reviews

Georcle 8. Kauffman and Laurie M. Kauffman - California State University, Fresno

Fresno, CA 93740

1001 Things Everyone Should Know about Science

James Trefil. Doubleday: New York, NY, 1992. Figs., tables, & illustrations. x+ 305 pp. 15.3 x 23.3 cm. $20.00 ($25.00 in Can- ada).

1001 Things is packed with the scientific facts that make it an ideal sequel and companion volume to James Trefil's 1991 publi- cation. Science Motter:Arhieuin(: Scientific Lilemcy

Written in simple language and a conversational but infoma- tive style and accompanied by a hundred drawings and photo- graphs, this accessible, handy reference book represents Trefil's attempt to *give an overview of how the world operates" by break- ine down "all of science into bite-sized chunks." raneine in leneth - - from a single sentmw u, ~ e v e r ~ l paramaphs. Thrs numbered hvt of "things' is arranged in sewn chapters-"Classical Hiology," 'Evalut~an." "Molecular Biology." "Classleal P h y s d Sclenee," "Modem Physrcal Science," "Earth Science." and "htronumy," each of which is subdivided into sections. Although there is a log- ical progression within sections from the first item to the last, the book is eminently suited for browsing in no particular order. The human dimension of science is not neglected, for historical infor- matton about such sc8enttfic lummanes a s Rohr, Madame Cune. Dalton, Emstem. fianklm. Hewcnberg, Mcndrl, Mmdrlrrv, New- wn. and Rutherford 1s nresented In )terns titled Tndurmc Puz- zle%o '"Enduring ~ y s i e r y " the cutting edge of science &d its tentative and incom~lete nature is emohasized bv soeculation on . . lnrngumg matter3 ahout w h ~ h them .s currently no consensus. At mtervala unnumhred 'Pop Qwzms" (questtons and answers, also are included.

There is no separate chapter on chemistry, but, in keeping with its position as "the central science," it figures in virtually every chapter, and sections on molecules of life (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acid), photosynthesis, thermodynamics, elements, the atomic nucleus, etc. abound, and a separate 13-page section on chemistrv is included in the chanter on 'Wadern Phvsieal Sei- ence." A hetailed 13-oaee (2 mlu& ner naeel indexmakes re- . -~ ~~ . ~ . " ~ . ~

~~ ~

tneval uf mformation easy. Trefil has confined his anentmn to the rradiuonal natural sciences, but he promises tu deal wlth medl- cane and technology in future books in the serics

George B. Kauffman and Laurie M. Kauffman California State Universitv. Fresno

Fresno, CA 93740

A Documentary History of Biochemistry 1770-1940

MikuldS Teich with Dorothy M. Needham. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press: Cranbury, NJ, 1992. 19 Figs. xxxvii + 579 pp. 15.0 x 22.8 cm. $85.00.

Although biochemistry has long been one of the most active and productive areas of chemical research, for almost two decades Henry M. Leieester's slim volume Development of Biochemical Concepts from Ancient to Modern Times (1974) and Joseph S. h t o n ' s ABio-Bibliography for theHistory oftheBiochemica1 Sci- ences since 1800 (1982) have, to the best of my knowledge, been the only books devoted to its history. Now MikulAs Teich, Honor- ary Pmfessor a t the Technical University ofvienna, with the late Dorothy Moyle Needham, who died in 1987, have contributed to this neglected field with a massive, scholarly, original source book that promises to hecome a standard history of biochemistry.

In the Foreword, Teich argues cogently far limiting the time span of his study to the period from the last three decades of the 18th century, when the chemistry of life emerged from a nonscien- tific to a scientific basis, to about 1940, when the new science of molecular biology split from its parent science. In Teich's words, The book is "an attempt to make available source materials on the evolution of the study of the chemistry of life into modem b iu chemistry."

The volume contains 180 selected reprints, more than half of which appear in English for the first time. (Needham translated the German and French selections). Most of them are excerpts from articles and books, but in a few cases the entire paper is r e minted.

Imoortant discoveries alwavs are rendered more vivid when ~, ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~ ~~-~~

presented in the actual words of the discoverers. Thus this mctic- ulo~laly docummted, annotated collectwn will serve a* a useful guide providing instructors and students of biochemistry and his- tory of chemistry courses with an understanding of the growth andnature of the discipline known as modern biochemistry. I t also will pmve invaluable to researchers in these fields.

George B. Kauffman California State University, Fresno

Fresno, CA 93740

Robert Burns Woodward and the Art of Organic Synthesis

May Ellen Bowden and Theodor Benfey. Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry, Publication No. 9, 3401 Walnut St., Philadelphia. PA19104-6228, 1992. Figs., illustrations, & ta- bles. 48 pp. 21.5 x 24.1 cm. $5.00 PB.

On Aoril 10. 1992. the 75th anniversarv of the birth of 1965 Nobel chemist& laukate Robert B. ~ a o d & d (1917-1979). the ~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ -~ - . ~~~-

Berkman ~ e n & for the lliatnry of Chemistry opened its latest travelingexhibit. 'R. B. Waudward and the Art ofOqanic Synthe- sis" cJ C h m . Educ 1992.69, 169; Ruckman Cenlvr News 1992, 9171 R-1, - ~-,, - -,.

The booklet under review here, desimed as a teaching aid in high schools and colleges, was wittm io accompany this&hibit, which, following its spring and summer showing m Philsdelphra, Washmrton showme at the Aurmst ACS Mcctine. and October showingat ~arvardybegan its inkrnational tour g1993 . Replete with photographs of persons, compounds, instruments, cartoons, advertisements, and crucial notebook pages as well as diagrams and reaction schemes and liberally peppered with inspirational quotations by RBW himself, i t portrays the life and accomplish- ments of "one of the giants of chemistry and of modern science," firmly ensconced in the context of 19th- and 20th-century chemis- try.

A brief account of Woodward's early family life and education is followed by a histo"cal review of classic syntheses and theories of structure and bonding. Because Woodward's approach relied on modem instruments, a n entire chapter is devoted to visible, ultra- violet (Woodward's Rules), infrared, and mass spectrometry; X- ray crystallography, NMR, and HPLC. The most important of Wwdwardb syntheses are discussed from that of quinine (1944) through those of cholesterol and cortisone (19511, lanosterol, ly- sergic acid, and strychnine (1954), reserpine (1956), chlorophyll (1960), tetracyclines (19621, colchicine (1964). cephalosporin C (19651, cobyrie acid (with Albert Eschenmoser of the ETH) and prostaglandin (19731, and vitamin BIZ (his mast complex synthe- sis), and culminating with that of erythromycin, completed (1981) by Yoshito Kisbi and RBWs Harvard co-workers after his un- timely death on July 8, 1979. Woodward's theory of the biogenesis of cholesterol (1953) and the Waodward-Hoffmann rules are ex- plored a s are his determination of the structures of penicillin, strychnine, terramycin, aureomycin, ferrocene, tetrcdotoxin, and other complex molecules. Also featured are RBW's personal life and relations with industry and colleagues. (The book reads like a "Who's Who" of contemporary organic chemistry).

This multifaceted portrait of a n extraordinaq human being, teacher, and consummate organic chemist should inspire more young persons to pursue scientific careers, provide chemists with d e e ~ insieht into the creative mind of "a leeendarv architect of - ~ , ~ ~ ~~~~ ~~

moircule;:" and enhance the public'* undersrandmg of chemistry and its research methods.

George B. Kauffman California State J n versity, Fresno

Fresno, CA 93740

A52 Journal of Chemical Education