4 comments about What's Past is Prologue: The Personal Stories of Women in Science at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

1. "What's Past is Prologue" is a collection of brief autobiographical essays of several women physicians and scientists at Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine. The writers range from assistant faculty members to chairs of departments. It's a terrific and inspirational read for aspiring physicians and scientists, whether male or female. The authors' main themes are varied. Most discuss in depth the passion they have for science and medicine and what sparked that early in their careers. The authors that are also mothers recount how they have managed their time in order to be productive physicians and scientists while raising and connecting with their children.
   
   I'm an MD/PhD student in the middle of grad school, and reading these essays has been a great source of enjoyment. It's like being privy to conversations with 27 of your heroes who are answering questions you'd like to ask but might feel to shy to actually do so. What drives you - what's your passion? What is your schedule like? How and when did you have children and what resources do you draw upon to maintain a family life? What do you look forward to in the future?
   
   Overall, I highly recommend this book to young people who are considering, or are already embarked upon, careers in medicine.



2. What's Past is Prologue is one of the most inspirational books I have read. I am a female physician in training in internal medicine and found these personal stories by my female collegues very unique and admirable. I strive to also become a female physician scientist.It was very rewarding to hear how they juggle family and their successful careers. I highly recommend this book.



3. It has been wonderful to read "What's Past is Prologue: The Personal Stories of Women in Science at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine" by Dr Neilson. As a woman planning to enter academic medicine currently at the end of my MD/PhD training and also a mother of 2 young children, this book was not only highly inspirational but also provided a window into the personal lives of outstanding female scientists. It makes me realize that my struggles and joys are quite universal and our paths albeit different lead to common dreams. Overall, I highly recommend this book to both women and men alike interested in academic medicine.



4. In this era of our hunger for all things "reality", this book truly stands out as an inspiration of the real lives of women scientists. As written in their own words, these women really come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Their stories are riveting and unique. Every woman thinking about a career in science and medicine should be able to identify with at least some of the women in the book and find in them the inspiration to pursue their career dreams. These autobiographies humanize these intelligent and creative women, and demonstrate that women in science are multi-faceted and can have a career, family, and outside interests. Dr. Neilson has done an excellent job of assembling these life stories and of uniting them all together. I highly recomment the book for all women thinking of, or already immersed in, a career in scientific research.

3 comments about Paperboy: Confessions of a Future Engineer.

1. "Paperboy", by Henry Petroski is another one of his intelligent, friendly, winning books.Petroski, of "The Pencil", and "The Evolution of Useful Things,"wrote about his family's move from the city to the suburbs in the 1950s.However, there's more- how he had difficulty finding a place in a school that would provide him with the challenge and stimulation he needed, the comfort of family, the joy of friendship, and the challenges of the physical world.Petroski is one of the great scientist=writers, like Lewis Thomas, Primo Levi, and Stephen Jay Gould. However, Petroski is a mapper of the world of bridges, buildings, and the one who ddeply notices pencils, paperclips. and how to fold a newspaper.This is a good book, and would be a great book for many men- Father's day, birthdays, high school graduations--And, a great gift for women, too



2. Not only an interesting recalling the 50's, but full of thought provoking insights. They creep in on the story and all of a sudden you realize you have read something deeper than throwing a paper across a lawn.



3. This is a great compilation of memories for anyone who grew up in Cambria Heights in the 1950s/1960s. From the stores on Linden Boulevard to the nuns at Sacred Heart School, to the kids in the neighborhood it will bring back memories of a time and place once enjoyed and long forgotten.

3 comments about The Autobiography of Charles Darwin.

1. This book is definitely a really fun read for someone with some leisure time and an interest in Darwin. It's important to not take this book too seriously (perhaps) because Darwin doesn't really take it that seriously himself. The autobiography tells us a lot about Charles Darwin the man and the way that he felt about certain issues but it barely scratches the surface: he has a great sense of humor (like when he talks about his original plans for being in the clergy) and sometimes he talks about his own life seriously (like his regret for not reading more poetry), but when you come down to it, the book is sort of written in a really mechanical manner. He doesn't really share with us any of his deepest desires or secrets (nor do we really expect him to).
   
   Overall this autobiography is pretty fun to read and it's probably a good springboard from which we can then go and read his Origin of Species or Voyage of the Beagle.



2. Darwin's Autobiography serves as a good overview of his life and the major events that happened to him. While the actual autobiography itself is very short and lacks details, its a good starting point for someone wanting to learn more about Darwin. In this edition edited by his son Francis Darwin leaves out some passages about Darwin's family and married life, something one could argue as particularly telling or interesting information; if this bugs you, buy the later edition.
   
   One of the most interesting sections to me was Darwin's description of his boyhood and young adult years. It's comical to hear this scientist describe his obsession with the pastime of shooting things and his mediocre performance in school. A few things signal Darwin's observational powers or scientific inclination, such as his collection of beetles, but for the most part, he seems an ordinary young person.
   
   Also, the book continually references scientists and intellectuals of the time which Darwin comments on. Some of these people were close to Darwin, others he just mentions. Now knowing these people can be somewhat frustrating to the reading, as I can attest to. The book is very much written and directed at his children, who would be familiar with this social context.
   
   Even with these minor faults, Darwin does give insight into his own mind, something I'm sure anyone who's reading a book about Darwin is looking for. The introspection comes at the end of the book. Darwin speaks of his own reasoning capacities and ability to notice things which easily escape the observations of other men.
   
   This book is short and a I recommend it as a good place to start for getting a handle on the major events of Darwin's life and hearing Darwin's own perspective.



3. This reprint of Francis Darwin's edition of the Autobiography is not the full version, but is fascinating nonetheless. Francis omitted some passages in deference to his mother, Darwin's widow Emma, who marked passages that she did not want published. (Interested readers can go to Nora Barlow's 20th century edition of the Autobiography for the full text). Francis Darwin's reminiscences of his father's working habits and "everyday life" (chapter 4) are wonderful. Chapters 5-18 are largely chronologically arranged extracts from Darwin's letters with Francis's commentary.

No comments about Memoir of John Dalton, and History of the Atomic Theory up to His Time.

No comments about George Green: Mathematician and Physicist 1793-1841 : The Background to His Life and Work.

3 comments about The Ultimate Einstein HC.

1. This is the only book and CD-ROM set authorized by the Einstein estate. It is just GREAT! The book is well written, informative and accurate. The CD-ROM is filled with video and sound clips with Albert Einstein from the historic archives and contains thought experiments, virtual reality laboratory that demonstrates the effects of relativity and more. This is a must have book.



2. I always have to qualify my weakness toward a book like this: that I'm not a "hard scientist." (In retrospect, I wish I'd had the inclination to become one while younger, but that's another story). This is a fine book, but I read the portions that I highlighted again and again, as I'm trying to understand, among other things, relativity better. But that may be my problem, more than the book's.

   One way the book helped me vastly was with the sort of "New Age" reputation Dr. Einstein is getting these days. Some New Age advocates are implying that Einstein was sort of a mystic. They do this because they aren't capable of understanding what he said, or how he said it. But, alas, ignorance of a person's statements does not transform the one who stated them into a guru. The authors state in no uncertain terms that, despite rhetoric to the contrary, Einstein didn't develop his theories by daydreaming and musing over petty, metaphysical items. Rather, he used sophisticated mathematics and physics to devise them. So, sorry, New Agers, you don't have some UFO resident with a German accent who'll deliver you on a new Hale-Bopp.

   Oh, and he DID make mistakes, e.g., was it the unfied field theory?; theories he defended but years later referred to as huge errors.

   It's well written, though not adolescent; the CD I got with the book is incredible!

   If you're interested in Einstein, the man, this is the book I'll recommend. As to relativity, I'll read Bertrand Russell's book, "The ABCs of Relativity," mentioned in this book, and others. And if you want some applications of the theories, the CD is, again, great.




3. Dr. Goldsmith has given us an intimate look at the "man behind the myth", while Robert P. Libbon has suceeded in making Einstein's work understandable to the layperson who is willing to put in a bit of effort. I enjoyed the biographical content and figured I would have to skim the technical writing, not being well versed in such heady stuff, but found Mr. Libbon's historical anecdotes and entertaining explanations of Einstein's work to be just as compelling as the personal details of his life.

   Authorized by the Estate of Albert Einstein this book is enriched even further with illustrations and photographs from family archives as well as a CD-ROM about his life and work which makes this truly "The Ultimate Einstein".

1 comments about Complexities: Women in Mathematics.

1. While the opportunities for women still lag behind men in some areas, in general there are equal opportunities between the sexes. Most of the women under forty today have no idea how different it was for women thirty years ago. Before the twentieth century, it was even worse. Women such as Sophie Germain had to study mathematics in secret or publish their results under a male byline. This book starts with the biographies of fifteen female mathematicians born before 1920 and chronicles their struggles and achievements. While these biographies are interesting, they are probably too distant to be considered relevant by the modern student. In their other studies, they will have encountered facts such as women lacking the right to vote, so the fifteen women will simply be additional examples of women held in check by the prevailing social and legal norms.
   The real power of the book is in the accounts that are much more recent. Less than fifty years ago, women were rare in mathematics and those who managed to succeed were often considered oddities. Many graduate programs had either formal or informal policies against admitting women and those accepted generally were given little encouragement. Nevertheless, determined women managed to succeed and provide inspiration to future generations of mathematicians. This is their story and they are all to be commended for their success and their willingness to encourage the next generation to succeed. It is largely due to their hard work and occasional suffering that there are now so many opportunities for women in all areas of mathematics. I strongly recommend this book as required reading in any history of mathematics class. It is also suitable as supplemental material for courses in women's studies and the history of education.
   
   Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

1 comments about Sally Ride: Shooting for the Stars Great Lives Series.

1. Although this book was very informative, it was very hard for my nine year old to read. I helped her with alot of words and I may add she's quite academic in school. I would start the age at 12 and up. Other than that it's full of facts for a book report.

3 comments about The Great Safari: The Lives of George and Joy Adamson, Famous for Born Free.

1. I liked this book particularly because it didn't report something as fact unless there was something to back it up or that the writer personally witnessed. Adrian House uses a lot of George and Joy Adamson's own diaries, unpublished writings, and personal letters to give a good glimpse into the personal lives of the couple. It also gives a detailed account of their murders and the circumstances leading up to them. I would recommend this book as a well rounded biography that looks critically into the lives of two unique and amazing people.



2. This book is a fascinating review of two very complex people. It doesn't gloss over their strengths or weaknesses. They led amazing lives in a world we'll never see again. I enjoyed every chapter.



3. It's an excellent, no-holds-barred book giving the plus and minuses of the human stars: George and Joy Adamson. And it's a book of triumphs and failures. The book is precise, but it does have some gaps which are filled by reading George Adamson's book My Pride and Joy. If you care about the most majestic of Africa's wildlife, this is a must book. But if you want to learn more about the nature of wildlife, particuarly lions, read My Pride and Joy. I highly recommend both books.

4 comments about Patently Female.

1. This book gives you a fascinating look at the contributions that female inventors have presented to the world, from diapers to medical treatments to cutting edge technology. Too often these female inventors are overlooked or don't get rightful credit for their awe-inspiring accomplishments. This book brings alive the ingenuity and resourcefulness of female inventors, who should not be forgotten.



2. The book can be read as an entity or read randomly as time allows because each inventor has a brief self-contained section in the larger chapters. The book is well-written and it is not an academic punishment to read. There is enough detail to set the reader into further research but it is light enough to provide information in an enjoyable way. The inventors often have insightful quotes. It should be required reading in schools to encourage more participation in science, math, computers and intellectual curiosity in general.

   Not just about science, the book also mentions patenting the brassiere, computer technologies and some weird ideas (skeletons shocking criminals into confessions, anyone?). A nice mix of fun and facts.




3. Many inventions and achievements attributed to men actually were first made by a woman! Some of the inventions and achievements profiled in this book I was aware of, but many were surprises. Men and women both would benefit from reading this book: Women-to see what women have achieved and as models for what is possible and men- for a wake-up as to the achievements and capabilities of women. Fortunately women are more likely to be recognized now for their achievements, but we still have a long way to go. When I authored a book on small businesses, I encountered many instances where women did not receive credit for their contributions which were often greater than the men in their business. This book is educational and inspirational. Give this book to a woman you want to inspire!



4. I read this wonderful book quite some time ago and was so moved by all the info that i wrote an article on forgotten women of history for a community magazine (with examples from ancient Egypt, India and China. Wish growing up I knew all the great discoveries and inventions women did and are doing even today and not getting the recognition they deserve. [...]
   I encourage every middle and high school teacher (and mother) to teach all student about women's contribution in all areas of knowledge and human endeavors. The entire society suffers when women's contribution are not even discussed to this day in schools.