Understanding Nanotechnology [Paperback]

Scientific American (Author), editors at Scientific American (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0446679569 | ISBN-13: 978-0446679565 | Publication Date: December 1, 2002

Taken from the Greek, nano means 'one billionth part of' a whole; or very, very small. Nanotechnology is the next step after miniaturization. This book explores the cutting edge of a new technology that will find usage in almost every single aspect of modern society.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN is the oldest continuously published magazine in America: for all of that time it has been the leader in communications about science and technology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446679569
• ISBN-13: 978-0446679565
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Guide to Nanotechnology, May 4, 2003

By 

Mr B R Lowe (Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Nanotechnology (Paperback)

This book has a number of different chapters from different authors. Each author seems to have had good experience in the nanotech field, relating his experiences, overview knowledge and expectations in the future. I liked the fact that they referred to very current day progress and studies they had done in their own laboratories, giving it a very real experience. They also gave a good overview of future nanotech, and did not go overboard on radical futuristic predications, grounding their vision both on scientific limits and what exists in nature already.

Its a short book (140+ pages), and managed to read through it very quickly based on its interesting content and well written nature.

I'd recommend it for people who have great interest in nanotechnology and are making their first few steps. Possibly, read this first to get an overview and then get into the more technical books. After having read this book, already articles on nanotech news sites are making easier reading already.

This is probably not easy reading for the average person, one would have to have a basic chemistry and physics to maximize ones gain from the book. A PHD/Masters (thankfully) is not required.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A collection of papers on Nanotechnologies, February 15, 2003

By 

P. PAI (Alhambra, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Understanding Nanotechnology (Paperback)

This book collects papers from good to great contributors. The technical details are reasonable for any one with engineering background. It is more of an introduction to people who are most interested in the nanotube development.

The books explains that nanotechnologies fall between the usual daily macrophysics and the quantum mechanics, and that is why it is so mysterious. However, the book, since written mostly by scientists, does not go into great details on the applications side. It provides a cautiously optimistic view of the future, but does not go into more details in painting a futuristic pictures.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction, September 20, 2005

By 

Walter G. Paine (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Understanding Nanotechnology (Paperback)

If you want to know what Nanothechnology is this book will tell you. It is aimed at the "intelligent layman" and as such succeeds rather well.

I found it easier going from a stylistic point of view than Ratner's "Nanothechnology: Gentle Introduction to the next big idea". If I were to buy only one of them I should buy this one.