Book Description

"A dazzling journey across the sciences and humanities in search of deep laws to unite them." --The Wall Street Journal

One of our greatest living scientists--and the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for On Human Nature and The Ants--gives us a work of visionary importance that may be the crowning achievement of his career. In Consilience(a word that originally meant "jumping together"), Edward O. Wilson renews the Enlightenment's search for a unified theory of knowledge in disciplines that range from physics to biology, the social sciences and the humanities.

Using the natural sciences as his model, Wilson forges dramatic links between fields. He explores the chemistry of the mind and the genetic bases of culture. He postulates the biological principles underlying works of art from cave-drawings to Lolita. Presenting the latest findings in prose of wonderful clarity and oratorical eloquence, and synthesizing it into a dazzling whole, Consilience is science in the path-clearing traditions of Newton, Einstein, and Richard Feynman. ... Read more

Reviews (123)

Enchanted: Ionian Style
"Ionian Enchantment" the term that refers to the conviction that there is a single theory uniting all of science, that is, that all of science can be explained by a small number of natural laws. Rather than address Wilson's arguments (as this has been quite (over?)done by other reviewers), I'll limit this review to a more mundane, less intellectual, general assessment of this splendid achievement.

In Consilience E. O. Wilson offers us a work of the highest importance and scope, told in the sober yet urgent style characteristic of his writing. Wilson, ever the sage, calmly yet firmly pleads us to realize what our common futures have in store - and recognize what really matters most to all of us - for the sake of our own survival as well as - more importantly - that of our planet. Wilson's style evidences a stunningly large foundation of wisdom from which Wilson draws pearl after pearl.

The book is broken down into twelve chapters. I found the first five wonderfully fascinating ("The Ionian Enchantment," "The Great Branches of Learning," "The Enlightenment," "The Natural Sciences," and "Ariadne's Thread"). The following three quite technical and as such dense ("The Mind," "From Genes to Culture," and "The Fitness of Human Nature"), and the next two quite boring ("The Social Sciences" and "The Arts and Their Interpretation"). Much like the first five, the last two were positively engrossing ("Ethics and Religion" and "To What End?").

In all, the positives of the book (content and style) far outweigh my perceived negatives (density and the very occasional boring subject matter). Consilience, in my opinion, is a must read. Consilience may or may not be a realistic goal (and perhaps a mere fantasy), but, in Wilson's own words, "A united system of knowledge is the surest means of identifying the still unexplored domains of reality." Even if Consilience is but a dream, there can be no serious doubt that striving for its realization furthers the highest goals of scientific discovery.

Challenging and thought provoking!
This book is excellent. The author is interested in encouraging humanity to bring together it's various forms of knowledge and theory in order to build a better world. It's extremely enthusiastic, reflecting a very positive and enlightenment-era perspective. He posits that all studies of science from bioloy to economics to politics is united by a common system of underlying laws whose understanding is within the reach of human reason. He believes that the attainment of this understanding is inevitable and useful. It makes logical sense, and I personally can see examples of it in every day life. Evolutionary biology has explained to us how unplanned, blind changes can result in remarkable complexity. The study of the function of free markets has demonstrated the exact same thing. As individuals pursue their own benefits, desires, and success in a free market economy order emerges out of chaos and growing complexity develops.

One of the most fascinating aspects of his arguments was on human nature and the brain sciences and I read several sections multiple times. The explanation of the differences between empiricists and transcendentalists was in accord with the field of biology, if not theology and provoked instense personal thought on my part. There are obviously much more sophisticated theist apologies out there the author doesn't examine that the reader should. I found it extremely curious that Wilson tends toward Deism after having presented his material and rationale. The idea of a deity that is a conscious person (which Deism implies) seems at odds with his arguments.

Edward O. Wilson is a consumate intellectual and his writing is both challenging and fascinating. You will probably want to read several sections a few times due to both of these qualities. Is he too optimistic on human nature and too enthusiastic for the future? Perhaps. Is he onto something significant? I would say most definitely yes.

Interesting, but Not Persuasive
The thesis of Wilson's book is that DNA and the genome project are the underlying feature of all knowledge, bringing unity or consilience among so-called disparate studies.

For example, in the study of culture: "culture helps to determine which of the prescribing genes survive and multiply from one generation to the next. Successful new genes alter the epigegentic rules of populations. The alter epigenetic rules change the direction and effectiveness of the channels of cultural acquisition."

The social sciences should study genetic populations not individuals, because universal behavior is that which is most persistent and relevant to human behavior. Individual variants, while interesting in themselves, must be variants of universal human behavior in order to be fully understood and known in their relative context. Our knowledge, therefore, is limited to universals, not specifics.

The imaginative arts starts with the real world genetics, claims Wilson, and builds upon it with coherent metaphors that give art and science their vibrance. The creative impulse is the flip side of science that must build itself up with archetypes, themes, and symbols that inspire relaxation and reinforce science's advancements.

Religion is a hold over from centuries of man's evolution, in that, in the wild pre-man had to worry about being killed as well as killing other species. This holdover of genetic dominance and subordination finds its expression in the fear of some mythical beast, in this case of god. Our evolutionary hardwire leads individuals to substitute the myth that some supernatural being exists, even though the logical and positivistic basis for such a dominant being are now rationally debunked.

The book is articulate, provocative, and covers a wide spectrum of ideas, but I didn't find all the arguments particularly persuasive. I thought the argument on the arts more of a meditation on archetypes than an argument of universal knowledge through genetics. The social sciences too was seemingly lame; knowledge as that limited to universals is a throw back to Aristotle. and seems to limit the daunting variety of humankind. The most successful was the religion and ethics; one can easily be ethical without a supreme being handing out punishment and rewards, and belief in god gets people nowhere but false comfort. One thing that irritated me was the lack of specific footnotes for the copious use of others' works; instead they are summarized in notes at the end of the book.

Unity of Knowledge must be empirical AND transcendent
Biologist Edward O. Wilson's "Consilience" earns 4 stars for effort and sincerity. From his epiphany with Darwinism, Wilson carries the reader forward through a revival of rational empiricism ("the rational mind cannot free itself to engage in pure reason" p. 113) toward a unitary understanding of everything.

In doing so, Wilson rejects the longstanding trend of relativism. "Scientists and philosophers have largely abandoned the search for absolute objectivity." ... "I think otherwise and will risk heresy". (p. 60)

In the consilience world view "all tangible phenomena, from the birth of stars to the workings of social institutions, are based on material processes that are ultimately reducible, however long and tortuous the sequences, to the laws of physics." (p. 266) Neither religion with its tribalism, nor philosophy with its confusions, nor the social sciences with their disunity, nor any transcendental appeals are needed to explain the universe.

Wilson believes that biology will eventually explain man fully. Not just physical traits, but psychological and social ones as well: emotions, habit, social behavior, art, the inclination toward religion, and even the process of reason itself; will all be understood through genetics, psychobiology, and the brain sciences. "Religion is instinctive; its sources run deeper than ordinary habit and are in fact hereditary, urged into birth through biases in mental development encoded in the genes." (p. 257)

There is a section where Wilson contrives transcendental arguments to compare to his empirical reasoning. One senses strongly that Wilson is out of his field here.

But there are many valuable elements in the book. For example, Wilson identifies the emerging phenomenon of gene-culture coevolution. Up to the present age, genetics has determined the evolution of human culture. Now human beings are poised to intervene in their own genetic evolution. "Homo sapiens is about to decommission natural selection, the force that made us." (p. 276)

The concluding chapter focuses on the environment and appears out of place. Apparently Wilson wants to highlight man's responsibility in his own survival. He strives to bring the reader back to his beginning theme: "The legacy of the Enlightenment is the belief that entirely on our own we can know, and in knowing, understand, and in understanding, choose wisely." (p. 297) But in the end, the reader is left hanging. What good is faith in consilience if humanity self-destructs for lack of wisdom?

Beneath the pretense of his grandiose idea, Wilson retains an element of humility. He admits that he may be wrong. And yes, he is wrong. A clear reading of "Ethical Values in the Age of Science" http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0521076196/103-1543219-7023851 by Paul Roubiczek (note especially pp. 170-171) reveals the flaws in Wilson's foundations and reasoning. Principal among those flaws: he disregards internal reality and he applies science where it does not apply.

Wilson's motive to find underlying consilience is admirable. His complaints against bad religion, poor philosophy and visionless social sciences are understandable. But a true, coherent understanding of everything must include both the physical realm AND that which transcends it. Wilson's insistence that consilience must be EITHER empirical OR transcendental is wrong.

(...)

". . . oh you mighty gods!"
Wilson's book is labeled "science in the grand visionary tradition of Newton, Einstein, and Feynman." Although the author quickly evangelizes us with a conveniently Wilsonian Einstein ("Ionian to the core"), we would do well to consider that actual tradition of Newton, Einstein, and Feynman. Newton believed, as had Aristotle, that the unity of knowledge is not realized within the disciplines of natural science, but might be approached through First Philosophy and that natural science is, by constitution, wholly human and thus wholly theoretical and tentative. Einstein, like his friend Kurt Gödel being something of a Platonist, believed that there does exist true mystery beyond the grasp of natural science (he saw natural science itself as a spiritual dance with a genuine mystery). Feynman surely fought his own battles with a personal scientism, yet he insisted that "all of the things we say in science, all of the conclusions, are uncertain, because they are only conclusions. They are guesses . . . and you cannot know. . ." Wilson weakly pretends to concur, but his thesis here ultimately pleads that we reject such clear-eyed humility. He has been called Darwin's heir -- fitting in that he has a nineteenth century understanding of what science actually is. (Please read on. . .)
Wilson is a sometimes venerated academian "captured by the dream of unified learning." In 'Consilience', he unfortunately parrots some pompous foolishness. Science is not honestly served by donning rose-colored glasses and crowning itself -- inevitably, if "not yet" -- functionally omniscient (although this idea has a certain popular constituency!). I habitually read science and am fortunate to have several friends who are scientists. My interests often bring me into company with still other scientists. I relate this as foundational to my observation that many scientists have less difficulty accepting the absolutely tentative nature of human knowledge than does Mr. Wilson. Beyond the arrogance concomitant to the general argument of 'Consilience' (i.e., imperialistic institutional "science" IS the omniscient priesthood to whom all unenlightened inferiors will bow in subjection, even if "not yet"), it is rife with internal contradiction and both logical and historical failure. Human science is a human discipline. Humans, including scientists, are innately prone to error, narrowness of thought, constraints imposed by personal beliefs and psychologies, and variously motivated "dreams" (witness Wilson's). Humans, including scientists, are subject to temporal, cultural and industrial influences and pressures. Within these industrial influences we must include those of academia, i.e., the industry of education and its market-entangled paradigms (the author pretends to understand this, but obviously does not). Human science has never been precisely true or whole, nor is there any purely scientific reason to believe that this is possible, read Feynman in this regard, or Whitehead or Schrödinger, or even Wittgenstein whose view of science was essentially opposite Whitehead's. (For contemporary commentary see Paul Davies, Roger Penrose, Thomas Kuhn or, for that matter, nearly any sober physicist.) Human science has historically never gotten to the conclusive "bottom" of ANYTHING (we still don't have a completed theory of gravitation!), nor do we know that, in principle, such a grandiose insight is attainable (even if, at some point, we believe we have attained it). Our presumably most accurate scientific insights (Maxwell's electromagnetic theory or Einstein's energy-matter equation, for example) ask deeper questions. Within material science's own dictums remains that which lies beyond the reach of empirical science, which, for example, will never examine the alleged primordial "quantum void" from which the material world is supposed to have fortuitously sprung. Suppose the 'holy grail' of material reductionism were captured, the fabled Theory of Everything. It would provide a ground for a self-referenced circle of pragmatic "knowledge" -- but the ontological mystery would remain, smiling silently in nearby shadows, whispering to those willing to hear, "and why, oh mighty genius, do you suppose this IS?" Further (and the truth hurts), "science" has rarely been purely beneficial. Science discovered how to harness nuclear energy but doesn't know what to do with the dangerous waste it creates in doing so, nor what to do with the fact that certain humans desire to apply this discovery murderously. Science discovered antibiotics but doesn't know exactly how they can be used wisely rather than foolheartedly (and dangerously). Although few recognize it, bio-engineered food crops increasingly present a related dilemma. Science discovered various insights with which industry and technology-drunk consumers are now scraping holes in the ozone layer. Parroting convenient bombast, Wilson would blame theism (p 268, Consilience, 1999)! Intimating that such things don't really reflect an endemic ignorance within human "knowledge" so much as they provide examples of what science does "not yet" know, highlights a pathological delusion. Wilson's claims here are not grounded in history, in science, or in pure logic, they are classic 'true belief'. Human science is wonderful, yet finally human, and when we humans are most intoxicated with our own genius, we inevitably prove that we are dangerously ignorant jesters.
We have barely scratched the surface of the body of error in this thesis, but I will desist. (Please read Wendell Berry's sagacious rebuttal of Wilson's Consilience.) Yes, science is a highly valuable means of approaching and approximating truth, but belief in "the unity of knowledge" does not logically suggest that human "genius" can ultimately encircle it. The natural domain of pure materialism is natural science, the human interrogation of the material world. The appropriate methodology of natural science is reduction. Virtually no one disagrees on these points. Scientism, unsupported by either natural science or logic, demands that this domain and method equate to the whole of reality and evangelizes this doctrine as the sovereign of all knowledge. Sobriety rejects Wilson's delusions of grandeur, pretensions of benevolent genius, imperialism of denied ignorance.
This book deserves broad critical attention precisely because it is valuable to see how foolish those popularly seen as wise often are, how unscientific an acclaimed scientist can be.

"I see not how certainty can be obtained in any science." - Newton
"We cannot make the mystery go away by 'explaining' how it works." - Feynman ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers comprehensive coverage on all aspects of the botany, cultivation, processing industry, chemistry and uses of Citrus and its oils. Anyone involved in food sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, cosmetics, pharmacy and plant sciences will no doubt find this volume to be of great value and interest. ... Read more

Book Description

This beautifully illustrated glossary constitutes an extraordinary collection of the specialist terms used in many botanical works.The book is arranged in two sections: the glossary, which provides clear definitions for over 2400 of the most commonly used botanical and horticultural terms, and illustrations, which can be cross-referenced to the glossary.The illustrations section comprises over 120 large format pages packed with accurate, well labelled line drawings that complement the definitions.The illustrations are grouped according to specific features, allowing quick comparisons of different forms.This outstanding reference will be welcomed by all readers grappling with botanical terms, whether student, professional, or hobbyist. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fine book on an excellent software
This is a good book describing an excellent free scientific Matlab-like software package available for many computing platforms. It complements well the extensive on-line help of the software and the information available on the Web.

The first three chapters gives a condensed overview of the software. I found the description of the graphics capabilities particularly useful as a reference. The next two chapters describe the use of the software for linear algebra, polynomials, linking to C and FORTRAN, and more advanced aspects. The remaining chapters concern tools and applications mainly of a system oriented nature. The tools are generally of a very high quality and accuracy, but of course slower than in compiled languages.

The book would have been been even more useful if it included more information on how to customize the software and a more comprehensive index. Also, the linking to C and FORTRAN routines does not appear to be completely simple. ... Read more

Book Description

"Science writing offers some wonderful adventures," notes Patrick Young, a former editor of Science News. "I've visited the South pole, stared into a steaming volcano, covered the first human landing on the moon, and dived with an underwater archaeology team investigating an old fur trade route." But as Young readily admits, science writing is, above all, an adventure of the mind. It is in fact probably the most fascinating beat in journalism, spanning everything from new advances in cancer treatment and the depletion of the ozone layer, to dinosaurs, black holes in space, human evolution, animal behavior, and much more besides. What science writers ultimately cover--and convey to the reading public--is the forefront of human knowledge, the leading edge of our understanding of the universe and of ourselves.

Now, in A Field Guide for Science Writers, the official guide of the National Association of Science Writers, budding journalists and veteran reporters have a superb roadmap to this exciting area of journalism. Here some three dozen of the best known science writers in America share their hard-earned knowledge on how they do their job. Boyce Rensberger describes how he covers stories for the Washington Post; two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and New York Times reporter John Noble Wilford outlines the pitfalls and rewards of writing full-length books on scientific topics; NPR's Ira Flatow tells how radio pieces combine ambient sounds, music, voices, and facts to create a mental picture and evoke the feeling of "being there"; and Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Laurie Garrett, author of the best-selling The Coming Plague, discusses how to cover, and survive, a deadly epidemic. Each article brims with detailed, nuts-and-bolts information. For instance, Mary Knudson prints a section of a piece she has published, and then explains point by point how she researched every detail. Victor Cohn provides six tests to help reporters discern between probable facts and probable trash. And Sandra Blakeslee, a freelance writer who reports regularly for the New York Times, discusses covering the field of neuroscience: what you should know, which books give you a good background knowledge, which courses might help, which meetings to attend, which journals to read. In addition, readers will learn how newspaper writing differs from magazine stories, books, and science journals; how to tell a good story, use sources, do investigative reporting, write a solid but interesting op-ed piece or science column; how to translate a highly technical journal article; how to pitch ideas to magazine editors; and how to find ideas. Finally, a superb appendix offers a goldmine of resources for science writers, including both general sources of information as well as sources in fields such as anthropology, earth sciences, the environment, health and medicine, and technology.

A Field Guide for Science Writers gathers together insights and tips, personal stories and lessons of some of America's best-known science writers, men and women who work for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, Newsday, Time Magazine, Science, Science News, National Public Radio, and other eminent news outlets. Filled with wonderful anecdotes and down-to-earth, practical information, it is both illuminating and a pleasure to read. If you want to be a science writer, this book will be your bible. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Field Guides
As a fairly experienced science writer - http://www.sciencebase.com/resume.html - I didn't anticipate learning any news tricks from this book, but it's well worth checking out if your journalistic beat is anything from astronomy to zoology by way of molecular architecture and quantum mechanics

Field Guide for Science Writers who read with a microscope
Was very excited to get reading my new paperback copy of "A Field Guide for Science Writers." However, I could not read it!

The text is size 6 font and the chapter blurbs and excerpts are size 4 sans serif. Would be comical if I hadn't paid $20. Seems like a lot of people worked on this unreadable piece. I suspect the book says "consider your audience" and stuff like that, or maybe it doesn't, I will never know. I read 2 or 3 books a week, so I took a look at the last batch of things I have read to see if I was hallucinating, but alas, this book is the smallest font by about half...

Hope I can get my money back.

Seems a bit lazy to this writer and editor. Would not expect shabby design from a writer's organization.

Maybe the hardback is better?

Handy guide for would-be science writers
The editor's note says that the primary goal of this book is "to help train a new generation of science writers." I think the key word there is "help." One is certainly not ready to go out and be a science writer after reading this slim volume, but then one shouldn't expect to be.

What I think this book does do is to give the reader some idea of what's involved in being a science writer and to provide numerous pointers along the way. This is done in several ways. The first section of the book contains half-a-dozen chapters on the different "homes" of science writers: newspapers, magazines, journals, broadcast media, etc. The second section focuses more on technique: the use of sources, handling statistics, and so on. The third section addresses science writing from a topical perspective: how to write about subjects like biology, astronomy, and technology. And the fourth section has several chapters on being a science writer at various sorts of institutions (universities, government agencies, businesses), rather than for the media.

Each chapter is written by a different person who is an expert in that area. For someone like me who knows his science writers, there are some notable names here: Julie Ann Miller, editor of Science News, has a chapter about writing for trade journals; John Noble Wilford, who covered Project Apollo for the New York Times and wrote the very first book to come out about Apollo 11, addresses writing science books; PBS personality Ira Flatow discusses doing science on television.

The book concludes with an appendix covering useful sources of information, which seems handy. I particularly want to order the chart of the fundamental particles--I've never been able to keep those straight!

So this is a very useful book for someone going into science writing and interesting, too, to anyone who wants to know what's involved in covering science from a journalistic perspective.

Trade secrets galore!
With a foreword by Carl Sagan, this book is a treasure of "how to" information by the best writers in many fields of science writing. ... Read more

Book Description

Extensively updated and revised, this outstanding reference remains the definitive scientific resource for both academic and professional environments

Van Nostrand’s Scientific Encyclopedia has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the most important comprehensive general scientific references available. Substantially revised to cover the many developments since the Eight Edition in 1994, this Ninth Edition ranges across all scientific disciplines as well as many areas of engineering and technology.

Topics covered include animal science, anatomy, astronomy, atmospheric science, chemistry, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, earth science, energy sources, information science, life science, materials, mathematics, mechanical engineering, medicine, mining, physics, physiology, planetary science, plant science, power technology, space science, structural engineering, and a host of other subjects.

Existing material has been extensively revised for this new edition, and numerous new articles bring the Encyclopedia up-to-date on the latest developments and state-of-the-art knowledge in every discipline. An expanded subject index makes information easier to find. An extensive revision program makes this series an important addition to personal as well as institutional libraries in both academic and industrial settings. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great reference but poor value
There are three classes of science & technology encyclopedias currently available. The best and most comprehensive one, by far, is the 20+ volume 15,600 page McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology-it's in a class by itself but it will cost [quite a bit]. The next class of science & tech encyclopedias are what you might call the mammoth 2-hand desktops. There are only two in this class, Von Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia and the McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science & Technology. The next class of science & tech encyclopedias are the smaller 1-hand desktops of which there are many. After looking at them all and buying several, I've come to the conclusion that the two mammoth desktop encyclopedias are the most useful and the best value. The 20+ volume McGraw-Hill would certainly be nice to have, but if you're the average non-scientist college-educated layman it's too expensive (you could buy a top of the line PowerMac G4 computer for that price) for an encyclopedia whose scientific content will be obsolete in a few short years until McGraw-Hill follows Britannica and makes it available on affordable CDs or online. On the other hand, the smaller more affordable desktop 'encyclopedias' are really misnamed dictionaries given their tremendously broad scope and relatively short length, making them virtually useless (except for James Trefil's excellent Encyclopedia of Science and Technology). That leaves the two mammoth desktop encyclopedias in the middle; they're the best values: large enough to be truly useful, yet small enough to be affordable. Comparing these two qualitatively, they're both authoritative, scholarly, and top-notch. I read each of the encyclopedia's articles on data, information, and computer technology (an admittedly small sample of the enormous content of each). I found the Concise McGraw-Hill to be much more useful. The larger Von Nostrand had more information on these subjects, but it was of such a technical nature that only IT specialists with a heavy mathematics background could understand it. That's great for other professors (who probably wouldn't be consulting a desktop encyclopedia for help in their field anyway) but not very helpful to non-specialists. In other words, as a college-educated liberal arts generalist I learned more from the content of the Concise McGraw-Hill. Comparing them quantitatively in terms of their value, the Concise McGraw-Hill is also a much better value. Von Nostrand's 4192 page encyc. [is costly] while the 2318 page Concise McGraw-Hill goes for [cheaper]. For the price of Von Nostrand's you can purchase the Concise McGraw-Hill and Trefil's smaller but excellent work and still have [money] to spare. Until McGraw-Hill and/or Von Nostrand's delivers their content in more economical and accessible forms the printed Concise McGraw-Hill is the best value available (December 2002).

The Best General Reference in Science Sees an Innovative 9th
VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, 9th Edition edited by Glenn D. Considine and Peter H. Kulik (Wiley-Interscience)Chronicals significant scientific advancements with special attention to Life-Biosciences; Chemistry; Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Energy Sources and Power Technology; Mathematics and Engineering Sciences; Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology; Physics; Plant Sciences; Space and Planetary Sciences
Continuing a proud tradition of excellence that dates back nearly seven decades to the First Edition, published in 1938, VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA now finds itself in the Information Age. Born before the Atomic Age and updated at intervals ever since, the book now finds itself in the Information Age, and much has changed. Indeed, so much has changed for this edition that, in answer to the first question of what is new, we might just as well ask: What isn't new?
With frequent, extensive revisions, this work has kept speed with advances in science throughout the 20th century and now the tradition continues into the 21st century with this landmark Ninth Edition. A concise, extensive, and accessible resource, VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA remains a reference work that contains comprehensive coverage of all areas of science including engineering, mathematics, and medicine.
Much of the existing material has been extensively revised, with new or completely rewritten articles in emerging technologies like genetics engineering and cloning, bioprocess engineering, astrobiology and the universe, artificial intelligence, AIDS and STDs, global warming, computer science and the Internet, and flat panel display technology. Each topic is discussed progressively, beginning with a simple definition expressed in plain terms, developing into a more detailed treatment, and augmented by additional reading suggestions containing both updated print and Internet references. Topics covered in VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA include animal science, anatomy, astronomy, atmospheric science, chemistry, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, earth science, energy sources, information science, life science, materials, mechanical engineering, medicine, mining, physics, physiology, planetary science, structural engineering, and a host of other subjects.
The essence of VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA is enduring summary research, and it remains a fine, concise, comprehensive, and accessible general science work. Its intellectual scope ranges from the introductory to the highly technical in a vast and ever‑expanding array of topical coverage in the sciences, engineering, mathematics, medicine, and more. As has long been the case, the editors have designed the book to be approachable by students of many ages. An important feature continued in this work, therefore, is the progressive development of the discussion of each topic, beginning with a simple definition expressed in plain terms, developing into a more detailed treatment, and augmented by often‑extensive Additional Reading suggestions.Contemporary readers can now turn to VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA for information about how their daily lives are increasingly affected by the sophistication of today's science and the complexity of modern technology. They will be reminded that knowledge and discovery exist in a continuum, and that often, but not always, what is new depends entirely on what came before.
It is obvious to the editors we have entered a new Age of Discovery, as witnessed by the scores of new entries on topics that were in their nascent stages in 1994 with the 8th edition. The 9th Edition features entirely new or completely rewritten home articles or whole families of articles on the full array of topical coverage, including but by no means limited to: Genetics, Engineering, Human Genome Project (The), and Cloning; Bioprocess Engineering (Biotechnology); Space Shuttle, Space Stations, Spacecraft Missions, Satellites (Communications and Navigation), Cosmology, X‑ray Astronomy (family of articles), Astrobiology and The Universe; Artificial Intelligence (family of articles); Medicine, Diseases, Vaccines, Vision (family of articles), AIDS, and STDs; Climate, Global Warming, and Acid Rain; Gerontology and Biochemical Theories of Aging; Computer Sciences and The Internet; and Flat Panel Display Technology (family of articles).
Next the suggested readings at the end of articles now contain both updated print and Internet references. One has only to engage a typical search engine, on any server, on a large topic, say Artificial Intelligence, to realize the value of these sources. Instead of beginning with "hits" that number in the thousands, VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA readers will have the luxury of having much of the culling already done for them, as they will be offered good "first places" to go for more information. These thousands of references throughout the Ninth Edition will, one hopes, provide a bridge to further and deeper knowledge on literally scores of topics.
New to this edition, editors have added detailed Time Lines and Glossaries to some of the large home articles (Bioprocess Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Vision and the Eye, Optical Fiber Systems, The Internet and many others) to offer "at a glance" information and historical perspective. Finally, the editors have added brief biographies of scores of scientists whose work is alluded to in the text of the book. A history of their times is not complete without mention of their works. Science is history.
A statistical summary of the Ninth Edition would include (1) more than 8,000 entries; (2) more than 9,000 cross­references for convenient retrieval of information; (3) an alphabetical index with more than 19,500 lines; and (4) 4,378 diagrams, graphs and photographs, and in excess of 550 tables. The interior references in the book, where one article refers to another article that offers augmented or corollary coverage, and the visual aids, as well as the index, have been entirely overhauled; this will result in much greater ease in "navigating" the book.It is the best place to begin with encompassing the vast innovations of the science at the beginning of the 21st century. VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA is the best reference for initial consultation and orientation. REPRESENTATIVE TOPICAL COVERAGE:
ANIMAL LIFE: Amphibians, Annelida, Arthropods, Birds, Coelenterates, Echinoderms, Fishes, Insects, Mammals, Mesozoa, Mollusks, Paleontology, Protozoa, Reptiles, Rotifers, Zoology
BIOSCIENCES: Amino Acids, Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biology, Biophysics, Cytology, Enzymes, Fermentation, Genetics, Hormones, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Proteins, Recombinant DNA, Viruses, Vitamins
CHEMISTRY: Acids and Bases, Catalysts, Chemical Elements, Colloid Systems, Corrosion, Crystals, Electrochemistry, Free Radicals, Inorganic Chemistry, Ions, Macromolecular Science, Organic Chemistry, Oxidation‑Reduction, Photochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Solutions and Saltes
EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES: Climatology, Ecology, Geochemistry, Geodynamics, Geology, Geophysics, Hydrology, Meteorology, Oceanography, Tectonics, Seismology, Volcanology
ENERGY SOURCES AND POWER TECHNOLOGY: Batteries, Biomass and Wastes, Coal, Combustion, Electric Power, Geothermal Energy, Hydroelectric Power, Natural Gas, Nuclear Energy, Ocean Energy, Resources, Petroleum, Solar Energy, Steam Generation, Tidal Energy, Turbines, Wind Power
MATHEMATICS AND INFORMATION SCIENCES: Automatic Control, Communications, Computing Data Processing, Measurements, Navigation and Guidance, Statistics, Units and Standards
MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Glass and Ceramics, Laser Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Mining, Microelectronics, Plastics and Fibers, Process Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation
MEDICINE, ANATOMY, AND PHYSIOLOGY: Brain and Nervous System, Cancer and Oncology, Cardiovascular System, Chemotherapy, Dermatology, Diagnostics, Digestive System, Endocrine System, Genetic Disorders, Gerontology, Hematology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Kidney and Urinary Tract, Mental Illness, Muscular System, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology/Dental, Parasitology, Pharmacology, Reproductive System, Respiratory System, Rheumatology, Skeletal System
PHYSICS: Atoms and Molecules, Electricity, Electronics, Fluid State, Gravitation. Magnetism. Mechanics. Motion. Optics, Radiation, Solid State, Sound, Subatomic Particles, Surfaces, Theoretical Physics, Waves
PLANT SCIENCES: Agriculture, Algae, Botany, Diseases and Pests, Fruits, Fungi, Growth Modifiers, Nutritional Values, Plant Breeding, Seeds and Germ Plasm, Trees, Yeasts and Molds
SPACE AND PLANETARY SCIENCES: Astrochemistry, Astrodynamics, Astronautics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology, Probes and Satellites, Solar Systems ... Read more

Reviews (4)

wonderful for chiropractic students/doctors
Dr. Hammer is a great writer. He doesn't ignore the subluxation complex as in some texts supposenly related to chiropractic. Dr. Hammer shows how soft tissue injury is related to the subluxation. When I took the national boards of chiropractic, I used this book as one of my references for Part II section--Chiropractic Practice, and also for Part III. Little advice for taking the boards, get Souza's book, Differential Diagnosis for the Chiropractor. Also, Patrick Leonardi's study guides, National Board of Chiropractic Part II Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers, National Board of Chiropractic Part III Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations
These study guides have questions that were excellent because they were the kind encountered on the exams. Also souza's book was very helpful for chiropractic practice and Part III. Dr. Warren's book was also on the mark for Chiropractic Practice section of part II.

Functional Soft Tissue Examination and Treatment by Manual M
As an athletic trainer at a large high school in Pennsylvania, I found this book very helpful in every day treatment of various ailments my athletes complained of. Although the process can be complex, the soft tissue treatments are very helpful and this book I have found to be a very valuable asset.

INCREDIBLE BOOK!
Dr. Hammer has done a marvelous job in describing and picturing the soft tissue component of the subluxation complex. As a Chiropractor, this book has been invaluable to me AND the patients who have benefitted from the knowledge I have gained from Dr. Hammer. THANK YOU, DR. HAMMER!

A must book for anyone interested in manual medicine.
Hi, I'm the author, Dr. Warren I. Hammer, DC,MS. The real reason for entering this arena is to announce to Amazon that the 2nd. edition of this text is now available. The new text is twice the size of the first and filled with the latest information about examining soft tissue and treating by soft tissue methods. ... Read more

Book Description

Intended for those who train and handle cadaver dogs, this book also encompasses information for those who work closely with them, such as police, death investigators, and anthropologists. Its interdisciplinary approach is useful to any member of a forensic team who regularly participates in or evaluates the results of the human remains search effort. Cadaver Dog Handbook is organized so that forensic specialists who are not themselves dog handlers will be able to access information about search techniques, contexts and documentation. Conversely, individuals interested primarily in training and handling will be able to focus on chapters devoted specifically to these subjects or expand their expertise to include more of the forensic framework. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Best Reference Book Out There
I found this handbook well written, organized and thorough. A must have for anyone interested or involved in this specialized field of cadaver dog handlers.

Great information and an easy read to boot....
For the starting cadaver dog handler this book is a must. I recommend it to all my students. It does an excellent job of detailing the scent imprinting training, establishing a readable alert and the advancement of training. Not only does it cover the handling and training of the dog but discusses in depth the handlers responsibilities and information useful to any agency wishing to deploy the cadaver dog. Excellent information in a basic readable form. Not much experience in scent work needed prior to implementing these techniques. A wealth of information. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Take it easy: that's Michio Kaku's motto. Given the extraordinary advances science has thrown up in time for the millennium, the only way you could possibly fit them into a single volume is by a correspondingly massive simplification.

Subtitled How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century and Beyond, Visions assumes that, by and large, scientists get to do whatever they like, that all technologies are consumer technologies, and that consumers welcome anything and everything science throws at them. Kaku gets away with this frankly dodgy strategy by dint of sheer hard work. He has based his predictions on interviews with more than 150 renowned working scientists; he integrates these interviews with a huge body of original journalistic material; and, above all, he roots that mass of information on an entirely reasonable model of what the purpose of science will be in the third millennium. Up until now, science has expended its efforts on decoding most of the fundamental natural processes--"the dance," as Kaku puts it, of elementary particles deep inside stars and the rhythms of DNA molecules coiling and uncoiling within our bodies. Science's task now, Kaku believes, is to cross-pollinate advances thrown up by the study of matter, biology, and mind--modern science's three main theaters of endeavor. "We are now making the transition from amateur chess players to grand masters," he writes, "from observers to choreographers of nature." Then again, he also believes that "the Internet ... will eventually become a 'Magic Mirror' that appears in fairy tales, able to speak with the wisdom of the human race." Kaku, in short, deserves a good slapping--but he also deserves to be read. --Simon Ings, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (49)

a whirlwind tour of tomorrow's breathtaking technologies
In "Visions," theoretical physicist Kaku describes the boundless new technologies that will become available in the next hundred years and beyond, in three general areas: computers and information technology, biotechnology, and fundamental physics. The ideas presented are based on extensive consultation with experts in a variety of fields, and are thrilling prospects that are as well grounded in current authority as might be expected in the dicey business of predicting the future flow of technological progress.

The predictions on information technology detail ever more free-flowing information outlets and ubiquitous computerized devices. The predictions of biotechnology are perhaps the most exciting, offering a wide look at how much more advanced medicine will soon become in diagnosing and preventing cancers and other critical diseases years earlier than is possible now. Kaku describes how this will come about from the increasing understanding of the human genome and the application of electronic and information technology to biotechnology. Curiously, the third section, on fundamental physics, which actually is Kaku's area of expertise, seems the least imaginative and the most rushed. It's hard to give anything more than a cursory glance in going from coverage of current-day projects to considering warp drives, alien intelligences, and alternate universes in under 100 pages. This is made worse when Kaku stops firmly in the present to criticize nuclear power plants and the International Space Station.

Overall, it's an authoritatively speculative look at these three areas of technological promise, although the format is a little strained. If you are unfamiliar with all of these areas and want a brief introduction to each, this is an ideal place to look. Despite Kaku's misgivings about a few technological choices, he is an effective evangelist for the faith in human understanding.

A Physicist Looks at the Future
Superstring physicist Michio Kaku turns his eyes to the future, and sees many bright developments in the 21st century. What is really remarkable about this book is Kaku's ability to explain in a clear way how the Quantum revolution of the turn of the previous century has dramatically effected, or perhaps invented, the three great revolutions of the 20th century: computers, biotechnology, and quantum physics. Kaku is especially good in outlining his reasons for his view of the future; and gives pretty reasonable timelines for the achievement of certain goals. The book is easy for a layperson to read and understand, and gives a good overview of scientific development. Well worth reading, at times profound.

Quite a payload of food for thought
The intriguing and "user friendly" personality that brought you Hyperspace (Michio Kaku) returns with a heavyweight in revolutionary scientific information. This book will leave you dizzy with concrete facts as well as potential possibilities throughout different areas of biology, technology, and physics. Geniously organized, this book begins by summarizing the different areas of science and their cross-influences, then opens up a whole new world in each respective subject. From artificial intelligence to genetics and (of course) a touch of quantum physics, this book will bring the tingling excitement of a fantastical future realistically close. With insights on economic growth and influences on society, this book shows that world of science fiction luxury and awe is not so far off at all. A great way to broaden your perspectives in one handy book.

Informative
I hate futuristic books. I don't like raw speculation. So this book, given to me as a gift, surprised me. Written by a reputable high energy physicist who's taken the trouble to understand details of ideas far afield from his own, the book is a gem, written like a scientific novel. In place of futuristic speculation we're presented with well-established ideas in highly readable form. The chapters on DNA and Cancer alone make the book worth reading. Other recommended, very readable, books providing more detail are "One Renegade Cell" and "Genome".

An irritation: the author shoots half-heartedly from the hip against reductionism on pp. 10-12. The problem is that there is no falsifiable alternative to reductionism, or the isolation of cause and effect. So-called holism is a vague, not mathematically formulable notion. Holism in biology remains an empty hope. Schrödinger explained in "What is Life" why evolution can only be understood at the molecular scale and never at the macroscopic scale. Every mathematical model that succeeds empirically is a form of reductionism. Quantum physics (including all of chemistry) reduces phenomena to atoms and molecules, cell biology reduces phenomena largely to genes and proteins, SOC (self organized criticality) hopes to reduce nature to sand grains and sandpiles, network enthusiasts hope to reduce phenomena to nodes and links (wait until they try to do dynamics empirically correctly...). Economics (beyond finance) so far has failed as scientific theory because it cannot find any suitable "invariant units" to build a theory on, human preferences having failed to do the job. Computerization and advances in biology (all via reductionism, by the way) do not and cannot change these facts. Let me state this challenge to the author and to other critics of reductionism: present us with something nonreductionist that is empirically correct. Until then, be pleased to restrain yourselves from purely speculative and totally unproductive criticism of science.

A brilliant and thought-provoking celebration of knowledge
Visions is a brilliant journey into the world of tomorrow. It is full of informative and thought-provoking questions.

Visions raises points regarding the human craving for knowledge and technology, and the irreducible chaos that we may encounter in the future because of our manipulation of the planet and our bodies.

His writing again comes about lively and envigorating. His thoughts and explanation of issues are balanced and allow the reader to dwell deep into complex matters without him or her requiring a doctorate in the sciences.

This is another wonderful and excellent book that our Dr. Kaku has developed. Bravo! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Here's a science dictionary worth poring over for hours. The concise, well-written text and amazing photos and drawings in The Ultimate Visual Dictionary of Science provide an overview of science, from physics to biology, astronomy to mathematics--nine major fields in all. Within the larger sections, each fairly broad subtopic (such as "Reptiles," "Catalysts," and "Medical Imaging") gets a two-page spread. A brief beginning section introduces science as a concept and the work of scientists, while a useful section in the back bolsters the dictionary material with tables of measurements and data. The real strength of a visual dictionary is its images, and this one doesn't disappoint. The illustrations, including intricate cross sections, explanatory diagrams, and fascinating photos, are topnotch. This edition is up-to-date, with information on computer networks and mammalian cloning--a great family science reference. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent Reference for Kids and Adults
I purchased this book for my 4 year old son who keeps asking lots of questions. While the book may be a bit advanced and he is just learning to read, he enjoys my explaining the various topics within. This books is not for kids only and is an excellent reference to have in the home as adults can gain as much from this excellent reference. Also a great book and companion volume is the Ultimate Visual Dictionary. DK books really puts out great books and this one is tops on my list.

Excellent Resource!
A superb resource for children and adults! Excellent photos, experiment descriptions, and drawings. Covers every major science field. I use it to learn about new areas and to refresh my college level subjects such as physics and chemistry. It is simple enough for children, but includes advanced information, such as physics formulas, that makes it wonderful for adults as well. I can't say enough good things about this book!

Incredible!
I bought this for my nephew, and was so interested by it I spent half the night reading it!

My wife finaly started looking through it and liked it so much she wanted it for Christmas for herself!

It covers anatomy, biology, chemstry, earth science, physics, astronomy, computers & electronics - and much more - everything!!

This Book Will Make You Smarter
If you have read my other reviews you know I don't give out five stars very readily. This is a five-star book.

There are about 170 two-page, profusely illustrated spreads that give you the basic background on practically every topic in modern science.

Read one of these two-page spreads every other day. It will take you ten minutes or so. In less than a year you will be dramatically better informed about science. There isn't a more pleasant way to get so much smarter, so quickly.

This is a book every home should have.

Exquisite reference.
The "Ultimate Visual Dictionary of Science" may well be just that. For this exquisite reference brims with 1,600 color photos, 200 illustrations, and 15,000 completely accessible terms. This mammoth work covers everything from Physics and Chemistry to Ecology and Computer Science, and it "allows you to browse the thematic sections at your leisure or to use it as a quick-reference visual dictionary." Everyone will have a favorite section. I particularly enjoyed the Earth Sciences, with its stunningly-clear iilustrations of coastlines and the ocean floor. And in the Astronomy and Astrophysics chapter, you'll find remarkable slice-away graphics that show, say, the planet Jupiter, with its hydrogen and helium atmosphere covering not a rocky surface, but a mantle of liquid hydrogen and helium! The book's layout is superb. Indeed, every page dazzles with a wealth of color and information. This is a must-purchase. ... Read more

Book Description

Although during the last sixty years philology has attained a high degree of development, looking at the literature available, Etymology appears only to have reached the level of philology at the turn of the century. This dictionary is the first major work of its kind in the 20th century, and as such, embodies the findings of modern philological scholarship. For example, full reference is made to Tocharian, the extinct language rediscovered at the end of the Nineteenth Century which often provides the key to the important transition form between the Old-Indian and the Indo-European group of languages to which English belongs. Several hundred words previously defined as being "of unknown etymology" are fully analyzed. The etymology of words of Semitic origin in the English language is given, the transliteration of Semitic words is based on a concept which renders exactly every consonant, vowel and diacritical sign. Hybrids are not only referred ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fine reference but a bit pricey...
Dr. Klein's work is indeed the product of a real scholar and is a most useful etymology. The book is well-bound (signature-sewn) with a bonded-leather hardcover. The entries are incisive and many provide information not found in other such tomes.

However, I feel that the price is very, very steep compared to such top-rate etymologies as Chambers, etc.

The book is definitely worthwhile to own, if you can stretch your book-buying budget enough (mine cried "ouch", but I bought it anyway). Well, we are on this earth only once, I suppose. =)

The Finest English Language Etymological Dictionary
About 30 years ago I visited the late Dr Klein at his Synagogue in Toronto where he translated some historical documents for me. I was very impressed by his ability to identify and interpret the nuances of meaning within the historical context, and also of his profound understanding of linguistics. Dr Klein possessed a quiet unassuming brilliance that shines through on every page of this dictionary. This Dictionary is an exhaustive and detailed etymology, with scholarship unrivalled in English. Consider Dr. Klein's potential competitors for best English language etymology: IMHO, they are Barnhardt's Etymology (aka the new Chalmers D of E), Onion's Oxford Etymology, Weekley's Concise and a number of engaging shorter etymologies by Room, Hendrickson, Ayto and Morris. Each of the competing etymologies approaches the task of creating a concise English language etymology from very different perspectives. So, as a consumer searching for the best work you should first consider what specific etymological requirements you have. (For example, the Barnhardt/Chalmers is unsurpassed with its treatment of American English. In contrast, the Onion Oxford extracts etymology from the OED and provides a chronology of development whereas Morris and Ayto provide considerably smaller though more approachable word list, etc). NOW, if you are wondering what makes KLEIN's etymology the best for all purposes, here's my take. First, consider Dr Klein's perspective. He states that he is dealing "with the origin of words and their sense development thus illustrating the history of civilization and culture". A lofty vision that Klein achieves with ease. Second, Klein's work exhibits the absolute highest level of scholarship and academic focus. Third, his dictionary provides a comprehensive history of the evolution of over 55,000 words, thereby making it the most exhaustive English language etymology available. Fourth, each word is fully developed from their root in the Proto-Indo European hypothetical language (or Tocharian, Semitic, and other sui genris sources) to current modern English usage. Fifth, to the best of my knowledge, Dr Klein's work is the only comprehensive etymology that analyzes common first names, biblical and mythological characters, angels, saints and demons, and place names. Finally, Klein's work also provides thousands of medical, legal and scientific terms, as well as all roots and stems used to create compound English words. Though this is an expensive book, the 7th impression (released in 2000) is beautifully and solidly bound, with legible though small type, and printed on high quality acid free paper. If you plan on buying only one etymology, then this is definitely the one to get - I haven't used any of my others since this arrived a couple months ago.

A 'must have' for anybody interested in the English Language
Extremely well researched etymology, probably the best available still today. ... Read more

Book Description

* The most widely used science reference of its kind

* More than 7,000 concise articles covering more than 90 disciplines of science and technology, all in one volume

* Based on the content of the world-respected McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 9th Edition

* More than 1600 two-color illustrations

* Features numerous cross-referenences, an extensive index, and bibliographies

* Appendix with biographical listings of important scientists, listings of scientific symbols and units, mathematical notations, fundamental concepts, and more

* Extensively updated with 1500 new and rewritten articles

* Includes coverage of the hottest areas of science and technology, including biomedical science, chemistry, cosmology, information science, environmental science, nanotechnology, and theoretical physics ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fair's Fair
The comment in the previous review about thermal radiation and heat radiation is fair enough, but I feel the reviewer is being unfair in other respects. The reason why there is no "See.." in the main text is because there is a very good index at the back! For instance under Carbon in the index, there is a page reference to radiocarbon dating. OK, there is no mention of carbon dating, so you would have to see radiocarbon dating, but you only have to scan a few lines of the index under the main entry on Carbon to find it. The comment about atomic energy is (unintentionally) misleading. Sure, the entry on atomic energy is very short, but there is a fair-sized entry on nuclear power and there is a cross-reference from atomic energy. Although the entry on nuclear energy is rather shorter than the two entries on oil and gas exploitation (a more relevant comparision than black pepper), it is backed up another fair-sized entry on nuclear reactors. I do think McGraw-Hill have made a decent effort to create an affordable science encyclopedia. (This refers to the 3rd edition, but I imagine the 4th edition is very similar).

A great deal of info, poorly organized, wrong proportions
This book contains an enormous amount of information. However, there are two major problems. 1. It is often hard to find what you are looking for if you aren't using the same terminology they are. For instance, I looked for "Carbon dating", and it isn't listed - either in the text or the index. It is under "radiocarbon dating". There is no "carbon dating - see radiocarbon dating". I looked for "thermal radiation" and it wasn't there. It was under "heat radiation", again with no "see ...". In fact, there are no "see ..." anywhere. 2. The book claims that the material is given space according to its importance. "Atomic energy" gets 6 lines (2 sentences). I flipped to a random page, and "black pepper" gets more than twice as many lines, and "blackberry" gets 3 times as many lines. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The Perfect Book for Vector Calculus
After you've learned calculus from a book like Stewart's, this is the definite next step. It includes lots of proofs for most of the theorems. I love the way the textbook is organized. And all the explanations are incredibly clear. The choice of notation makes all the formulas a lot clearer than in other books. Although I am not as big a fan of math as I am of physics, I must say that I really enjoyed reading this book a lot, and believe you will too. This book seriously makes advanced calculus incredibly fun!

Better proofs and clearer explanations are needed
When I was a second-year math student, I found that "Vector Calculus" needed to provide students with clearer and more rigorous explanations and proofs of theorems. Too many statements were expected to be belived on face value. Specifically, I found no intuitive justification for the Jacobian Matrix anywhere in the book, nor any hint of a proof or explanation of its origins. Students will take to this already-challenging subject more if theorems are rigorously proved. This way they feel they're being treated like mathematicians instead of idiots. Moreover, the subject of multivariate calculus would feel like mathematics instead of a course in vocabulary memorization.

Not a good intro.
While some of my peers deem "Vector Calculus" to be a fine integration of theory and practice, I'd have to COMPLETELY disagree. From a teaching stand point, it is one of the worst texts out there (at least for a first course). At my university, some of the instructors have tried to use it as the text for the second half of a four quarter calculus sequence. This attempt has met with terrible failure, in my opinion. Most of my students (math majors and engineering students) found the book difficult and perplexing with few examples that pertained to the material they were required to learn. Luckily, the professor for my course was very good at conveying the ideas present without alluding to the text; nevertheless, I spent countless hours in discussion helping my students understand material that most standard texts would have clearly elucidated for them. In fact, at numerous points, the text becomes so involved with its own pedagogy that it neglects to delinate between important, must-know theorems and simply interesting facts.

In addition, only the very first exercises in a given section are useful for most students. A number of the later questions become interesting problems in some upper div. class, but have no bearing on the course at hand. Quite a few of them are not difficult but require "tricks" which often discourage the students by giving them the impression that they don't get the material simply because they couldn't come up with the solutions to these extraneous questions.

I would strongly recommend Stewart's text (for those of you on the West Coast) and Salas and Hille's text (for those of you in the Southwest).

Prehaps, Marsden's text would be o.k. for a more advanced course on vector calc. or as a go-between supplement for a more rigorous text.

Relatively weak as a standard textbook on vector calculus
I am well aware of the usefulness of these reviews in determining the applicability of a book for self-study; so let me address this quickly. This has got to be the worst vector calculus book available if you're looking to study the subject on your own!!! This book is frustrating and dry; please consider other self-study options!

Unfortunately, most people who use this text are required to for a class, and for whatever reason, this book has become somewhat of a standard at many universities. I used this book a while back in a Vector Calculus class at UT Austin, and I was largely disappointed by its contents.

First of all, the author of the book is dry and completely uninspiring. That's not to say that people read calculus books like novels, but the author presents the material from a strictly technical and theoretical perspective. Further adding to its blandness, the author (or the publisher) has opted for the cost-effective choice of using no color in the book. The graphs and figures are confused and lacking - often difficult to understand.

Now, the obvious rebuttal to my accusations will come from purists (hardcore math majors). I am, myself, a math (and physics) major, and though I am not saying that this text is completely inaccessible, I have to say that the author wrote this book wholly without imagination or sincerity. There is no emphasis on vector calculus' usefulness to applied mathematical sciences or other areas of math (if I do recall, though, a bit is addressed in association with integral theorems).

The only reason I give this book two stars is that the later parts of the book offer a peak at more advanced topics in geometry.

Last, and perhaps most inexcusable, the book requires an errata as a full supplement (I'm not exaggerating). This book is littered with errors, and not just grammatical typos! I suffered a couple of times on assignments due to incorrect formulas in the book. For example, the edition of the book I used gave the incorrect formula for the second derivative test! Now come on, they're actually charging people for this!!!

Worst Calculus book!!!
This is the most horrid book I have ever seen on the subject of Caclulus. Having taught from this book this semester, I can say it has over-simple examples, but NEVER EVER seems to give examples of how to work problems beyond the first one or two(and sometimes not even that). Really, if you use this book, you are doing your students a considerable disservice, and should be fired. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Lakes Handbook
This book is the first of a two part series, edited by P. E. O'Sullivan of the School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth and C. S. Reynolds of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Windermere. The purpose of the book is "to provide a sort of turn-of-the-century progress report, which brings together the most recent perspectives on the interactions among the properties of water, the distinguishing features of individual basins and the dynamic interactions with their biota". The immediate inspiration for this book came from the Rivers Handbook, and it has attempted to follow the same organisational structure.

The objective of the book was to provide a point of reference for students and professionals alike, to provide a contemporary and accurate reflection of current understanding about lakes and lake ecosystem function. Overall, the book does provide a complete comprehensive account of the different physical and chemical natures of lakes worldwide. With 18 sections to the book, it contains extensive information that is kept concise throughout the content. The sections are sub divided into logical categories, and are not overloaded in each division in most sections. The quantity of helpful and clear conceptual diagrams and tables help to illustrate and explain the text. They are appropriately linked to the topic of the chapter and they assist in breaking up pages into more manageable reading. The extent of the references available at the end of each section makes it easy for the reader to identify further reading quickly and accurately. Because of the assortment of specialist writers contributing to the book, the sections differ in their coverage and complexity of the section subject and in their ease of reading. The book takes a general look at a thorough range of topics, whilst managing to be specialised at the divisions.

The book ranges in its content, and although some chapters would be a nice read for the beginner, I think the book would be ideally suited to professionals and advanced students who already have a background understanding and that are familiar with some aspect of lake ecology, and wish to build upon that knowledge to a more advanced level. The presence of chapters slightly more complex in the explanations, especially those chapters working through complex mathematical equations makes parts of the book quite hard going at times. A novice could be easily distracted by sophisticated and complex descriptive terminology in some chapters.

Conclusion
This is a well-structured and highly informative book, although on the whole slightly advanced for the beginner in lake ecology. For a more sophisticated learner, this is a nice concise book, with manageable chapters in a variety of specialist subject areas. The book, written by highly