Introducing Science

by Alan Isaacs, Isaac Asimov (Foreword)

THIS DIRECT AND LIVELY BOOK perf orms a genuine service to the reader eager to know what modern science is all about. Organized around two central concepts matter and energy Introducing Science uses no "scien- tific" word without first explaining it and requires no prior knowledge of mathematics. It makes easily comprehensible the most recent advances in physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and related fields. Dr. Isaacs first explains what constitutes inor- ganic, organic, and living matter including ele- ments, atoms, and molecules; gases, liquids, solids, and crystals; and cell reproduction, vi- ruses, and DNA. He then turns to energy chemical, mechanical, electrical, radiant, and nuclear lucidly explain- ing such "complexities" as electromagnetic fields, radiation, relativity, and thermonuclear reaction. In the final section, he surveys the boundaries of knowledge, discussing in particular the creation of life and of the universe and the ultimate nature of matter. "Public opinion in matters scientific," writes Isaac Asimov in his Foreword, "cannot exist in a vac- uum The knowledge on which a rational and constructive public opinion may form itself can come only from the labors of those who . . . possess the ability to explain it to those without special- ized training and are willing to spend the time to do so. Dr. Isaacs is one of these scientist-writers. Within a small compass, without the use of mathematics, with minimum use of symbols, he manages to cover the salient areas of chemistry and physics. Science is no mystery, and Dr. Isaacs makes it none. It is, indeed, a great adventure which all of us ought to understand if not as professional participants, then at least as intelligent and inter- ested onlookers. Dr. Isaacs helps us do that.

244 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

Reviews

[P.J. MacNamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this 1963 paperback in a second-hand shop for peanuts. It's basically about the nature of matter and energy, which as concepts are really quite fascinating. The book has loads of diagrams, charts etc, which really help.

In 2021, this is as much a history book as it is a science book. If you're a modern day science boffin this is definitely not for you, but if you're simply curious, as I am, about what matter and energy really are and how they relate to the universe and to one another, you will surely get something out of this.

You know what? I've got a similar book about the history of plastics somewhere. That's pretty awesome too. I'll let you know if I run across it.

[Amélia Pinto · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book about general science was written in 1963, which doesn’t seem like that long ago. However, by reading this book, we can clearly observe differences between how topics were approached then and how they are approached now. Various scientific topics are touched on in this book, but the explanations seem to lack some information. This can be because the book’s purpose is solely to introduce scientific topics, therefore touching them only briefly, or because nowadays we have a lot more information due to technological and scientific advances. Crazy as it seems, in 55 years science has evolved a lot. This only comes to show how much we still don’t know about our own Universe, and how much we still have to discover. Science is always evolving, and even with new discoveries every single day, we may never understand it completely.
Anyway, I find it fascinating to look at books as historical documents, since they are very reliable ones.