Review by Choice Review
The origin of this work is Chambers Concise Dictionary of Scientists (1989), now out of print. At its original publication some reviewers groused about the limited inclusion of subjects, the length of entries, and what "concise" meant to the authors. Although this edition suffers from some of the same problems, it has been noticeably improved by including 1,300 scientists versus the earlier version's 1,000, and paying special attention to the inclusion of selected pioneer women in science. Although there are no portraits in this edition, illustrations in the form of diagrams, maps, and tables clarify some of the major scientific contributions. A valuable feature is a series of 32 panels that summarize current scientific topics or the history of a discipline. Like the earlier volume, this one includes a chronology and a list of Nobel prizewinners. Not all scientists are treated equally, and the omission of important but personal events is sometimes obvious. A list of sources of data on some of those included would add value to this volume. General readers and lower-division undergraduates. R. J. Havlik emeritus, University of Notre Dame
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
A revision of Chambers Concise Dictionary of Scientists (Cambridge, 1989), this dictionary, like the Larousse Dictionary of Scientists [RBB F 1 95], profiles a limited number of the world's leading scientists, both past and present--Larousse, more than 2,200 scientists; Cambridge, more than 1,300. Fields covered include chemistry, physics, biology, geology, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, meteorology, and technology. Entries focus on the work for which the scientist is best known. They begin with birth and death years, nationality, and profession/specialty; e.g., "Einstein, Albert (pronunciation) (1879-1955) German-Swiss-U.S. theoretical physicist: conceived the theory of relativity." Portraits of the individuals (a feature of Chambers) have been dropped. In some instances, family history, education, work experience, and major publications are described. Most entries are 100 to 200 words in length, but some are a page or two. Although no entries include a bibliography, the preface mentions a few sources that the authors frequently consulted (e.g., Dictionary of Scientific Biography, Ogilvie's Women in Science, and scientific journals such as Nature and Scientific American). More than 30 information boxes with essays on topics such as the entry of women into astronomy, the history of genetics, and AIDS and HIV are interspersed throughout the text and are included in the index. Diagrams, maps, and tables illustrate selected biographies. It is not always clear which biography is being illustrated. This volume concludes with a chronology of major scientific and historical events from c.550 B.C. to 1995 and a list of Nobel Prize winners in the sciences, 1901-95. The list for the physiology and medicine prize is mislabeled "Psychology and Medicine." This dictionary will be a useful quick-identification source suitable for a school or small public library. Larger, more expensive titles, such as Roy Porter's Biographical Dictionary of Scientists (1994), John Daintith's Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists (1994), and Gale's Notable Twentieth-Century Scientists (4v., 1995), are available for further information. (Reviewed November 15, 1996)
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Covering 1300 scientists (including more than 70 pioneering female scientists) from 38 countries, this work builds on the authors' Concise Dictionary of Scientists (Chambers/Cambridge Univ., 1989), now out of print. Older articles have been revised, updated, and expanded for the new edition. Accompanied by numerous illusrations, the biographical entries are well written and seem complete, focusing on scientists in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, meteorology, and technology. Another special feature is found in the 32 panels, which give concise histories of selected subjects ranging from "The Exploration of Space" to "Science and the First World War (1914-1918)" to "Human Inherited Disease and the Human Genome Project." The volume also includes a chronology of science, an index to Nobel prize winners, and a nicely detailed subject index. Recommended for both academic and public library science reference collections.‘Hilary Burton, Lawrence Livermore National Lab., Livermore, Cal. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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