One thing I have learned in a long life: that all of our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike—and yet it is the most precious thing we have.
Albert Einstein . . . he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 1:18 It seems to me that when it’s time to die, and that time will come to all of us, there’ll be a certain pleasure in thinking that you had utilized your life well, that you had learned as much as you could, gathered in as much as possible of the universe, and enjoyed it.
Isaac Asimov We must know. We must know.
David Hilbert (inscription on his tomb)
The word ‘‘science’’ means many things to many people. To some, it suggests inquisitiveness and objectivity—a ‘‘discipline of curiosity.’’ To others, it con- veys images of the laboratory, where exacting observations and experiments are conducted using rigorous methods. Some see it as bold and visionary, while others see it as mechanistic and dogmatic. We have pure science, the realm of theory; experimental science, where theories are tested; and applied science, where knowledge is put to work. Today, science can also be viewed in terms of the political and economic factors under which it is done: ‘‘Big Science,’’
large-scale, institutionalized research, in contrast to ‘‘Little Science,’’ the work of individuals and small teams. Thus, the concept of ‘‘science,’’ like others of comparable scope within human experience—‘‘art’’ and ‘‘religion,’’ for ex- ample—is all of these things, but is also bigger than the sum of its combined parts.
Central to all the sciences is something that has been called ‘‘the scientific method.’’ In practice, there are many scientific methods, but the objective of them all is to achieveresults. Observations are made in order to draw conclu- sions. Experiments are conducted to test hypotheses. Products are designed to work. Though the results of scientific undertakings might be quite different, they are obtained by means of basic standardized procedures that have been proven to yield reliable results in the past. To verify that appropriate procedures have been employed, science relies on a process of peer review, in which fellow scientists assess the work of their colleagues. To be sure, this simplified model is variously interpreted and, like any other work of humans, sometimes fails to meet the ideal. Still, a hallmark of science is that knowledge must bevalidated.
No idea that has not been subject to this manner of scrutiny can claim to be truly scientific.
Three broad subject categories of materials are cited in this chapter. The first deals with science as a belief system and how it works. These materials explain scientific methodologies and the values they embody, often with reference to historical or contemporary case studies. The second category examines the social roles of science. Science is a product of society, and it thus reflects the whole cultural, social, economic, and political fabric of that society. Indeed, some sociologists have put forth global theories regarding the differential acceptance of scientific principles among and between cultures. This subject, in particular, has been relatively underrepresented in popular literature, and it can be hoped that, in an age where people look to science to solve many of the world’s problems, more accessible books and articles will be produced exploring the complex interplay of science and society. Finally, included in this chapter are substantive works that cover science at a general level. In addition to reference works, these tend to be either primers for nonspecialists, or popular presentations of newsworthy topics and discoveries.
Materials covering general topics in science can be gateways to other science information resources. The irony is that the greatest volume of publishing ac- tivity and popular interest is generally focused on specific issues, like the Human Genome Project or artificial intelligence. Library patrons who start with these specialized materials, however, frequently return to the more general works for background and reference, or for perspective. Perhaps a better approach to guided or self-directed science literacy explorations would be to start with one or more of the general works cited here, then advance to topical works. In either case, however, a core of general science materials and reference works is es- sential to a science literacy collection.
GENERAL WORKS Reference
Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology. Christopher Morris, ed.
Academic Press, 1992. 2432 p., illus. 0–12–200400–0.
A massive work, optimally organized for showing the interconnectedness of the sciences. Over 124 broad fields are covered, from acoustical engineering to zoology, and throughout each of the nearly 125,000 terms that are defined are linked to at least one of these fields. Each of the major fields is introduced by a ‘‘window,’’ a boxed essay on the general subject written by a noted expert.
Most definitions are under 100 words. (A Lib v24 My 1993 p388; Choice v30 F 1993 p935; Nature v360 D 10, 1992 p546)
Brennan, Richard.Dictionary of Science Literacy. Wiley, 1991. 334 p., illus. 0–
471–53214–2.
Brennan wrote and compiled this dictionary to meet the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s guidelines for science literacy. Some 650 terms were selected on the basis of their core importance to modern science.
Each entry contains a concise definition, followed by an explanation of the concept’s relevance to daily life. Thoroughly cross-referenced. (BL v89 F 1, 1992 p1053; LJ v116 D 1991 p132; SBF v28 Mr 1992 p43)
Bunch, Bryan.Henry Holt Handbook of Current Science and Technology. Holt, 1992. 689 p., index. 0–8050–1829–8.
Subtitled ‘‘A Sourcebook of Facts and Analysis Covering the Most Important Events in Science and Technology,’’ this impressive tome is arguably the best one-volume source for current, substantive information on recent and future scientific developments. Authoritative articles summarize the state of the disci- pline for all major fields and give information on breaking discoveries. Through- out, there are tables, charts, chronologies, and various other sources useful for ready reference. (A Lib v24 My 1993 p388; ARBA v24 1993 p614; Choice v30 F 1993 p981)
Chambers Concise Dictionary of Scientists. David Millar et al., eds. Cambridge University Press, 1989. 461 p., illus. 1852963549.
Most science dictionaries and encyclopedias provide rather superficial bio- graphical coverage. While the biographies in this book are brief, it nonetheless fills a gap and is much more affordable than the multivolume Dictionary of Scientific Biography, listed elsewhere in this section. (RSSEMA p43; TES S 29, 1989 p31; TLS Ag 4, 1989 p845)
General Science Index. H. W. Wilson, 1978– . m. 0162–1963.
This distinguished reference source indexes the contents of over 100 core journals in all fields of the sciences. This is the best gateway to periodical literature for those seeking general scientific information.
Hellemans, Alexander, and Bryan Bunch. The Timetables of Science. Touch- stone/Simon and Schuster, 1991. 660 p., index. 0–671–73328–1.
The drama of science can best be understood within a broad historical con- text. For that reason, every library should have a basic chronology of science.
This one is recommended because it juxtaposes major fields of science within a time continuum, so that at a glance you can see the major historical accom- plishments in several fields at approximately the same time. (SA v266 Ja 1992 p148)
Malinowsky, H. Robert.Reference Sources in Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Agriculture. Oryx Press, 1994. 355 p., index. 0–89774–3.
Listing over 2,400 current resources, this is the best literature guide to the sciences available. Totally up to date. Annotations are succinct but very helpful.
Van Nostrand’s Scientific Encyclopedia. 7th ed. Van Nostrand, 1989. 2 vols., index. 0–442–21750–1.
This workhorse encyclopedia offers general overviews of major fields and more concise reviews of specific topics in the sciences. Explanations are direct and minimally technical. For libraries unable to afford a more expensive mul- tivolume encyclopedia, this will serve in probably 80 percent of the cases.
(RSSEMA p35) Also Recommended
Almanac of Science and Technology. Richard Golob and Eric Brus, eds. Har- court Brace Jovanovich, 1990. Broad, readable overviews on key ideas and events within all disciplines. (KR v58 Ja 15, 1990 p100; LJ v115 Mr 1, 1990 p86)
Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Charles Coulston Gillispie, ed. Scribner’s, 1980. The most thorough biographical reference for information on scientists, this multivolume set issues regular supplements. Articles are probing and semi- scholarly. (NYTBR v85 Ag 31, 1980 p6; SA v243 Ag 1980 p35)
Historical Science Experiments on File. Facts on File, 1994. Gives details on seventy-five famous experiments. Loose-leaf format. Has great pedagogical value.
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 7th ed. Sybil Parker, ed. McGraw-Hill, 1992. This standard 20-volume encyclopedia is an expensive but valuable investment. Covers all areas at an appropriate technical level for informed generalists. The parent title has spawned several specialized volumes.
Also available on CD-ROM. A brand new 1994 abridged edition is available.
(RSSEMA p35)
Science and Technology Desk Reference. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Sci- ence and Technology Department, eds. Gale, 1993. Ready answers to technical
questions compiled by the staff of the Science and Technology Department at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. (A Lib v24 My 1993 p420; Choice v30 Je 1993 p1619; LJ v188 Mr 15, 1993 p74)
History of Science
Album of Science. I. Bernard Cohen, ed. Macmillan, 1980–1989. 5 vols., biblio., index. 0–684–19074–5.
Volumes in this well-received set cover antiquity to the Middle Ages, 1450–
1800, the nineteenth century, and biological and physical sciences in the twen- tieth century. Very well illustrated; could also serve as a guide to the history of scientific illustration. (RSSEMA p44)
Boorstin, Daniel. The Discoverers: A History of Man’s Search to Know His World and Himself. Random House, 1983. 717 p., biblio., index. 0394402294.
A Pulitzer Prize winning historian and former Librarian of Congress, Boorstin portrays the history of Western science as an epic of discovery that has been pushed forward by an insatiable human need to understand the world. The style is readable and the scope is grand. It is at once the story of entire civilizations and of the careers and personalities of the individual makers of science. Covers science from ancient times through the early twentieth century. (BL v80 O 1, 1983 p185; Choice v21 Ap 1984 p1183; LJ v108 N 15, 1983 p2156)
Cohen, I. Bernard. Revolution in Science. Belknap Press/Harvard University Press, 1985. 711 p., refs., index. 0–674–76777.
Intellectual revolutions irreversibly change not only the content of belief and practice within a discipline, but entire social outlooks as well. Cohen begins by establishing, at some length, the ‘‘revolutionary’’ theory in the history of sci- ence, then from that foundation tells the sweeping history of the last four cen- turies of scientific inquiry. Stresses the historical evidence for the occurrences of true revolutions. Scholarly but fascinating. (KR v53 Mr 1985 p213; LJ v110 Je 1, 1985 p134; Nature v315 My 30, 1985 p433)
Companion to the History of Modern Science. R. C. Olby et al., eds. Routledge, 1990. 1081 p., index. 0–415–01988–5.
This ambitious anthology gathers articles from leading scholars who explore diverse historical and contemporary philosophical problems, turning points, top- ics and interpretations, and themes related to science. This would best be used as a guide and handbook for those with a more than passing interest in the subject. Could open doors to a lifetime’s worth of reading. (SBF v27 Ja 1991 p5)
Lindberg, David C.The Beginnings of Western Science: The European Scientific Tradition in Philosophical, Religious and Institutional Context, 600 B.C. to
1450. University of Chicago Press, 1992. 455 p., illus., maps, index. 0–226–
48230–8.
The revolution in Western science that began with Copernicus in some ways represented a major break from intellectual traditions of the past, but in many other ways also continued them. This book documents the essential fabric of that tradition, from the dawn of Greek science through medieval times. (LJ v117 Jl 1992 p117; NYTBR v97 S 20, 1992 p49)
On the Shoulders of Giants(series). Facts on File, 1993– . 5 vols., biblio., gloss., index.
For high school students and beginners, the five volumes in this series com- prise the best available general summary of the history of science. Each volume is brief (under 200 pages), limits itself to core concepts, and provides lists for further reading. (BL v90 N 1, 1993 p514; SBF v29 N 1993 p234; SLJ v39 D 1993 p146)
Also Recommended
Needham, Joseph, and Colin Ronan. The Shorter Science and Civilization in China. Cambridge University Press, 1985. An abridgment of Needham’s mul- tivolume landmark workScience and Civilization in China. (TES Ja 24, 1986 p34)
Schwartz, Joseph. The Creative Moment: How Science Made Itself Alien to Modern Culture. HarperCollins, 1991. By examining several key moments in the history of Western science, the author shows how its core concepts and institutions have retreated farther and farther from common experience. (BL v88 My 1, 1992 p1572; KR v60 Mr 15, 1992 p381; LJ v117 Ap 15, 1993 p118) (Note: Almost all general histories of science are written from a Western and European perspective. More balanced world histories of science should appear in coming years.)
General and Miscellaneous
Asimov, Isaac.Frontiers. Truman Talley: Dutton, 1991. 390 p. 0–525–24662–
2; Asimov, Isaac, and Janet Asimov. Frontiers II: More Recent Discoveries about Life, Earth, Space and the Universe. Truman Talley: Dutton, 1993. 369 p., index. 0–525–93631–9.
These companion books, the second of which was published after Isaac As- imov’s death in 1992, summarize in approximately 1,000-word essays some of the very latest scientific discoveries and near-future research horizons. Good for anybody seeking a quick, painless way to catch up. (BL v89 Jl 1993 p1930; LJ v118 Jl 1993 p111)
Gardner, Martin.The New Ambidextrous Universe. 3rd ed. Freeman, 1990. 392 p., illus., index. 0–7167–2092–2.
The first edition of this tour de force by Scientific American’s mathematics wizard was published in 1964, and over the years it has entertained and enlight- ened thousands of readers. Gardner writes about symmetries and asymmetries in nature, some of which are part of our everyday experience, such as the re- versed image we see in a mirror, and others which are more exotic, like those found in the structures of molecules. The lively brainteasers throughout make it well worthwhile to spend some time with this book. (LJ v116 Mr 1, 1991 p63) Greenwood, Addison et al. Science at the Frontiers. National Academy Press, 1991. 254 p., index. 0–309–04480–4.
The National Academy of Science’s own report, which was produced as the result of a series of ‘‘Frontiers’’ symposia. Covers ten subjects in the biological and physical sciences as well as engineering. Articles are written at a level for informed and motivated laypersons. (SBF v29 Ag 1993 p167)
Rutherford, F. James.Science for All Americans. Oxford University Press, 1990.
246 p., index. 0–19–506771–1.
This book states the recommendations and substance of the AAAS’s Project 2061, which is aimed at the elimination of science illiteracy in America. In its fifteen chapters, readers will get a crash course in the basic concepts of the major scientific fields. The final chapters are for teachers and suggest practical reforms that can improve science education. (LATBR Mr 10, 1991 p10) Trefil, James, and Robert Hazen.Science Matters: Achieving Science Literacy.
Doubleday, 1991. 294 p., index. 0–385–24796–6.
The double entendre in the title describes both the content and the importance of this book. The authors, two scientists and popularizers, take the view that certain basic, unifying principles can be used to explain the rudiments of science in a way that generalists can grasp and also apply in their daily lives. They thus explain these bedrock concepts and how they relate to all fields. A good primer for anybody aspiring to science literacy. (LJ v117 Mr 1, 1992 p47; Kliatt v26 Ap 1992 p42; PW v238 D 6, 1991 p69)
The World Treasury of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics. Timothy Ferris, ed. Little, Brown, 1991. 859 p., index. 0–316–28129–8.
A rich and highly readable omnibus, this collection gathers the work of over seventy writers, including many contemporary and historical giants of science, as well as nonscientists with relevant insights. There are four general, topical categories: ‘‘The Realm of the Atom,’’ ‘‘The Wider Universe,’’ ‘‘The Cosmos of Numbers,’’ and ‘‘The Ways of Science.’’ Selections show not only science’s technical foundations, but also its expressive and philosophical sides. (KR v58 D 1, 1990 p1666; New Sci v131 Ag 24, 1991 p49; SBF v27 Je 1991 p136)
Also Recommended
Asimov, Isaac.Asimov’s New Guide to Science. Rev. ed. Basic Books, 1984.
Unfortunately dated, but this book was until recently the best single source for
comprehensive, general information in all fields of science. Widely found in libraries. (KR v52 S 1, 1984 p834)
Hall, Stephen.Mapping the Next Millennium. Random House, 1991. Vistas of science rendered visual through the use of high-tech cartography. (LJ v116 D 1991 p187; NYTBR v97 Mr 15, 1992 p20; PW v238 O 18, 1991 p46) Masters of Science (series). John Brockman, general ed. HarperCollins, 1994– . This is a very promising new series of some dozen monographs, all under 200 pages, written by leading science popularizers on topics of current relevance. Contributors include John Barrow, George Smoot, Marvin Minsky, Stephen Jay Gould, Jared Diamond, Richard Leakey, and others.
The New York Times Book of Science Literacy. Richard Flaste, ed. Times Books, 1991. A somewhat desultory question-and-answer format, strongest in areas of human and cognitive sciences. (BL v87 Ja 15, 1991 p987; KR v58 D 15, 1990 p1733; LJ v116 F 15, 1991 p218)
On the Frontiers of Science: How Scientists See Our Future. Nigel Calder and John Newell, eds. Facts on File, 1989. A photographic tour of new developments in the fields of ‘‘Space,’’ ‘‘Earth,’’ ‘‘Body,’’ ‘‘Mind,’’ and ‘‘Humanity.’’ High school age and up. (BRpt v9 My 1990 p62)
Royston, Robert.Serendipity: Accidental Discoveries in Science. Wiley, 1989.
These vignettes show why Pasteur said, ‘‘Chance favors the prepared mind.’’
Trefil, James.A Scientist in the City. Doubleday, 1994. 266 p., index. 0–385–
24797–4. From various urban vantage points, Trefil divines basic scientific prin- ciples and shows how they apply to experience. (BL v90 Ja 1, 1994 p795; LJ v118 N 15, 1993 p96; Nature v368 Mr 24, 1994 p367)
SPECIAL TOPICS Essays
Asimov, Isaac.The Relativity of Wrong. Doubleday, 1988. 225 p. 0–385–24473–
8; Out of Everywhere. Doubleday, 1990. 0–385–26201–9; The Secret of the Universe. Doubleday, 1991. 256 p. 0–385–41693–8.
Of all his writings, Asimov’s essays were the favorites of many. The selec- tions from these later works were culled from his regular column in theMag- azine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. (BL v86 My 15, 1990 p1764; KR v58 Ap 15, 1990 p543; PW v238 Ja 25, 1991 p42)
Bernstein, Jeremy.Experiencing Science. Basic, 1978. 275 p. 0–465–02185–9;
Quarks, Cranks and the Cosmos. Basic, 1993. 0–465–08897–x.
Bernstein is a physicist and a renowned popularizer whose approach is to profile a person or event in science. Most of these pieces were originally pub-
lished in the New Yorker. (Choice v30 Jl 1993 p1789; KR v60 D 15, 1992 p1543)
Doing Science. John Brockman, ed. Prentice-Hall, 1991. 296 p. 0–13–795097–7;
Ways of Knowing. John Brockman, ed. Prentice-Hall, 1991. 284 p. 0–13–
517236–5.
Essays from members of the Reality Club, a select group of scientists and scholars chartered to ‘‘arrive at the edge of the world’s knowledge, seek out the most complex and sophisticated minds, put them in a room together, and [have]
them [ask] each other the questions they are asking themselves.’’ (BL v87 D 1, 1990 p695; PW v237 D 7, 1990 p79)
Dyson, Freeman.Infinite in All Directions. Harper, 1988. 319 p. 0–06–039081–
6;From Eros to Gaia. Pantheon, 1992. 372 p. 0–679–41307–3.
By training Dyson is a physicist, but as these essays demonstrate, he possesses a voracious intellect and is not afraid to venture controversial, sometimes chi- merical opinions. (Aud v94 S 1992 p116; Choice v26 N 1988 p509; LJ v114 Mr 1, 1989 p44)
Great Essays in Science. Martin Gardner, ed. Prometheus, 1994. 427 p. 0–
97975–853–8.
Gardner, a leading figure in popular science, selected the thirty-four essays in this collection because they ‘‘have something to say about science and say it forcibly and well.’’ Has a historical context. (SBF v30 Ap 1994 p70)
Konner, Melvin.Why the Reckless Survive. Viking, 1990. 306 p. 0–670–82936–
6.
Thoughts and opinions from psychology, anthropology, neuroscience, and medicine. (LJ v116 Mr 1, 1991 p63; NYTBR v96 14, 1991 p32)
Medawar, Peter.The Threat and the Glory. HarperCollins, 1990. 1991 p., index.
0–06–039112–x.
Twenty-three essays from a Nobel laureate explore the theme that, in science, the threat and the glory are two sides of the same coin. (LJ v116 Mr 1, 1991 p64; Nature v352 Ag 22, 1991 p676; TLS Ja 11, 1991 p21)
Morowitz, Harold. The Thermodynamics of Pizza. Rutgers University Press, 1991. 245 p. 0–8135–1635–8.
The author’s works have appeared in numerous national publications. In this and other collections, he revels in the oddities and idiosyncrasies of science with a questioning mind and sharp wit. (Choice v29 O 1991 p299; LJ v116 Ap 1, 1991 p146)
Mysteries of Life and the Universe. William Shore, ed. Harcourt Brace Jova- novich, 1993. 0–15–163972–8.
Thirty of the very finest contemporary science essayists contributed to this collection, the proceeds of which were donated to a hunger relief organization.