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The Wonder Book of Science
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1953
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February 9, 2020
Those of you who have read a few of my reviews will know that I do have a penchant for old books, especially old children’s books. Some have dated badly, and some hardly at all, although production values change.
The “Wonder” series of books, under the general editorship of Harry Golding, were excellent and a “wonder” for their time, but some are now 80 or 90 years old. The wonder to me is that they were produced to such a high quality. It is surprising how sturdy these books are, printed as they were on high quality, glossy paper, and with proper sewn - not glued - bindings. Consequently The Wonder Book of Science is very heavy. The pages have not yellowed at all, never mind foxed, and the text is in good clear black print. It is rare to get such fine quality today, especially in children’s books. Even many Art books feel far flimsier. However, it does not conform to modern standards, having just seven colour plates overall, and the remaining nearly two hundred and fifty photographs and drawings being in a rather dull monochrome.
I had a copy of this book as a child, and remember copying some of the diagrams, although I think much of the science was beyond me. Perhaps it is the sort of book which was rarely read from cover to cover. On opening this copy, it too looks brand new inside. The text of The Wonder Book of Science has been written by Walter Shepherd, in a chatty, comradely style, although it is clear that he is very well informed in the areas he covers, for the time. There is a wealth of information in this book, as can be seen by the list of contents.
Some “Wonder” books have not dated much in content, but much of the Science in this one from 1931 has been sadly surpassed. It may be fun to read from an historical point of view, but not really for information. There seem to have been new editions of the book every decade or so; one in the 1940s, and this one, I believe from 1952. Yet even so, the knowledge and perceptions feel a world away. The latest developments in physics are unknown, the upcoming “space race” was not even thought of, and even knowledge about guided missiles was very simplistic. The author speculates about rocket motors being made more powerful, so that “they could be made to carry men into space, and a new age of adventure will have begun.” Nuclear fission was still in the future (the end of 1938) and there is discussion of uses for atomic power such as “cars, aeroplanes and rockets” as a futuristic idea. Other fields too are dated; the geological sections are interesting, but it is clear that although Alfred Wegener had proposed his theory of “continental drift” as far back as 1915, little account had been taken of plate tectonics for this book.
The Wonder Book of Science is interesting to look through, and could be fascinating to someone whose interest lies with the history of Science, but it is only of passing interest - and perhaps amusement - now to a modern reader. At the time it was first published, I should think this would easily be a four star book. Now though, three stars would be over-generous, by modern standards.
Here is a list of the contents:
Our Universe
How the Earth Began
What is Life?
Living and Growing
Viewing the Heavens
Particles from Space
The Expanding Universe
Flight into the Future
Molecules and Atoms
Electricity and Magnetism
Build your own Motor
Light and Sound
Atomic Energy
Harwell - the Atom Factory
Rockets and Projectiles
Space Flight
The Crust of the Earth
Chemistry and the Everyday World
Flying Higher
Plastics - Man-made Materials
Science of the Weather
Cloud Seeding
Looking into our Brains
Sound Barrier
Coal and Petroleum
The 3-D Film
Radio, Radar and Television
Science for Health
X-Rays in Industry
Life-Giving Fungus
Radio Astronomy
Pressure Electricity
Where to Look - The Index
The “Wonder” series of books, under the general editorship of Harry Golding, were excellent and a “wonder” for their time, but some are now 80 or 90 years old. The wonder to me is that they were produced to such a high quality. It is surprising how sturdy these books are, printed as they were on high quality, glossy paper, and with proper sewn - not glued - bindings. Consequently The Wonder Book of Science is very heavy. The pages have not yellowed at all, never mind foxed, and the text is in good clear black print. It is rare to get such fine quality today, especially in children’s books. Even many Art books feel far flimsier. However, it does not conform to modern standards, having just seven colour plates overall, and the remaining nearly two hundred and fifty photographs and drawings being in a rather dull monochrome.
I had a copy of this book as a child, and remember copying some of the diagrams, although I think much of the science was beyond me. Perhaps it is the sort of book which was rarely read from cover to cover. On opening this copy, it too looks brand new inside. The text of The Wonder Book of Science has been written by Walter Shepherd, in a chatty, comradely style, although it is clear that he is very well informed in the areas he covers, for the time. There is a wealth of information in this book, as can be seen by the list of contents.
Some “Wonder” books have not dated much in content, but much of the Science in this one from 1931 has been sadly surpassed. It may be fun to read from an historical point of view, but not really for information. There seem to have been new editions of the book every decade or so; one in the 1940s, and this one, I believe from 1952. Yet even so, the knowledge and perceptions feel a world away. The latest developments in physics are unknown, the upcoming “space race” was not even thought of, and even knowledge about guided missiles was very simplistic. The author speculates about rocket motors being made more powerful, so that “they could be made to carry men into space, and a new age of adventure will have begun.” Nuclear fission was still in the future (the end of 1938) and there is discussion of uses for atomic power such as “cars, aeroplanes and rockets” as a futuristic idea. Other fields too are dated; the geological sections are interesting, but it is clear that although Alfred Wegener had proposed his theory of “continental drift” as far back as 1915, little account had been taken of plate tectonics for this book.
The Wonder Book of Science is interesting to look through, and could be fascinating to someone whose interest lies with the history of Science, but it is only of passing interest - and perhaps amusement - now to a modern reader. At the time it was first published, I should think this would easily be a four star book. Now though, three stars would be over-generous, by modern standards.
Here is a list of the contents:
Our Universe
How the Earth Began
What is Life?
Living and Growing
Viewing the Heavens
Particles from Space
The Expanding Universe
Flight into the Future
Molecules and Atoms
Electricity and Magnetism
Build your own Motor
Light and Sound
Atomic Energy
Harwell - the Atom Factory
Rockets and Projectiles
Space Flight
The Crust of the Earth
Chemistry and the Everyday World
Flying Higher
Plastics - Man-made Materials
Science of the Weather
Cloud Seeding
Looking into our Brains
Sound Barrier
Coal and Petroleum
The 3-D Film
Radio, Radar and Television
Science for Health
X-Rays in Industry
Life-Giving Fungus
Radio Astronomy
Pressure Electricity
Where to Look - The Index
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