Keeping Watch: A WAAF in Bomber Command-3rd Edition

Book Description

A sensitively written true story by a RAF Bomber Command wartime R/T operator who talked down the crews on their return from operations, met them off duty and so often, mourned their loss within days. The book sparkles with anecdotes and humor yet has a very special poignancy as the author reiterates her deep admiration for these truly remarkable men of Bomber Command.

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Waaf in Bomber Command
Pip Beck
Manufacturer: Crecy Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0907579124

Book Description

Book Description

Einstein was the twentieth century's most celebrated scientist - a man who developed the theory of relativity, revolutionised physics and became an iconic genius in the popular imagination. Essays range from the reasonably scientific including the theory of relativity, to the odd and engaging, such as Einstein's brain, his favourite jokes and films. Einstein A to Z provides a vibrant overview of the man and his achievements.

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Customer Reviews:

Readable, informative, and handy.......2005-10-02

This is a good introduction to the life of Albert Einstein, beloved physicist and Time magazine Man of the 20th Century.

Biographies about Albert Einstein can be divided into two categories: those written before 1987 when his papers and voluminous correspondence were made public, and after when the peccadillos of his life became more widely known. Authors Karen C. Fox and Aries Keck treat us to more than a few of those peccadillos, including his offer to marry either his cousin Elsa Lowenthal or her daughter Ilse, remarking that he was in love with both women, but wanted to have a child with Ilse!

Einstein biographies can also be categorized according to what the biographer chooses to emphasize, Einstein's private life or his scientific accomplishments, or both. In this book you can choose by letter which part of Einstein's life you want to read about. The alphabetical entries begin with "Absentmindedness" and end with "Zionism." In between are such entries as "Cosmological Constant," "Einstein, Mileva Maric" (Einstein's first wife), "Jokes about Einstein," the "Michelson-Morley Experiment," "Princeton," "Twin Paradox," etc.. In all there are 114 entries, a Timeline, an Introduction, a Selected Bibliography, and an Index. The entries are like little self-contained essays. They are well-written, informative and without any kind of bias while revealing that Einstein is definitely a man worth writing about.

Here's an Einstein joke. Einstein's driver used to sit in the back of the lecture hall while Einstein lectured. He sat there so many times that he said he could probably give the lecture himself. One day Einstein took him up on the idea, and the driver gave a flawless lecture with Einstein watching from the back of the room. At the end there was a question, and the lecturer said that "...the answer to that question is so simple, I bet that even my driver, sitting up at the back could answer it." (p. 148)

Sometimes I like to compare Einstein to other great scientists much as some people compare baseball players. What are the greatest baseball players of all time? I won't hazard an opinion, but my three greatest scientists are Einstein, Newton and Darwin in no particular order. Certainly Einstein is the most celebrated. Reading this "biography" makes that clear.

I was struck with just how human the authors make Einstein appear with his very human failings as a father and a husband along with his nearly superhuman accomplishments as a physicist. I was especially struck with Einstein's stubborn streak. Even at the time of his death in 1955 he still did not fully accept quantum mechanics, being especially disenchanted with the notion of "entanglement," which he called "spooky action at a distance." This is somewhat ironic since Einstein, along with his good friend Niels Bohr (with whom he had many spirited, even heated, discussions), Max Born, Max Planck, Werner Heisenberg, and others were the architects of QM.

What makes this book so agreeable is how handy it is for dipping into and finding something out about Einstein and his work, and how gracefully and informatively it is written.

One last point. Fox and Keck do mention Einstein's famous disdain for socks. They speculate that he didn't like to wear them not merely because he didn't care about his appearance, "but possibly because they were physically uncomfortable." (p. 59) Maybe, but since I gotten older and have had time to think long and hard on this most interesting subject, I can report that the real reason that Einstein didn't like to wear socks is he didn't like to bend over and pull them on or push them off. If you've ever tried to put on a tight pair of socks, you know what I mean.

Bottom line: fun to read, nontechnical with just enough science for the layperson to appreciate.

Surprsingly entertaining and informative.......2004-10-21

At first glance, could there be a worse way to present the life and work of a deep and complex figure like Einstein than chopping him up into 300 pages of encyclopedia entries? Much to my surprise, this fresh approach to Einstein by science writers Karen Fox and Aries Keck really works. It helps that every entry is well researched and sparkingly written, but even the inevitable repetitions turn out to be helpful, often reinforcing an important idea or presenting it from a different angle. I read the book from beginning to end on a long airplane trip, and found it as enjoyable and engrossing as any book I've read recently.

Even though I've read many books about Einstein, and written a chapter about him in my book _Science Firsts_, I found quite a lot in _Einstein A to Z_ that was new to me. For example, I did not know that the German army was aware of the possibility of an atomic bomb as early as 1924, or how intensely Einstein was monitored by the FBI from 1932 on, or that Life magazine once labelled Einstein a Communist dupe or fellow traveller. I also thought the authors did a great job of tracing the evolution of Einstein's philosophical thoughts about science, from a very hard-nosed version of Mach's positivism (physics should deal only with observables) that guided his earliest work to a view that embraced the necessity of hypothesizing intangibles such as the gravitational field.

My only quibble with the authors was what I felt was their somewhat apologetic depiction of Einstein's lifelong battle against political repression wherever her encountered it. This was as central to Einstein as his science. He was outspoken in his battles against fascism and anti-Semitism in Germany, McCarthyism in the U.S., the nuclear arms race, and excessive nationalism wherever he saw it, including, as the authors point out, in Israel. His political views may or may not play well in America today, but they certainly don't need to be apologized for.

I don't think Einstein A to Z should be the only book about Einstein a person reads, but it certainly can hold its own with the more traditionally organized biographies. It's well worth reading.

Robert Adler, author of _Science Firsts: From the Creation of Science to the Science of Creation_; and _Medical Firsts: From Hippocrates to the Human Genome_.

I guess I AM the right audience. . . .......2004-07-31

I picked this up and was amazed when it was 3 hours later and I'd let everything else I was supposed to do in the afternoon slip by me. I'm NOT a scientist, so perhaps it's not aimed at people who already know a lot about Einstein, but it was just the perfect level for me. I liked the stories about his life interwoven with information about his theories. The format of the book -- it's made of lots of entries on subjects from his relationships with women to his work on the atom bomb -- really worked for me, and I'd love to see other biographies organized like this!

I guess I'm not the intended customer on this one. .......2004-07-29

I guess I'm not the intended customer on this one. It read like a stack of high school book reports and the writing style felt somewhat clichéd. The information is there though. Could easily be given a yellow "Einstein for Dummies" cover.

Accessible information for the non-scientist.......2004-07-28

This book is a great first-stop for students researching Einstein's life and works as well as those who want to gain some insight on Einstein but don't want to read a textbook. The book's easy-to-read sections teach you enough on that particular topic to feel satisfied by what you've learned or confident enough to take your research further with a more in-depth source. I really like books that can draw me into science by showing the human side of a scientist; for me, it makes complicated theories that much more accessible. I would even recommend this book to a book club. Whether you read it in its entirety or read just the sections of particular interest to you, the book could really open up a great discussion about one of the world's biggest science icons.

The Creation of Scientific Effects: Heinrich Hertz and Electric Waves

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The Creation of Scientific Effects: Heinrich Hertz and Electric Waves
Jed Z. Buchwald
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0226078884

Book Description

This book is an attempt to reconstitute the tacit knowledge—the shared, unwritten assumptions, values, and understandings—that shapes the work of science. Jed Z. Buchwald uses as his focus the social and intellectual world of nineteenth-century German physics.

Drawing on the lab notes, published papers, and unpublished manuscripts of Heinrich Hertz, Buchwald recreates Hertz's 1887 invention of a device that produced electromagnetic waves in wires. The invention itself was serendipitous and the device was quickly transformed, but Hertz's early experiments led to major innovations in electrodynamics. Buchwald explores the difficulty Hertz had in reconciling the theories of other physicists, including Hermann von Helmholtz and James Clerk Maxwell, and he considers the complex and often problematic connections between theory and experiment.

In this first detailed scientific biography of Hertz and his scientific community, Buchwald demonstrates that tacit knowledge can be recovered so that we can begin to identify the unspoken rules that govern scientific practice.

A to Z of Physicists (Notable Scientists)

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A to Z of Physicists (Notable Scientists)
Darryl J., Ph.D. Leiter , and Sharon L., Ph.D. Leiter
Manufacturer: Facts on File
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0816047987

The Angry Genie: One Man's Walk Through the Nuclear Age

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The worst of all possible worlds
A charming and important book.
The Angrt Genie is a must read.
The true story of an unsung hero who saved countless lives.
A man of faith becomes a world famous scientist.

The Angry Genie: One Man's Walk Through the Nuclear Age
Karl Z. Morgan
Manufacturer: UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0806131225

Customer Reviews:

The worst of all possible worlds.......2002-05-23

This book is not for the recreational reader, indeed it is one of the most depressing and distressing documents I have ever read. Nevertheless, I urge all readers concerned with issues that impact on the survival of humanity to read it thoroughly and absorb the lessons which it so graphically presents. In terms of an indictment of our government and various vested interests, it compares favorably with J'accuse written in 1898 by Emile Zola in response to the corrupt behaivor of the French nation, government and army during the Dreyfus affair. The most horrifying event in the book, and there are many to choice from, is the description of how the Health Physics Division was subdivided after Dr. Morgan's retirement in 1972 and distributed among "other laboratory divisions where radiation protection is not a primary objective". When I read this my immediate thought was of the dismemberment of Lemuel Pitkin so brilliantly described by Nathanael West. One can only be appaled by the many destructive acts which occurred when the Angry Genie left the bottle. It is frightening that those responsible for them have, to my knowledge, never been cited for criminal irresponsibility.

A charming and important book........1999-10-12

This charming memoir starts in 1943, when Dr. Morgan was recruited away from his happy research on cosmic-ray physics to join the atomic-bomb project. He was one of the four or five persons assigned to figure out how to prevent bomb-workers from irradiating themselves to death. In 1943, it was barely known how to measure doses from the various types of radiation, so Dr. Morgan had to invent many a metering device. Additionally, no one knew how to store the radioactive waste which would accumulate at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where Dr. Morgan detected its escape-routes and tried to plug them. He became an internationally honored expert and author on radiation health-effects and protection measures. This is the story of a man of great integrity, who made enormous contributions to protecting health, and yet by his own standards, failed to succeed well enough. His "walk" through the nuclear age helps to illuminate the suppression of scientific dissent in the nuclear enterprises --- and presents an interesting contrast to books by Dr. Glenn Seaborg (Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission) covering many of the same years. The ninth chapter covers Dr. Morgan's expert testimony for the plaintiffs in two landmark trials (the Karen Silkwood Case 1979, and the Utah Bomb-Fallout Case 1982). The memoir provides not only an important record of moral, legal, public health, environmental, and scientific history --- but it also provides a highly engaging personal story of coping with the unexpected.

The Angrt Genie is a must read........1999-07-08

It is commonly understood that only the best books are made into audio tapes. On a whim my family and I put the Angry Genie to the test. We read the book aloud on our annual cross country car trip without one complaint from any family member. The surprize attraction of the Angry Genie is its real appeal to the non scientific person. By just glancing through the book one might assume that he or she could be overwhelmed with scientific material, however, by no means is that the case. In the 180 pages of story, from the amazing experiments under Chicago University Stadium to the many photos of actual players in our history, I was drawn to the personalities and inside details of the developments of a powerful scientific discovery. In fact I most recommend this book because if the surprizing revelations on several fronts. First, the power and importance of science and scientists in this centuary is no more dramatically illustrated than in this story of nuclear power. Not even the terror of 'Outbreak" or the suspence of 'Apallo 13" are equal to the reawakening we get in the Angry Genie. Second, Dr. Morgan was able to input all of the required technical information and formulas in the book without interupting the book's flow. Third, the historical, medical and sociological impact is compelling. There is the letter from Einstein to FDR about the potential of the bomb and the fascinating information about the effects of all the different types of rays on humans. I plan on telling my book club about this wonderful book as well as all my friends who love historical books.

The true story of an unsung hero who saved countless lives........1999-06-26

I was captivated by Karl Z. Morgan's 50 year battle with powerful elements in the nuclear industrial complex for common sense safety measures. I was appalled to discover the extent of the damage the government inflicted upon our citizens through the abuse of nuclear power and and careless weapons' tests. Even more disturbing is Morgan's summary of numerous radiation experiments our government secretly conducted on innocent Americans. Morgan stands out as a pillar of truth in a desert of deceit. No one can read this without thinking "I had no idea this was going on."

A man of faith becomes a world famous scientist........1999-06-26

I really enjoyed this story about a good human being who descended from a long line of Lutheran ministers going back to Martin Luther. It required considerable courage for Dr. Karl Morgan to publically detail the "biggest mistake" of his life when he reluctantly agreed to censorship by his superiors. This book was clearly written from Morgan's soul and provides valuable perspective from a 91-year-old legend who started the entire field of health physics. This autobiography should be required reading for all Americans.

Breaking Free: A Memoir of Love and Revolution

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Great idea for a book but sags significantly in the middle
Better Than Fiction

Breaking Free: A Memoir of Love and Revolution
Susan Eisenhower
Manufacturer: Farrar Straus & Giroux (T)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Mrs. Ike: Portrait of a Marriage (Capital Classics)

ASIN: 0374262462

Customer Reviews:

Great idea for a book but sags significantly in the middle.......2006-08-17

Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of a president, fell in love with Soviet physicist Roald Sagdeev just as the Soviet Union was beginning to feel the strains that led to its eventual breakup. Eisenhower, a former journalist and foreign-policy expert, met Sagdeev at a conference, and the unusual and dangerous romance began to bloom.

Set against the backdrop of the intrigues and bloodshed of the last years and days of the USSR, Eisenhower's book could have been a page-turner. The KGB is a constant and unseen presence. After all, a prestigious Soviet scientist was not supposed to fall in love with an American.

Unfortunately, especially in the middle pages, the book bogs down amidst the descriptions of countless international meetings and minor Soviet functionaries. Eisenhower clearly could have used a better editor. The last quarter of the memoir springs to life again with Eisenhower's acerbic account of Mikhail Gorbachev's ineffectual efforts to preserve the Soviet Union. But not many readers will wish to get to that point.

Better Than Fiction.......2000-08-09

Prominent Soviet scientist falls in love with granddaughter of American President - it sounds like fodder for a best selling novel, so it's all the more remarkable for being true. Susan Eisenhower's account of her love affair with and eventual marriage to Roald Sagdeev is the fascinating story of two people defying the odds of the Cold War to make a life together. From their burgeoning courtship through the maze of beaurocracy they needed to overcome, their story is two-fold: the age-old tale of boy meets girl played out against the intricate politics of a world in transition.

The Making of a Soviet Scientist: My Adventures in Nuclear Fusion and Space From Stalin to Star Wars

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How Science Works in Totatitarian Society
Science at the other side of the iron curtain.
The autobiography of one of the finest people on the planet.

The Making of a Soviet Scientist: My Adventures in Nuclear Fusion and Space From Stalin to Star Wars
Roald Z. Sagdeev
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471020311

Book Description

The critically acclaimed memoir that rips the curtain of secrecy off the world of Soviet science.

"Revelations and insights about the Soviet space program . . . It is good that such a wise man will live among us for a while." âÂ€Â”The New York Times.

"A rare, valuable, insider's look at the Soviet military industrial machine." âÂ€Â”Publishers Weekly.

"I found it fascinating . . . important not only to scientists, but also for those who fashion government politics generally." âÂ€Â”Herman Feshbach, Institute Professor Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"A real contribution to the literature of the space age." âÂ€Â”Chicago Sun-Times.

"This is a powerful yet charming account of the Soviet Union's scientific, space, and military enterprise, characterized by Sagdeev's frank and insightful style mixed with delightful humor and humanity." âÂ€Â”Charles H. Townes, Nobel Laureate in Physics, University of California, Berkeley.

"For all who are interested in the interaction of science and society, and in the nature of the Soviet Union as seen by a keen observer who was at the same time an 'insider' and a dedicated humanist, this book is highly recommended." âÂ€Â”Physics Today.

Customer Reviews:

How Science Works in Totatitarian Society.......2007-08-14

I recommend this book get a sample of what science is like in a totalitarian society. I grew up in the USSR, and I visited IKI in the middle of 1980s as a lead engineer from a lab that developed waveguide systems for IKI. Everything was secret and KGB guards were everywhere, but we were able to carry out documents and materials for waveguide systems in our pockets. Sagdeev's account of events is quite interesting since he can tell how things were in the USSR without being afraid for his life and well-being any more. I wish he talked more about the scientific side rather than politics.

Science at the other side of the iron curtain........1998-05-05

We are used to read about science in Europe or America, but this book refers to the knowledge of science in Rusia. How it affects to the politics and how the policts involve in science matters. Very easy to read. It goes from the beginning of the century to the Star War. Personal anectotes of the author with famous russian physicists.

The autobiography of one of the finest people on the planet........1995-12-30

Now that the madness of Star Wars *seems* be to behind us, check out this book. If you thought Regan and E.T. were nuts, wait til you read about the opposition. History is gracious-she provides sane leaders at insane moments. Just about everyone on the planet owes this gentleman big time. He writes beautifully. The history of Eastern bloc physics is not well known in the west-this book is the perfect place to start. One of the sanest, most decent men on the planet.

Akademik iz IAkutii, 1909-1969: Dokumentalnaia povest

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Akademik iz IAkutii, 1909-1969: Dokumentalnaia povest
Z. IA Kirenskaia
Manufacturer: Bichik
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 5769600608

Lexikon Geschichte der Physik, A - Z;: Biographien, SachwoÌÂˆrter, Originalschriften, und SekundaÌÂˆrliteratur,

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Lexikon Geschichte der Physik, A - Z;: Biographien, SachwoÌÂˆrter, Originalschriften, und SekundaÌÂˆrliteratur,
Armin Hermann
Manufacturer: Aulis Verlag Deubner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0007AFF30

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Russian Research Center paper
Vladimir Z Kresin
Manufacturer: Harvard Univ. Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0006YUC80

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