Review by Choice Review
The human family has evolved into different groups, nations, races, and religions, and each of these has its own genius and special gifts. Every nation has heroes and heroines in its scientists; to recognize them in special ways is not to deny the internationalism of science, but to show how science has evolved under varying cultural and linguistic conditions. Ireland can certainly pride herself on the number and quality of her scientists. In this collection, the lives and contributions of 32 Irish physicists are recalled; Boyle, Hamilton, Stokes, and Kelvin are among the best known. Schrodinger, Lanczos, and Heitler are included because they moved to Ireland in the prime of life. Boole is excluded; he was a mathematician rather than a physicist. Other Irishmen who chose to settle down elsewhere are not here either, except for John Stuart Bell (of Bell's Theorem fame), who worked for many years beyond the shores of Ireland. The narratives are interesting and within reach of average educated readers. The absence of women from the list says as much about humanity's cultural past as about Ireland, for this is not a uniquely Irish embarrassment. A very readable and informative work to inspire young people. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. V. V. Raman emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
