No comments about Nabokov at Cornell.

1 comments about Agassiz's Legacy: Scientists' Reflections on the Value of Field Experience.

1. Readers with experience in scientific field work and students ready to hit the field in their chosen fields will thoroughly appreciate the life/work experiences documented in this book.
   
   Take a look at the table of contents and note how Gladfelter takes the reader from the 'early years' of field research starting with the WW2 generation, to now, a period in which funding, bureaucratic strangleholds, and misplaced prioirities rule the day. The natural world may now be something that unfolds on a screen for the present generation, rather than in front of your face 'out there'--and in your hands. Do geology majors even routinely engage in field geology in their training anymore?
   
   I went straight to the vignettes by geologists and paleontologists and found all to be excellent. For more profiles of geologists I can also highly recommend Pettijohn's MEMOIRS OF AN UNREPENTENT FIELD GEOLOGIST. Readers with an interest in field biology will surely benefit from the history laid out here.
   As Agassiz said, "study nature, not books". But since we're no longer a nation of readers or field naturalists, I say: study both.
   
   Note not a single review since the book was published in 2002.

5 comments about Heisenberg Probably Slept Here: The Lives, Times, and Ideas of the Great Physicists of the 20th Century (Wiley popular science).

1. This book is really helpful for several reasons. If you are looking for a good story and you enjoy science, then this book is perfect. In addition, the stories are not too long, so those to tend to hyper focus will be able to take a break. This book tells of the often humorous lives of scientific legends. It shows the human behind these legends. For example, these physicists did stupid things in college, like take 6 aspirin and three cokes just to prove they could. They also had marital problems and arguments with their friends. After reading this, these physicists seem more like everyday people. (Granted, most fathers don't read bedtime stories from the encyclopedia.) Over all, this is a good book because it is about real people with real lives.
   Another good reason for reading this book is for research on these physicists and their theories. There is plenty of information on their lives and their work for research projects, and the book is very understandable. If you are simply looking to gain a simple understanding of their theories, this book is a good source. However, if you are looking to have an in depth debate on the theories or do serious research, I would not recommend it. The author, while explaining the theories, has a tendency to contradict himself a little. He seems to understand the general concept of the theories, however, upon closer observation, he doesn't make much sense. For example, when he says that scientists "cannot detect" particles in motion and then, just two lines later, says that their calculations about them are accurate, something seems to be wrong with his explanation. This is a great book if you want a good story or a simple overview of the theories; however, if you are looking for "accuracy" then you probably need to refer to the physicists' actual papers on their theories.



2. A lot of the material was similar to what I did in high school physics...but excellent presentation combined with insights into the lives of the phycisists made this a much more interesting text.



3. First of all, the subtitle of this book, "The Lives, Times, and Ideas of the Great Physicists of the 20th Century," is a bit inaccurate. Among the 8 physicists depicted in Brennan's mini-biography is Sir Isaac Newton; obviously not a denizen of the 20th century. Granted, Newton had more influence on the present epoch of physics than anyone else up until the time of Einstein, so his presence in this work is not inappropriate. It's just that he's not a 20th century physicist.

   On the other hand, a startling omission is Erwin Scroedinger. It is understood that one's selection of who's in & who's out can never please everyone in these types of books. However, I can't imagine someone assembling a roster of 20th century physicists without including the venerable Schroedinger. Just my opinion.

   The content of the personages Brennan does write about is quite remarkable. Brennan does a reputable job of describing the major motifs of different biographical epochs of each physicist, then mixing in some nice anectdotes for good measure. He also does not get carried away & deify the scientists to make them look infallible. Rather, Brennan fairly integrates their faults into his text. As a bonus, there is also a brief synopsis of the history of Pre-Newtonian physics.

   The most informative pages are those devoted to Heisenberg. I had always wanted to believe the stories about how he tried to sabatoge the Nazi bomb effort from the inside. Unfortunately, referencing British documents which were de-classified in 1992, Brennan nullifies those arguments as nothing but wishful thinking and ad-hoc propoganda engendered by H himself.

   I would highly recommend this book as a prelude for those who wish to study the lives of these great physicists more deeply. As it is a quick read, it is an equally ideal book for physicists who have only a marginal interest in the great lives of their predecessors.




4. I thouroughly enjoyed this book for several reasons. Richard Brennan does a remarkable job of explaining each physicists' work in a manner a layperson can understand, but still involved enough that the reader appreciates the significance of each discovery. Brennan also manages to capture the character and personality of each physicist with relatively a short biography. He has also structured the book so that the implication of each of the subjects' work on his successors is clear. In short, I found the physicists' personal stories compelling and the science fascinating.



5. When I read the book at first time, I was attracted to the stories. They are not only an interesting narrative but also provide the correct attitude of life and research of science for us. When I finished reading the book, I was deeply affected by the stories. I introduced the book to my friends, and I stilly like reading the book now.

No comments about John Garcia: Life of a Neuroethologist and History of Conditioned Taste Aversion.

No comments about Forgotten Ideas, Neglected Pioneers: Richard Semon and the Story of Memory.

4 comments about Under a Wild Sky: John James Audubon and the Making of The Birds of America.

1. I am pleased to give my unprejudiced review of Under A Wild Sky by William Souder, my son.
   The author paints a picture, in words, of a 19th century complicated man, dedicated to giving his and future generations beautiful and accurate portraits of Birds Of America. This is a great book for all interested in learning about the life of the man and his work.



2. William Souder doesn't just describe Audubon's personality. Souder appears to be Aubudon's best friend who has been watching Audubon for years. Now, Souder is telling the reader how his best friend works and what drove his friend to make "Birds of America."



3. It's been over a century since naturalist John James Audubon's death, but his fame is no less for it, and author William Souder's biography Under A Wild Sky: John James Audubon And The Making Of The Birds Of America provides both a well-researched biography and an inviting leisure read recreating Audubon's time and passion. Chapters tell of the lush abundance of species Audubon was called upon to catalog, and tells of his struggle to gain recognition for his work. A 'must' for any Audubon fan.



4. Like most everyone, I have been slightly familiar with Audubon's Birds of America-but I had no insight into the man or the world that produced his famous series of meticulous paintings. From the first page, William Souder's excellent book drew me into its engrossing narrative, making the carefully researched details come alive. Because of the detail and the direct writing style, the world Souder portrays seems close and immediate-almost like today-but in many ways it was light-years from today's modern world.
   
   In detailing Audubon the man, Souder shows us a fascinating, infuriating character, obsessive in his hunting, exploring and collecting efforts, relentless in his painting, while often oblivious to his domestic responsibilities and economic situation. Reconstructing an immense amount of research materials, Souder describes Audubon's acclaim and success in Scotland and England, leading to the historic publication of the monumental Birds of America. While cutting a flamboyant, confident figure in Europe, we also see Audubon's private torments. His incompetent letters to his wife- addressing her as "dearest friend"- provokes an extended almost tragic transatlantic misunderstanding. Reading these passages should make us forever grateful for telephones!
   
   Under a Wild Sky is full of wonderful rich description, and for this we can thank Audubon and others for having kept detailed journals and letters. But I was most impressed with Souder's ability to write in a familiar, personal style that weaves it all into a highly readable, intelligent and entertaining narrative that-as I said before-really makes the subject come alive. Highly recommended.

No comments about Albert Einstein (Grandes biografias series).

No comments about The Voice of Dr. Wernher von Braun: An Anthology (Apogee Books Space Series).

1 comments about Einstein Lived Here.

1. As it is known, Albert Einstein is the leading creator of the relativity theory, that's right? It's right, but this is not only a stereotyped image, it's also a very simplified image of the geniality and the psychological complexity of one of the major savant among all the savants. An excellent overview of the Einstein scientific work is presented in that many people consider the best biography of this genial scientist. I'm referring to the Abraham Pais book "Subtle is the Lord", published in 1982. Although an incontestable bibliographical source, "Subtle is the Lord" is not at all accessible to the layman. With the present book, "Einstein Lived Here", Pais help the general public, from the relativity theorist to the absolutely layman. While not discarding a rigorous historical approach, Pais priority is on Einstein human dimension, and gives us a fluent and very agreeable text in which he deals with polemic questions, as the supposed involvement of Einstein in the American atomic bomb fabrication. Among all those that have written about Einstein, Abraham Pais seems to be the most qualified. Theoretical physicist of recognized competence, emeritus professor at the Rockefeller University, New York, Pais have been acquainted with Einstein from 1946 to December 1954, when he visited him for the last time; at the Einstein death, in April 18, 1955, Pais was not in the USA.

   Even for the reader reasonably up to date with the pertinent literature, Pais discloses interesting facts. For example, in the first chapter there is an admirable description of the dramatic marital life of Albert and Mileva Maric, his first wife. Pais discusses the very controversial participation of Mileva on the Einstein's scientific work, particularly on the relativity theory. For the author, the only evidence for a possible role of Mileva in the creation of relativity is Einstein's remark in a letter of March 1901: "Together we shall conclude victoriously our work on relative motion". The followed discussion arrived at the author's suggestion that the remark was no more than a love declaration.

   These letters, published in "Albert Einstein-Mileva Maric, the love letters", by J. Renn and R. Schulmann, Princeton University Press, 1992, revealed an absolutely unknown fact until 1986: In April 1901, before the Einstein's marriage, Mileva was pregnant. The child, born in January 1902, was a girl, named Lieserl. But, what became of Lieserl? Nobody knows! Apparently Einstein ever even saw her. In the summer of 1903 Mileva went to visit her family. From Berna Einstein wrote to her expressing concern about Lierserl's attack of scarlet fever. This is the last known communication between the parents about their daughter.

   The Einstein's life was a great target of the public curiosity. As such he had to pay the price of receiving numerous messages from strangers. It is a safe bet that among scientists no one received more such letters than him. The true amount it is not known, but over 600 is now in the Einstein Archive at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Einstein referred to this collection as "die komische Mappe". In chapter 8, Pais presents a lot of strange, funny, sometimes pathetic envelopes and letters.

   Chapter 11, almost a half of the whole book's content, is concerned with the press interest on Einstein's work and life. This kind of approach is the first in the vast Einstein bibliography. For Pais, "Einstein, creator of some of the best science of all time, is himself a creation of the media in so far as he is and remains a public figure". The beginning of Einstein's mythical role dates from November 1919, after a joint session of the Royal and Astronomical Societies, in London, in which the results obtained by British observers of the total solar eclipse of May 29 were discussed. The observations were decisive in the verifying of the prediction of Einstein on the bending of light when it approaches a large body, like the sun. By the way, the Einstein's work was so ample and full in geniality that its perception depends strongly on the observer cultural profile. For the layman the Einstein's Nobel Prize is associated to the relativity theory, but in Chapter 6, Pais discusses how the photoelectric effect, and not the relativity theory, enables Einstein to get the Nobel Prize. Pais explains why Einstein did not win the Nobel Prize because of the relativity theory. Besides these fabulous works, Einstein published in the same annus mirabilis of 1905 three other marvelous works. For Pais, any single one of "these theoretical discoveries would have sufficed to guarantee Einstein a prominent and lasting position in the history of science". However, none of these contributions caused even modest mention in the press before 1919.

   In conclusion, "Einstein lived here" is a highly recommendable book for any educated layman and indispensable for any scientist, by the complex personality of this renowned savant and by his splendid scientific contribution.

No comments about Alexander Graham Bell.