Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments

Johnson, George. The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments.
Random House/Knopf/Anchor/Three Rivers 2009 192p 13.95 978-1-4000-3423-9 hs/adult

New York Times science writer explores and analyzes ten historic experiments. The scientists included Galileo, Harvey, Newton, Lavoisier, Glavani, Faraday, Joule, Michelson, Pavlov, and Millikan. New York Times science writer explores and analyzes ten historic experiments. The scientists include Galileo, Harvey, Newton, Lavoisier, Glavani, Faraday, Joule, Michelson, Pavlov, and Millikan. Each scientist is examined within the historical context of their time. Every chapter focuses on one scientist and experiment and has a picture of the scientist and a pertinent quote at the beginning. Black and white illustrations are placed appropriately throughout the text. Some of the chapters could inspire heated discussions, especially those of Galvani and Pavlov because they deal with vivisection and animal rights. In a final chapter, Johnson also gives thought to what could have been the eleventh experiment and this too could inspire further dialogue. There are extensive notes and bibliography, and an index; the illustrations are credited as well. This book is extremely well researched and is written in an interesting manner. This title will be enticing to the science minded reader; be sure to tell the science teacher about it, too. It would be a recommendation for Tristate Books of Note, except that it is a paperback edition of a 2008 title. T.Weinraub

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