Research and Innovation
Silver writes with extraordinary grace and sparkling wit-and with a comprehensiveness unparalleled in science writing. His book takes the reader on a guided tour not only of the history of science but of the very nature of scientific inquiry and its role in society.
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Where does heat come from? What is light? Did life start on Earth? Can physical phenomena be accurately measured? We may not think often about these questions, but for readers who do, Silver, professor of physical chemistry at the Israel Institute of Technology, is a reliable guide. Silver does more than explain scientific achievements with wit and grace: For him, science is fun. In this spirit, he leads a whirlwind tour through wondrous worlds of molecular biology, animal evolution, quantum mechanics, and relativity. The first half of the book is largely devoted to the rise of classical physics and subsequent "Cracks in Newton's Pedestal." After a discussion of chaos that leads to a section on biology, he continues his narrative with quantum theory and, finally, relativity. No matter how heady the subject, Silver stands undaunted in his belief that there is no topic too complex to explain to a determined lay reader, l'homme moyen sensuel, or HMS, as Silver calls him. Finally, one must applaud Silver's bravery in pointing out that even scientists approach their trade with a modicum of faith. Not all scientific conclusions, especially in the field of quantum mechanics, jibe with common sense; it is common for theories initially to appear to explain the facts satisfactorily, but later to be proven wrong. Science involves a lot of guesswork: theories can just as often obscure as elucidate nature's inner workings. For Silver, however, this is the wonder of science and reason for its ascent. Like the living creatures that cover the earth, science, too, evolves. (Jan.)
KLIATT
This is an excellent introduction to modern science (chiefly physics, chemistry, and biology) presented as a series of ideas that changed the world we inhabit. The ideas are often complicated, e.g., molecular motion, the speed of light, the Big Bang, dark matter, the conservation of energy, and what Darwin called the descent of man. What distinguishes this book from other introductions of this type is the author's ability to make the complex understandable. This is done partly through the use of a writing style that is accessible to YAs (e.g., the Introduction begins with a quote from Madonna: "This is a material world and I am a material girl.") It also does so by clear explanation, the kind that usually results from years of teaching. The author was Professor of Physical Chemistry at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, and clearly understands what it takes to make complex ideas understandable and interesting. There is a certain rambling quality to the book, a kind of raconteur quality that allows the author to make wide-ranging references. Chapter 3, entitled "Thomas Aquinas versus Neil Armstrong," is an example of this. The history of modern science is not taught well to YAs. Any book that has a ghost of a chance to interest this audience is worth purchasing. This is such a book. KLIATT Codes: A—Recommended for advanced students, and adults. 1998, Oxford Univ. Press, 534p, illus, bibliog, index, 26cm, 97-15430, $18.95. Ages 17 to adult. Reviewer: Paula Rohrlick; September 2000 (Vol. 34 No. 5)
Library Journal
The author of this massive work has two objectives: to explain the major scientific developments from earliest time through today in nontechnical terms and to set science in its social perspectiveincluding its effects on the relationship of humanity to society, our self-image, and our ideas of God. Silver (physical chemistry, Israel Inst. of Technology) has succeeded in both areas, although his history of science and technical explanations seem to be more coherently organized and presented. His analogies to explain difficult or esoteric scientific areas often make his explanations remarkably clear, for example, his explanation of the mechanics of "doping" semi-conductors. Silver's opinions and sense of humor are evident throughout the book, and the footnotes contain a substantial share of personal references and interpretations. The breadth of Silver's coverage of the philosophers of science as well as the historians is also impressive. Recommended for all libraries.Hilary Burton, Lawrence Livermore National Lab., Livermore, Cal.
Booknews
Silver (chemistry, Israel Institute of Technology) views science from a social perspective, seeing it as a series of ideas that have changed whole areas of thought, and altered the individual's relationship to society, idea of God, and image of himself. He describes basic aspects of the major breakthroughs and battles in science in terms of their historical context and parallel developments in art, literature, music, politics, and philosophy. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
