Review by Choice Review
This poetic tribute to "Maury" Shapiro ranges from the photos of him at the Naval Research Lab, to the preface about his life work, to the black hole poem at the end. Shapiro has always been well loved by all at the Naval Research Lab and respected around the world for his research on cosmic rays; the astronomical aspects of X-rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos; and all aspects of cosmology. The editors, both of whom have worked closely with Shapiro, have done a masterful job in selecting contributors (such as Eugene N. Parker, James A. VanAllen and J. A. Simpson on cosmic rays, F. Reines and Vincent Z. Peterson on neutrinos, and David N. Schramm on cosmology), and organizing the book into four parts: the first on research fields noted, and the fourth on Shapiro himself. Silberberg devotes 25 pages to his professional life and publications (eight pages), followed by his informal life story, from birth (1915, in the Near East) to his growing passion for physics while studying with Arthur Compton at the University of Chicago, to his many years of research at NRL, other short wartime jobs, and retirement at the University of Maryland. Each chapter ends with a list of 30 or more references. No index, but ten photos of Maury with other distinguished scientists. Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduate through professional. T. Page; NASA Johnson Space Center
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
