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5.0 out of 5 stars
The Greatest Scientists, as Fragile as the Rest of Us, June 2, 2001
This review is from: Concise Dictionary of Scientific Biography (Hardcover)
Even the most diligent search of the world literature on biography will typically reveal little information about the personality and delicate human traits of some of the greatest thinkers in history. This book stands essentially alone as a complete but manageable compendium of the people who throughout time advanced mankind through creative thought, perseverance, and determination. Perhaps its greatest strength is in the brief but insightful histories of each scientist's life experiences as ordinary human beings who sought personal fulfillment and happiness first in relationships, love, and family. It is fascinating and exciting to discover how much in common the average person shares with the human frailties and emotions of Newton, Edison or Oppenheimer. The extensive illustrations and photographs further enhance the sense that these individuals who we imagine as larger than life were very much like the rest of us at heart. Each of the many hundreds of entries is well written, concise, and tightly focused. The authors' efforts at keeping the biographies limited in length are successful, but unfortunately this restricts the extent of information one might wish to have available for the most significant scientists, or those whose lives included particularly fascinating details. There are some surprising exlcusions of biography, such as Stephen Hawking and Jane Goodall, but the book includes so many other biographies that it would not be fair to quibble. In summary, this is a wonderful book to have in one's home reference library, particularly with children at home.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Rare and Important Resource of Science and Scientists, April 24, 2008
This review is from: Concise Dictionary of Scientific Biography (Hardcover)
This book, can be read from start to finish, but really, it is best as a well done resource of scientists. I would probably say that this may even be the most authoritative source on scientific biography, although the Encyclopedia Britannica, Oxford Dictionary, Asimov and others (I have not done an extensive search) have very well researched info on scientists and scientific discoveries. In addition there are the "timetables of science", Sarton's books, etc. However, there is, currently no major movie dedicated to science, or even to evolution...and that blows my mind...that is just shocking to me. On a hopeful note, the National Science Foundation contributed funding to the making of this concise edition. This book sells used for $25, and new for $160(damn!). The copy I have is marked "discard" by the Phoenix Arizona public library system (perhaps they have the online edition, otherwise I can't see why somebody would toss out a rare and important resource like this). This is the concise version of the massive 1981 16 volume scientist biographies. The biographical info, to me, is of less importance than the interpretation of science findings. For example, in the entry for Pupin, there is mostly biographical info. I'm glad I found this resource, and happy that it was produced. It's a valuable resource, and from the few articles I have read it seems to be very concise, tackling very abstract and corrupted science and what very well may be proven inaccurate or pseudoscience in the future, clearly and concisely.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Reference Book, June 14, 2004
This review is from: Concise Dictionary of Scientific Biography (Hardcover)
This book is invaluable as a reference for me in writing college history of science lectures, and in reading historical works, as so much of the information that I need is right at my fingertips. While not as comprehensive as the complete edition, the biographies are substantial enough, and the historical range vast enough, so that this work stands as an excellent source for putting the individuals in science into perspective.
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