Van Nostrand Momentum Books
book reviews Editor: W. F. KIEFFER College of
Wooster
W-ter,
Ohio
the epistemology of quantum mechanics represents the ultimate truth. I use i t beK L ~ WP. li7pttr. Priiiccton Ir~.ivcr-iir?. cause its concepts are undoubtedly more 1r.iJi;iniÃl'i.ivtw.iity Pies-., Itliioining~iii, concrete than those of any other language I t . 1 -r 250 pp. Fig.,. -4t.d rultlf-'. developed for discussing epistemology." I n these days of the "two cultures," these four articles could form the basis of many This book is a collection of writings by long discussions by intelligent followers of Professor Wigner, Nobel Laureate in both cultures. Wigner concludes in a n arPhysics in 1963. The articles are grouped tide on materialism and consciousness that into four partsentitled: (I) Symmetry and he hopes his articles in this area will serve Other Physical Properties; (11) Nuclear to stimulate thinking and re-emphasize the Energy; (111) Epistemology and Quantum ultimate scientific interest in this question Mechanics; (IV) Reflections. There are "which is, perhaps, the most fundamental 24 articles ranging in date from 1936 to question of all.'' 1964. Lest this create a false impression, Finally, in Part IV have been collected i t should be noted that 13 of the 24 articles nine articles on a variety of topics. Parwere published in the '60's and even the ticularly moving and fascinating by conolder articles have contemporary valne. trast are the biographical sketches of Professor Wigner has contributed to Fermi and von Neumann. I n this section many areas of physics. However, his are three articles on science, its limitations most important contribution is recognized and promise, which demonstrate the clarby 5 articles on symmetry and invariance itv and d e ~ t hof Professor Wiener's inin physics in Part I. These would be of sight. greatest interest. to graduate students and Wigner's is an intellect with a wide range physical chemists with sufficient familiarand deep insight. I n this collection many ity in quantum mechanics. The two contypes of problems are discussed and the cluding articles in Part I are concerned author stimulates and disturbs. Any with the structure of solids (1936) and the reader will be educated by the discussions compound nucleus model (1955) and are of on the nature of science, challenged by the lesser interest due to their age. epistemological arguments, charmed by Part I1 consists of four articles on nuthe biographical sketches. The hook declear sciences and, while fascinating, are serves a wide audience as it represents the primarily of historical rather than scienmost important interests of an outstanding tific interest. scientist and, as such, represents science a t I n Part 111Professor Wigner has turned its best. his attention to the nature of knowledge. He uses the methods and laneuaee of auan. GREGORYR. CHOPPIN turn mechanics in considering epistemolFlorida State University ogy as he says, "not because I believe that Tallahassee 3S3W Symmetries and Reflections
-Reviewed
in this Issue
Eugene P . Wigner, Symmetries and Reflections Walter C. Michels, editor, Van Nostrand Momentum Books Earl L.Muetterties, editor, Inorganic Syntheses, Volume 10
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Herbert Budzikiewicz, Carl Djerassi, and Dudley H . Williams, Mass Spectrometry of Organic Compounds H. A . Flaschka and A . J. Barnard, editors, Chelates in Analytical Chemistry Volume 1
Crystals and Light by Elizabeth A. Wood, viii 160 pages, 8 color plates and a piece of Polaroid film, $1.95. Half of this book is devoted to symmetry and its significance as a basis for. the study of crystals; the other half deals with optical properties of crystals, especially those
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George G. Guilbault, editor, Fluorescence Theory, Instrumentation and Practice Shreve, Chemical Process Industries
Morris Goran, The Story of Fritz Haber
. 352 / Journal o f Chemical Education
We havelong felt that readers' attention should be drawn to this series by comment in these columns. Detailed reviews of each book might reveal maximum information, yet probably serve the purpose less adequately than selective comments about the series as a whole and drawing attention to those more likely to be of interest to students in chemistry courses. This project of the Commission on College Physics (the disciplinary analog of tbeACa) has resulted in a most valuable addition to the paperback, text-supplement literature for the serious science student, be he pbysicist or chemist. Each author, or in some cases pairs of authors, writes authoritatively, yet properly a t the introductory level. I n no case is mat,hematical proficiency beyond the simplest "vocabulary" of the calculus required; quantum mechanics is not assumed; any special mathematical techniques are adequately presented from first principles. The series makes no pretense to be a set of reference hooks. Hence, although each has an index, it. is a brief one. There are selected bibliographies in every volume. Most of these send the reader both to general treatments and to specific standard reference works. Some volumes have literature citations a t chapter conclusions. These are a valuable feature, since they offer the right kind of help to the more seriously interested student. Certainly all of these titles belong in the libraries available to students takine t-lm.eiitaiy college physics. 'I'heir ren-ionl d c price -SUKKC-'I< that libraries i i i rhemi t iildn.i;5 imld well afford their display, preferably together as a series. Several of these books are so good that once they have been discovered by chemistry students, multiple copy acquisitions will be needed. Brief comments about some of these follow. Select,ions obviously are based on personal preferences, but the attempt has been to indicate subjects that are encountered by students in chemistry courses and for which no equally good volumes exist in series labeled "Chemistry!' Temperatures Very Low and Very High by Mark W . Zemansky, viii 127 pages, $1.50. Not only will entropy mean more to the student, but he will also realize the practical "how it has been done" aspects from adiabatic demagnetization t o nuclear fusion reactions. His thinking will even be stretched t o visualize negative temperatures.
Walter Kauzmnn, Thermal Properties of Matter. Volume 2, Thermodynamics and Statistics: With Applications to Gases
R. &is
Published by the Commission on College Physics, Walter C. Micheb, Bryn Mawr College, General Editor. Nineteen titles, additional ones in preparation. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, N. J. 1964-1967. Price range: 81.50-$1.95.
(Continued on page A4381
