BOOK REVIEWS rmde, thc proftwirm and the art. Science is covcretl in a,.[rumte ehnpterr m d ~ r physirs, che~narry,nuturnl science, r r r d social science. Service accupationa and U. S. Government service are treated in individual chapters. The author's grouping of careers into these various areas is somewhat unusual. (E.g. social science under science.) Each chapter begins with a definition of the career area and is followed by a short developmental history of the field with specific references t o the type of work involved. A bibliography a t the end of the hook is a source of additional references which offers the reader a wide range of general topics within each field. The hook strains to develop a scientific approach t o career planning even though this theme could probably have been developed without making such an obvious point of it. The suggestion that the reader prepare a notebook entitled "My Career Book," seems to suggest that the book is more appropriate far the pre-high school student. ROBERTL. SILBER Edveatzonal Sec~etary .,Lmerican Chemical Society Washington, D. C. Writing Guide for Chemists
Walter J. Gmsler, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, and Kinereth D. Gender. McGrm-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1961. ix 149 pp. 14.5 X 21 cm. $4.50. Paperbound.
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$2.95.
The Genslers' contribution to the crowded shelf of literature on technical writing is a practical little book directed specifically a t the chemist. Organized in handbook style and published in both h a d cover and an inexpensive paperback format, it treats in a concise and businesslike manner most of the problems that are likely t o plague the student chemist and the laboratory-oriented professional in his attempts to put his findings on paper. "Writing Guide for Chemists" concentrates mare on the clear and accurate presentation of chemical data than on the refinements of style and grammar. It will probably not he of great interest to more sophisticated scientific word manipulators, but its wealth of practical advice and concrete examples should make i t an invaluable aid to the student and the practicing professional in developing a basic proficiency in technical writing. Part one of the book deals with the general aspects of chemical writing, with chapters on style, the laboratory notebook, the outline, form and content of the technical report, presenting experimental details, and the mechanics of revision and proofreading. The brief discussion of style stresses objectivity, clarity, and concisenem and is well presented. I n their comments on the laboratory notebook the authors not only provide good advice on the recording of experimental data, hut also point up some of the legal (Continued on page A426)
A424 / Journal of Chemicol Education
BOOK REVIEWS aspects of the natebonk in industrial practice. Of very practioal value is the advice on the treatment of trade names and identification of chemicals and sources. The authors' treatment of the use of past and present tense in scientific description should a180 be helpful to the novice writer. Part two of the book is devoted to mare specific mattem. The four chapters on grammar, punctuation, and spelling cover briefly but adequately the common stumbling blacks without getting overly involved in the fine points of grammar. The outstanding feature of these chapters is the wealth of excellent examples, chosen from chemical literature and presented in tabular form far easy reference. The long lists of hyphenated and unhyphenated word pairs common in chemical literature are especially useful. The remaining chapters of part two are concerned with chemical nomenclature, abbreviations, forms far physical data, tables and figures and documentation. I n treating the complex topic of correct nomenclature, the authors state a few basic rules, then wisely refer the reader to many standard sources for detailed information. The chapter on physical data gives thc standard forms for spectroscopic, chromatographic, kinetic, NMR, optical, radiochemical and other types of physicochemical data, useful information not normally found in hooks of this type. The treatment of figures and tables, however, is somewhat sketchy. The student or experienced chomist who reads and heeds the Genslers' advice may not produoe a literary masterpiece, hut he will certainly produce accurate, clear, and correct technical papers. To the professor who wishes to encourage the development of some scientific literacy in his undergraduate students, we might recommend t,he use of the Genders' Little hook as a. supplemrntary text in a second or third year chemistry course. EDWARD P. DONNELL Atlantic Research Corporation Alezandk, Vi~qinia
Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Physics. Volume 1, A to Compensated Bars
Edited by J . Thmlis, dtomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, England. R. C'. Glass, London, D. .I. Hughes (deoeased) Brookhaven, A . R. Meetham, Teddington. Pergemon Prees, New York, 1861. xv 800 pp. Figs. and tables. 20 X 25.5 cm. 824Oper set.
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This "Dictionary of Physics" is an ambitious undertaking by some 3000 ~cientistseompri~cd of editors, editorial consultants, advisers and contributors, principally from tho United Kingdom and the Unit,ed States. HOT ambitious this undertaking has been given in the words of the editor-in-chid: "The present Dictionary aims, therefore, a t covering not (Contineed on page A428)
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Journal of Chemical Educufion
