Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics
Library Journal Review
Long in the making, this book is an exquisite treasury of scientific thought and sensibilities. It was conceived as a way to right the wrong done to the sciences in ordinary compilations of quotations, and it rises admirably to the occasion. By adopting the standard layout of such dictionaries, Bynum (Science and the Practice of Medicine in the Nineteenth Century) and Porter (Madness: A Brief History), who died in 2002, have created something that is at once familiar and tantalizing. Selecting the authors (not necessarily scientists) and the specific quotations from each is a task that could only have been a labor of love-it took 15 years to gather quotes and cull through them. We readers are the beneficiaries of this dedication. The book is neatly arranged and easy to read: the main entries are arranged alphabetically by author (e.g., Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and British molecular biologist James Watson), with the quotations chronologically organized therein. Cross references help direct readers to related quotes. In many cases, italicized notes elaborate on the context, and each quotation is followed by full bibliographical information. The index is quite detailed and a fascinating section of the book all on its own. Some of the quotations are quite long and detailed, which the subject matter demands. Bottom Line It is refreshing to see that in our world of instant messages and gratification substance was not sacrificed for brevity when this book was compiled. Librarians, historians, scientists, and lovers of science and history: make space on your shelf for this impressive anthology of scientific wisdom.-Manya Chylinski, Boston (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-Dian Fossey's remark, âÇ£The more you learn about the dignity of the gorilla, the more you want to avoid peopleâÇ is just one of the gems in this welcome addition to collections. The easy-to-use volume is organized alphabetically by author; a thorough index includes keywords and names. Scientific arguments are represented through zingers delivered in the literature or letters of the time. Quotations from well-known scientists are listed as are those from individuals known primarily by people in their own fields. The insights offered by poets, politicians, and philosophers are not often duplicated in general quotation reference sources. Of course, there are some omissions; there are no entries by Margaret Sanger, and, while Richard Leakey is quoted, Mary Leakey isn't. Despite the few gaps, this is an outstanding book. More thorough than A. L. Mackay's A Dictionary of Scientific Quotations (Inst. of Physics, 1991) and more completely researched than Isaac Asimov's Book of Science and Nature Quotations (Grove/Atlantic, 1989), this is a first purchase.-Cass Kvenild, University of Wyoming, Laramie (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
CHOICE Review
Bynum and the late Porter (both, University College London) spent 15 years compiling this collection of quotations with a notable editorial board composed of scientists, historians, and sociologists. The result is a rich compendium of wisdom and wit that captures the thoughts of scientists and nonscientists throughout the ages. Some of the quotes are brief, a sentence or two, but most are paragraph length, and organized alphabetically by author. Authors include early Greek thinkers, medieval Arabic scholars, novelists, poets, philosophers, mathematicians, physicists, zoologists, chemists, modern-day cell biologists, geologists, and science writers. In some instances where the quote is short, the author's native language (e.g., German) is used; the translation is provided. The keyword index helps users find quotes on specific topics. This hefty volume is a great reference but it is also a great read--open it up to any page and expand the mind with a sampling of scientific ideas and philosophy. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Academic libraries of all sizes; midsize to large public libraries. D. M. Dayton Jaffrey Grade School, Jaffrey, New Hampshire
Booklist Review
Just as a photo may capture the essence of a person, a few words by ancient and modern scientists can capture their humor, insight, and erudition. For instance, here is a quote by Richard Feynman: "For those who want some proof that physicists are human, the proof is in the idiocy of all the different units which they use for measuring energy." The quotations collected here are not only by scientists but by writers, politicians, and others with something to say about science. Arrangement is alphabetical by the author's last name and chronological within the author entries. Each entry includes the name of the person being quoted, his or her dates, a very brief biographical statement, and several quotes, with their sources. Although most quotes are attributed to the person, there are also a few quotes about a person. A keyword index cites an abbreviated form of the author's name and page and quote numbers (for example, DARW 156-6). The editors have done a fine job compiling the quotations. There is little overlap with more general compendiums, such as the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations 0 (6th ed., 2005); while that volume includes just 1 quote from nineteenth-century Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell, the Oxford Dictionary of Scientific Quotations0 offers more than 30. Oxford has another hit, one that will join the ranks of other successful quotation books. Recommended for public and academic libraries. --Jack O'Gorman Copyright 2005 Booklist
Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics
W. F. Bynum is Professor Emeritus of the history of medicine at the Wellcome Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London. His research has been directed at a number of topics, including the history of psychiatry, the relationship between basic science and medical practice, the history of disease, especially malaria in British India, and the impact of evolutionary biology on medicine. He has edited many books, including (with Janet Browne and Roy Porter) The Macmillan Dictionary of the History of Science (1981), and (with Roy Porter) Companion Encyclopedia of the History of Medicine, 2 vols. (1993). He is the author of Science and the Practice of Medicine in the Nineteenth Century (1994). He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and of Edinburgh. Roy Porter was until his retirement Professor of the Social History of Medicine at the Wellcome Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London. His books include English Society in the Eighteenth Century (1982), Mind Forg'd Manacles (1987), A Social History of Madness (1987), London: A Social History (1994), The Greatest Benefit to Mankind (1997), Enlightenment (2000), Madness: a brief history (2002), and Flesh and the Age of Reason (2003). He died in March 2002.
