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Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia 2 Volume Set
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You Are Here: Books About Antiques > Collector Encyclopedias > Item 544 of 556
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$475.00 |
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$380.00
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Available from Amazon
Price Last Updated : 7-30-2008
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Features
Hardcover: 4192 pages
Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 9 edition June 15, 2002
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0471332305
ISBN-13: 978-0471332305
Product Dimensions:
11.2 x 9 x 4.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.1 pounds
From Library Journal
This, the seventh edition of a well-known reference work, now appears in a two-volume format. That in itself is probably incentive enough to encourage replacement of the unwieldy sixth edition, published in 1983. Since there is little doubt that most local libraries have a copy of a scientific encyclopedia, the only question is whether this new edition has kept pace with the knowledge explosion. It has. The greatest changes are exactly where one would expect to find them. There are whole new sections on computer-related topics, such as local area networks (LANs) and machine vision; similarly, developments in materials science, such as the section on semiconductors, are given expanded coverage. Perhaps the most satisfying revisions are those on planetary astronomy, which incorporate the new information garnered by the Voyager fly-bys of the outer planets. Thus, the article on Uranus has been expanded from two to six pages, enough to provide a solid introduction for a student. One drawback is that certain broad topics are difficult to find; in mathematics, for example, there was no apparent entry for either chaos, catastrophe theory, or dynamical systems. Additionally, there is almost nothing on history of science or biography of scientists. Thus, if one looks up Fermi, one finds the definition of a unit of length but no mention that it was named after a person. Similarly, there is an article entitled "Evolution," but nothing under Darwin. Nevertheless, this is probably the best scientific encyclopedia available.Harold D. Shane, Baruch Coll., CUNY
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
First published in 1938, this desktop science encyclopedia has been published in two volumes beginning with the sixth edition. It is edited by Douglas Considine and Glenn Considine. Distinguished in their respective fields of engineering and information management, they are also the editors of several other well-known technical reference books (e.g., Van Nostrand Reinhold Encyclopedia of Chemistry). Approximately 250 scientists, engineers, and educators from eight different countries contributed to this new edition.
Van Nostrand's covers the six general areas of earth and space sciences, life sciences, energy and environmental science, materials science, physics and chemistry, and mathematics and information sciences. Where appropriate, entries have an identifying tag (e.g., Bond [Chemical]). The length of entries varies from one sentence (Aeolian Tones) to 11 pages (Climate). Only the longer entries are signed by their authors and have appended reading lists. The entries appear to be current. For example, Jupiter mentions the Ulysses satellite flyby of the planet in 1992, and 13 new readings have been added to its bibliography. Telescope has been expanded from 8 to 12 pages, has several new illustrations, and its bibliography is twice as long. This entry mentions the 1993 corrections to the Hubble Space Telescope. Similarly, the coverage under Television has been expanded to include a discussion of high-definition television, with mention of developments as recent as 1994. This work does not contain any biographies. Information on symbols and mathematical conversions is found under Units and Standards.
This encyclopedia has a good history of revision. A comparison with the previous edition shows that about 200 new pages have been added to the text. There are approximately 7,300 entries, an increase of several hundred. Throughout the text are many appropriately placed black-and-white photographs, line drawings, tables, charts, and diagrams. In the past this work has been criticized for the quality of its illustrations. There are several instances in this new edition of attempts to improve the contrast and size of photographs.
The index now appears at the end of each volume so the volumes can be used independently. A sampling determined that there are approximately 12,600 index entries and more than 5,300 cross-references in the text. This dual system of cross-references and indexing is barely adequate.
The only comparable work is the McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science & Technology [RBB N 15 94]. It has 7,700 alphabetically arranged entries, 1,700 illustrations, and an outstanding index of 30,000 citations. More than 3,000 authors contributed to the work, and all articles are signed. There is a bibliography of databases and appendixes of conversion units, symbols and abbreviations, and a classification of living organisms. In addition, there is a list of important scientists. McGraw-Hill is clearly superior in illustration quality and indexing. In contrast, Van Nostrand's has almost twice the number of pages and longer entries than McGraw-Hill. Academic, public, and high-school libraries should consider Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia for their collections.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Reader Reviews
VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, 9th Edition edited by Glenn D. Considine and Peter H. Kulik (Wiley-Interscience)Chronicals significant scientific advancements with special attention to Life-Biosciences; Chemistry; Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Energy Sources and Power Technology; Mathematics and Engineering Sciences; Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology; Physics; Plant Sciences; Space and Planetary Sciences Continuing a proud tradition of excellence that dates back nearly seven decades to the First Edition, published in 1938, VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA now finds itself in the Information Age. Born before the Atomic Age and updated at intervals ever since, the book now finds itself in the Information Age, and much has changed. Indeed, so much has changed for this edition that, in answer to the first question of what is new, we might just as well ask: What isn't new? With frequent, extensive revisions, this work has kept speed with advances in science throughout the 20th century and now the tradition continues into the 21st century with this landmark Ninth Edition. A concise, extensive, and accessible resource, VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA remains a reference work that contains comprehensive coverage of all areas of science including engineering, mathematics, and medicine. Much of the existing material has been extensively revised, with new or completely rewritten articles in emerging technologies like genetics engineering and cloning, bioprocess engineering, astrobiology and the universe, artificial intelligence, AIDS and STDs, global warming, computer science and the Internet, and flat panel display technology. Each topic is discussed progressively, beginning with a simple definition expressed in plain terms, developing into a more detailed treatment, and augmented by additional reading suggestions containing both updated print and Internet references. Topics covered in VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA include animal science, anatomy, astronomy, atmospheric science, chemistry, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, earth science, energy sources, information science, life science, materials, mechanical engineering, medicine, mining, physics, physiology, planetary science, structural engineering, and a host of other subjects. The essence of VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA is enduring summary research, and it remains a fine, concise, comprehensive, and accessible general science work. Its intellectual scope ranges from the introductory to the highly technical in a vast and ever‑expanding array of topical coverage in the sciences, engineering, mathematics, medicine, and more. As has long been the case, the editors have designed the book to be approachable by students of many ages. An important feature continued in this work, therefore, is the progressive development of the discussion of each topic, beginning with a simple definition expressed in plain terms, developing into a more detailed treatment, and augmented by often‑extensive Additional Reading suggestions.Contemporary readers can now turn to VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA for information about how their daily lives are increasingly affected by the sophistication of today's science and the complexity of modern technology. They will be reminded that knowledge and discovery exist in a continuum, and that often, but not always, what is new depends entirely on what came before. It is obvious to the editors we have entered a new Age of Discovery, as witnessed by the scores of new entries on topics that were in their nascent stages in 1994 with the 8th edition. The 9th Edition features entirely new or completely rewritten home articles or whole families of articles on the full array of topical coverage, including but by no means limited to: Genetics, Engineering, Human Genome Project (The), and Cloning; Bioprocess Engineering (Biotechnology); Space Shuttle, Space Stations, Spacecraft Missions, Satellites (Communications and Navigation), Cosmology, X‑ray Astronomy (family of articles), Astrobiology and The Universe; Artificial Intelligence (family of articles); Medicine, Diseases, Vaccines, Vision (family of articles), AIDS, and STDs; Climate, Global Warming, and Acid Rain; Gerontology and Biochemical Theories of Aging; Computer Sciences and The Internet; and Flat Panel Display Technology (family of articles). Next the suggested readings at the end of articles now contain both updated print and Internet references. One has only to engage a typical search engine, on any server, on a large topic, say Artificial Intelligence, to realize the value of these sources. Instead of beginning with "hits" that number in the thousands, VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA readers will have the luxury of having much of the culling already done for them, as they will be offered good "first places" to go for more information. These thousands of references throughout the Ninth Edition will, one hopes, provide a bridge to further and deeper knowledge on literally scores of topics. New to this edition, editors have added detailed Time Lines and Glossaries to some of the large home articles (Bioprocess Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Vision and the Eye, Optical Fiber Systems, The Internet and many others) to offer "at a glance" information and historical perspective. Finally, the editors have added brief biographies of scores of scientists whose work is alluded to in the text of the book. A history of their times is not complete without mention of their works. Science is history. A statistical summary of the Ninth Edition would include (1) more than 8,000 entries; (2) more than 9,000 crossreferences for convenient retrieval of information; (3) an alphabetical index with more than 19,500 lines; and (4) 4,378 diagrams, graphs and photographs, and in excess of 550 tables. The interior references in the book, where one article refers to another article that offers augmented or corollary coverage, and the visual aids, as well as the index, have been entirely overhauled; this will result in much greater ease in "navigating" the book.It is the best place to begin with encompassing the vast innovations of the science at the beginning of the 21st century. VAN NOSTRAND'S SCIENTIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIA is the best reference for initial consultation and orientation. REPRESENTATIVE TOPICAL COVERAGE: ANIMAL LIFE: Amphibians, Annelida, Arthropods, Birds, Coelenterates, Echinoderms, Fishes, Insects, Mammals, Mesozoa, Mollusks, Paleontology, Protozoa, Reptiles, Rotifers, Zoology BIOSCIENCES: Amino Acids, Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biology, Biophysics, Cytology, Enzymes, Fermentation, Genetics, Hormones, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Proteins, Recombinant DNA, Viruses, Vitamins CHEMISTRY: Acids and Bases, Catalysts, Chemical Elements, Colloid Systems, Corrosion, Crystals, Electrochemistry, Free Radicals, Inorganic Chemistry, Ions, Macromolecular Science, Organic Chemistry, Oxidation‑Reduction, Photochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Solutions and Saltes EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES: Climatology, Ecology, Geochemistry, Geodynamics, Geology, Geophysics, Hydrology, Meteorology, Oceanography, Tectonics, Seismology, Volcanology ENERGY SOURCES AND POWER TECHNOLOGY: Batteries, Biomass and Wastes, Coal, Combustion, Electric Power, Geothermal Energy, Hydroelectric Power, Natural Gas, Nuclear Energy, Ocean Energy, Resources, Petroleum, Solar Energy, Steam Generation, Tidal Energy, Turbines, Wind Power MATHEMATICS AND INFORMATION SCIENCES: Automatic Control, Communications, Computing Data Processing, Measurements, Navigation and Guidance, Statistics, Units and Standards MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Glass and Ceramics, Laser Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Mining, Microelectronics, Plastics and Fibers, Process Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation MEDICINE, ANATOMY, AND PHYSIOLOGY: Brain and Nervous System, Cancer and Oncology, Cardiovascular System, Chemotherapy, Dermatology, Diagnostics, Digestive System, Endocrine System, Genetic Disorders, Gerontology, Hematology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Kidney and Urinary Tract, Mental Illness, Muscular System, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology/Dental, Parasitology, Pharmacology, Reproductive System, Respiratory System, Rheumatology, Skeletal System PHYSICS: Atoms and Molecules, Electricity, Electronics, Fluid State, Gravitation. Magnetism. Mechanics. Motion. Optics, Radiation, Solid State, Sound, Subatomic Particles, Surfaces, Theoretical Physics, Waves PLANT SCIENCES: Agriculture, Algae, Botany, Diseases and Pests, Fruits, Fungi, Growth Modifiers, Nutritional Values, Plant Breeding, Seeds and Germ Plasm, Trees, Yeasts and Molds SPACE AND PLANETARY SCIENCES: Astrochemistry, Astrodynamics, Astronautics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology, Probes and Satellites, Solar Systems
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Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia 2 Volume Set
by Glenn D. Considine
List Price: $475.00
Available from Amazon
Price: $380.00
on 7-30-2008
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