Makers of Modern Science. Volume 9, Linus Pauling: Scientist and Advocate (Newton, David E.)
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380 Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 74 No. 4 April 1997 Chemical Education T oday Makers of Modern Science. V olume 9, Linus Pauling: Scientist and Advocate David E. Newton. Facts on File: New York, 1994. 136 pp. Figs. and photos. 15.0 × 22.6 cm. $16.95 Makers of Modern Science, a series of biographies (available on standing order at a 20% discount), explores the lives and achievements of scientists who have made the greatest contributions to human knowledge during the 19th and 20th centuries. Each scientist’s achievements, includ- ing underlying scientific principles, are discussed simply and clearly and are free of technical jargon. Drawing on pri- mary sources such as diaries, memoirs, letters, and contem- porary news stories, as well as secondary sources, each vol- ume depicts the human drama of scientific work, the ex- citement and frustration of research, and the exhilaration and rewards of discovery. Each book, which includes black- and-white photographs, diagrams, an annotated bibliogra- phy, and a detailed index, contains a final chapter summa- rizing the legacy of the scientist’s achievements. This ninth and latest book in the series, completed shortly before Pauling’s death (August 19, 1994, at the age of 93) and therefore completely up to date, profiles the life and work of the only person to receive two unshared Nobel prizes. The author, a chemist and science educator, dis- cusses the childhood, education, personal life, and multifac- eted activities of this controversial scientist, pacifist, hu- manitarian, and health proponent. Virtually every aspect of Pauling's career—his application of one science (physics) to elucidate another (chemistry) and his pioneering work on crystallography, quantum mechanics, mineralogy, anes- thesia, electronegativity, molecular biology, orthomolecular medicine (a term that he coined), immunology, the struc- ture of proteins and DNA, nuclear physics, and nutrition— is included. His Nobel prize–winning work on the structure of the chemical bond (chemistry prize, 1954) and his cam- paign against nuclear weapon testing (peace prize, 1962) and his advocacy of megadoses of vitamin C to prevent and treat the common cold, cancer, and AIDS, the work for which he was best known to the public, are prominently fea- tured. Each of the 11 chapters includes notes and exact ref- erences to sources. A glossary of scientific terms is provided. As long-time aficionados of Pauling, we were delighted to find that, although intended primarily for a juvenile au- dience, the book contains photographs that we had not seen previously, as well as facts that we were able to use in our articles on Pauling. This short but superlative biography of the man who has been characterized as one of the 20 great- est scientists of all time, one of the two greatest scientists of the 20th century (the other being Einstein), and the greatest chemist since Lavoisier (the 18th-century founder of modern chemistry) should be useful in attracting and motivating young persons to a scientific career. We warmly recommend it to students, science teachers, and general readers interested in one of contemporary science’s most fascinating, creative, and provocative personalities. George B. Kauffman and Laurie M. Kauffman California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA 93740 book & media reviews
Transcript of Makers of Modern Science. Volume 9, Linus Pauling: Scientist and Advocate (Newton, David E.)
380 Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 74 No. 4 April 1997
Chemical Education T oday
Makers of Modern Science. Volume 9, Linus Pauling:Scientist an d Advocate
David E. Newton. Facts on File: New York, 1994. 136 pp.Figs. and photos. 15.0 × 22.6 cm. $16.95
Makers of Modern Science, a series of biographies(available on standing order at a 20% discount), exploresthe lives and achievements of scientists who have made thegreatest contributions to human knowledge during the 19thand 20th centuries. Each scientist’s achievements, includ-ing underlying scientific principles, are discussed simplyand clearly and are free of technical jargon. Drawing on pri-mary sources such as diaries, memoirs, letters, and contem-porary news stories, as well as secondary sources, each vol-ume depicts the human drama of scientific work, the ex-citement and frustration of research, and the exhilarationand rewards of discovery. Each book, which includes black-and-white photographs, diagrams, an annotated bibliogra-phy, and a detailed index, contains a final chapter summa-rizing the legacy of the scientist’s achievements.
This ninth and latest book in the series, completedshortly before Pauling’s death (August 19, 1994, at the ageof 93) and therefore completely up to date, profiles the lifeand work of the only person to receive two unshared Nobelprizes. The author, a chemist and science educator, dis-cusses the childhood, education, personal life, and multifac-eted activities of this controversial scientist, pacifist, hu-
manitarian, and health proponent. Virtually every aspectof Pauling's career—his application of one science (physics)to elucidate another (chemistry) and his pioneering workon crystallography, quantum mechanics, mineralogy, anes-thesia, electronegativity, molecular biology, orthomolecularmedicine (a term that he coined), immunology, the struc-ture of proteins and DNA, nuclear physics, and nutrition—is included. His Nobel prize–winning work on the structureof the chemical bond (chemistry prize, 1954) and his cam-paign against nuclear weapon testing (peace prize, 1962)and his advocacy of megadoses of vitamin C to prevent andtreat the common cold, cancer, and AIDS, the work forwhich he was best known to the public, are prominently fea-tured. Each of the 11 chapters includes notes and exact ref-erences to sources. A glossary of scientific terms is provided.
As long-time aficionados of Pauling, we were delightedto find that, although intended primarily for a juvenile au-dience, the book contains photographs that we had not seenpreviously, as well as facts that we were able to use in ourarticles on Pauling. This short but superlative biography ofthe man who has been characterized as one of the 20 great-est scientists of all time, one of the two greatest scientistsof the 20th century (the other being Einstein), and thegreatest chemist since Lavoisier (the 18th-century founderof modern chemistry) should be useful in attracting andmotivating young persons to a scientific career. We warmlyrecommend it to students, science teachers, and generalreaders interested in one of contemporary science’s mostfascinating, creative, and provocative personalities.
George B. Kauffman and Laurie M. KauffmanCalifornia State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA93740
book & media reviews
