical Engineering Stanley M Na a s an0 rlowaro Brenner. Serles Edllor B.netwonh n e nemann Boston. MA 1991 x I, 450 pp F~gs an0 labes 22 2 28 5cm $145 00 A
Chemical Process and Plant Design Bibliography (1959-1989) Martyn S.Ray. Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ, 1991. xxvii
+ 196 pp. 16 x 24.3 cm. $54.00.
Environmental Chemistry Dawd E NeMon J Weston Wa cn Portland, ME. 1991 x 183 pp F gs ano taoles 22 6 x 28 cm S8 95 PB
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The purpose of this textbook is to provide a tool that will help students develop a broad, general understanding of the role of chemistry in the development and solution of environmental prohlems. This hook could he used as a supplementary text in a beginning course: specific sections of the text could be used to illustrate canceots and as s ~ e c i a lsssimments. as extra credit pngtrts, srr ar m o t n ~ m n gdevlcei. The hook could he rhr hasii for nn ndvnnerd rourac, ifit 1s nscd wnh orhrr rrxts and referenceson environmental chemistry. ~
Factor Analysis in Chemistry, Second Edition Edmund R. Maiinowski. Wiley: New York, NY, 1991. xii + 350 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 x24.2 cm. $55.00.
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