Vol. 33 #1, Summer 2006
The Little Book of Scientific Principles, Theories and Things
(Surendra Verma, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016, 223 pp., paper back)
A concise clear historical compilation of 175 scientific
principles and discoveries that form the foundation of modern
technology. It provides an historical perspective that
starts in 500 BC with the Pythagorean theorem. A single
page is used for discussion of each of the 175 principles, so
the discussion is limited to highlighting the “meat” of each
basic principle. The book is arranged in chronological order,
and the nation of origin of each principle is given as well as
the person to whom it is attributed. Most of the discussion is
around the laws of physics, with fewer subjects relating to
math and biological sciences.
The historical development of science and engineering is
not readily part of typical engineering or scientific curriculum.
Therefore, this book should make for very interesting
easy reading or browsing for anybody with interest in a scientific
or engineering field and provide a sense of how technical
knowledge evolved and fits together.
– Stephen J. Derezinski, Ph.D., Extruder Tech, Inc.
Return to
Book Reviews.