Great Scientists

Gr 10 Up—Two- to four-page spreads on each scientist, mathematician, or ancient culture (e.g., the Mayans) compress biography, math, science, and historical context into dense paragraphs of text and calculations. High-school-level physics is a useful but not essential background for the science in Scientists, whereas a solid grounding in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus is necessary to follow the examples and diagrams in Mathematicians. While some words and concepts are defined in context and others in the glossary, the vocabulary is challenging throughout. Numerous unfamiliar terms ("quaternions," "abscissa," "cellular automata") are mentioned without further explanation. Many of the images lack captions, especially in Scientists, and where captions are present they often provide little in the way of explanation; for example, it is left to readers to puzzle out that the numbers 10-14 to 104 refer to wavelength in a diagram of trichromatic theory. Furthermore, the authors set a poor example for researchers by entirely failing to cite their sources, including those for direct quotes. The tone in Scientists is somewhat livelier than the leaden prose of Mathematicians, but the appeal and usefulness to young adults are limited for both books.—Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library