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Re: history of science



Be careful of Koestler's work...he was a journalist, not an historian,
so its a good read, but perhaps not on the mark in terms of its ideas.

cheers

On
Tue, 7 Nov 2000, Raymond A. Rogoway wrote:

There was a fantastic series of paperbacks, designed to enhance the old
PSSC Physics curriculum, called Science Study Series. It was published
by Anchor Books Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY. One of the titles
is "The Watershed" by Arthur Kestrel. This is one of the most complete
biographies of Kepler and was taken from Koestler's "The Sleepwalkers."

Other historical/biographical titles include: "Rutherford and the Nature
of the Atom", E.N. da C. Andrade, "Sir Isaac Newton His Life and Work"
also by da C. Andrade, "Michelson and the Speed of Light", Bernard
Jaffe. There are more but most of mine were stolen by students doing
"extra credit" reports. The entire series could easily be used as the
backbone for a History of Science program.

The books are probably out of print but were very popular and might be
obtainable either from out of print sources or from people on this list
and the Physhare list.

Another suggestion: a two volume set "Medieval and Early Modern Science"
by A.C. Crombie, also published by Doubleday Anchor. And then there are
many books authored by Isaac Azimov that cover the history of science.

I have found that in presenting the history of science the way to bring
some life into the subject is to bring in the funny and strange
anecdotes of key players. Kepler and Tycho Brahe were weird. Many of our
famous discoverers experience growing up without their mothers (Newton,
Copernicus) and had unusual childhoods.

If anyone on the list knows were to obtain copies of the "Science Study
Series" it would be helpful.


Ray Rogoway

--
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep
And I have no more papers in a heap
And in the morning I can sleep
And stroll in those woods so dark and deep.
r. frosted