The Age of Science

by Gerard Piel

A panoramic overview of the scientific accomplishments of the twentieth century explores dramatic discoveries in the fields of natural history, cell and molecular biology, earth history, human evolution, cosmology, the subatomic world, and more. 50,000 first printing.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Piel graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor of arts degree in 1937. He was the science editor of Life Magazine from 1939 to 1945. In 1946 and 1947, he worked at the Henry Kaiser Company as assistant to the president. In 1948, in association with two colleagues, he launched a new version of Scientific American, to promote science literacy for the general public in the postwar era. He held a number of honorary degrees and awards, including the UNESCO Kalinga Prize in 1962.

Reviews

[Sam knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is an excellent compendium of scientific discoveries from the 20th century. the topics are many and varied, ranging from biology, sociology, paleontology, physics, astronomy and many more. the thing that impresses me the most is the fine level of detail and accuracy entailed within every page. when you start reading the part about the basic tenets of astronomy, or perhaps the philosophical debunking of quantum theory, expect to be briefed on the history and contemporary development of those things, with tidbits on the lives of the men who worked on them. I won't lie this is not an easy read, has a lot of names to remember, but still consider this to be a book worth reading.