Lasers: Humanity's Magic Light

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-- An introduction to the developments and uses of lasers. Nardo begins with a history of the discovery of the laser phenomenon that includes the battle over patent rights. Subsequent chapters are devoted to a contemporary application of lasers--in the military, in communications, in compact-disc players, for welding and cutting, in medicine, and even as entertainment. The writing style is breezy and appropriately gee-whizzy, although the technical explanations tend to be vague. High quality photos appear throughout; simple graphics are employed in the technical sections, usually boxed off from the main text. Overall, Nardo has provided a nice introduction to the best known applications of lasers. Some of the newest applications (such as single molecule detection, gene sequencing, and detection of very short-lived events) are regrettably missing. However, there is enough here to arouse young readers' interest. --Alan Newman, American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.