Methods and Styles in the Development of Chemistry

From The Critics

Fruton (biochemistry and the history of medicine, Yale U.), defining "style" as the manner in which chemical investigations were conducted, explores the influence of preconceptions derived from religion, philosophy, technical traditions, and other sources on the conduct of chemical studies from Lavoisier to investigators of organic synthesis in the mid-1900s. He finds no broad generalizations applicable, arguing that methods and styles widely varied, sometimes within individual careers. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)