The Nobel Scientists: A Biographical Encyclopedia [Hardcover]

George Thomas Kurian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2002

This outstanding reference work brings together profiles of the more than 450 scientists who have won the Nobel Prize in physics, chemistry, or medicine/physiology. Now available on the centenary of the Nobel Prize, this valuable resource illustrates, through the extraordinary contributions of the scientists profiled, the phenomenal growth of science and technology in the last 100 years. Presented chronologically for easy reference, each entry provides a basic biography followed by information on the scientific career and achievements of the particular scientist. Also noted and discussed are the value and significance of the contributions for which the Nobel Prize was awarded. Many photographs accompany the entries, and the work concludes with indexes organised by name, nationality, and scientific discovery. This one-of-a-kind reference book will be a valuable addition to both academic and school libraries, as well as an approachable source of fascinating information for the average person interested in science.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The Nobel Prize was established by Alfred Nobel for discoveries that "confer the greatest benefit on mankind." This source covers the award from its beginning in 1901 to 2000. Entries are arranged by award categories of chemistry, physics, and physiology or medicine, and then by year of award. If an award went to more than one individual, each recipient has an entry. There are indexes by name, nation, and scientific work. Each entry includes the recipient's name, prize, brief biographical information, a citation of the award, a summary of his or her life's work, selected publications, and a bibliography. Also included in each entry are a bibliography of selected publications of the award winner and a bibliography of works about the award winner.

There are several other reference works devoted to biographies of Nobel Prize winners. Specifically, the fourth edition of Louise Sherby's The Who's Who of Nobel Prize Winners, 1901-2000 (Oryx, 2002) and Nobel Prize Winners: An H. W. Wilson Biographical Dictionary, 1997-2001 Supplement (H. W. Wilson, 2002) have recently been published. The Kurian and Sherby books are similar. Both include educational achievements, a summary, recipient publications, and a bibliography. Kurian doesn't list award recipient's parents; Sherby does. The Wilson title has longer biographical entries, similar to those in its Current Biography.

The Nobel Scientists: A Biographical Encyclopedia is informative, well written, and nicely laid out, and libraries can select it with confidence. But if a library has to pick only one Nobel Prize biographical source, the choice would be the Wilson volume because of its longer entries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"...will interest college-level libraries, providing a strong set of profiles...An excellent reference." -- Wisconsin Bookwatch, February 2003

"...worth having." -- The Physics Teacher, November 2004

"A very useful volume for a scientific reference, and an interesting source of ideas for the science fiction writer." -- Artemis Magazine/LRC Publication Online Reviews, Spring 2004

"an informative and fascinating overview...will have a useful place in libraries: academic, secondary, public and personal/private." -- Journal of Scientific Exploration

Product Details

• Hardcover: 675 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; Centenary ed edition (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573929271
• ISBN-13: 978-1573929271
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,318,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent reference, February 13, 2003

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nobel Scientists: A Biographical Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

This biographical encyclopedia will interest college-level libraries, providing a strong set of profiles of over four hundred scientists who've won the Nobel Prize in physics, chemistry, or medicine. Entries provide basic bibliographic information along with details on the scientist's career and other achievements. An excellent reference.