<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Not a Book About Einstein
Review: REVIEW: This book is a good but brief (2 pages or less each) overview of about 75 individuals whose ideas have greatly influenced the world. It is targeted to a general audience and as it is fairly short its purpose is merely to introduce the individuals and their main influential ideas.The book focuses mainly on Western civilization and then primarily on scientific and technical achievements. All the familiar names are here: Plato, Einstein, Newton, Darwin, Marx and many others not so famous. The author can easily be criticized for leaving out many important ideas, especially social or non-technical innovations, but this could probably be said about anyone's top 75 list of great ideas. If you are looking for a relatively easy to read book that introduces some of the most important thinkers of the past 4000 years, this book will do. Just don't expect a comprehensive book or a thorough explanation of the ideas. It may also make a good, light reference book for your bookshelf. STRENGTHS: I especially liked the inclusion of a picture of each individual and some discussion of the person and not just their ideas. The book is easy to read and not too technical. WEAKNESSES: As one would expect of a book of such breadth, there is not much depth to each discussion. Additionally, while not really affecting content, I think the book could have been a little more "professionally done". I found too many errors missed by editing and I thought the title and book cover very misleading (only a small portion of the book relates to Einstein). I also noticed some style changes that may indicate different authorship for certain sections.
Rating:
Summary: Not a Book About Einstein
Review: REVIEW: This book is a good but brief (2 pages or less each) overview of about 75 individuals whose ideas have greatly influenced the world. It is targeted to a general audience and as it is fairly short its purpose is merely to introduce the individuals and their main influential ideas. The book focuses mainly on Western civilization and then primarily on scientific and technical achievements. All the familiar names are here: Plato, Einstein, Newton, Darwin, Marx and many others not so famous. The author can easily be criticized for leaving out many important ideas, especially social or non-technical innovations, but this could probably be said about anyone's top 75 list of great ideas. If you are looking for a relatively easy to read book that introduces some of the most important thinkers of the past 4000 years, this book will do. Just don't expect a comprehensive book or a thorough explanation of the ideas. It may also make a good, light reference book for your bookshelf. STRENGTHS: I especially liked the inclusion of a picture of each individual and some discussion of the person and not just their ideas. The book is easy to read and not too technical. WEAKNESSES: As one would expect of a book of such breadth, there is not much depth to each discussion. Additionally, while not really affecting content, I think the book could have been a little more "professionally done". I found too many errors missed by editing and I thought the title and book cover very misleading (only a small portion of the book relates to Einstein). I also noticed some style changes that may indicate different authorship for certain sections.
Rating: 
Summary: Great layman's book
Review: This book briefly describes historical figures who "shaped" our world in terms of science. Two or three pages are alotted for each person briefly describing their lives and accomplishments. If you're looking for equations and proofs then this isn't the book for you; however, if you want a basic understanding of important people of science and their concepts than this may be what you're looking for.
Rating:
Summary: Great layman's book
Review: This book briefly describes historical figures who "shaped" our world in terms of science. Two or three pages are alotted for each person briefly describing their lives and accomplishments. If you're looking for equations and proofs then this isn't the book for you; however, if you want a basic understanding of important people of science and their concepts than this may be what you're looking for.
<< 1 >>
| 
