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Engineering the new age
May, 1949. ]
BOOK NOTES.
529
uses of organosilicon compounds are discussed, the physical chemistry of these materials is almost completely ignored. The chapter on nomenclature is adequate and consists for the most part of quotations from the article by Sauer, and the report of the American Chemical Society's Nomenclature Committee on rules for the naming of silicon compounds. I t is unfortunate that these rules have been so consistently violated in the text. The t a b l e of physical constants includes values of melting point, boiling point, density, and refractive index for most known organosilicon compounds and is the most useful feature of the book. This book may be of value to workers in the field who want in one place an extensive bibliography with some comment on each reference. I t may be helpful to those who wish to know about the various uses of silicone materials, although the chapter on this topic has a confused organization. I t will be useful for its list of physical constants of individual compounds. The book will be confusing to the average chemist with no previous knowledge of the field, and it is likely to be of little value to students or to non-chemists. The statements by the publisher on the dust j a c k e t that this book "critically evaluates all lhe vast amount of work done in this unusual and little understood department of organic chemistry," and that it is the "first critical summary of the subject," are both unwarranted and unfair to the author who makes no such claims. ARTHUR E. NEWKIRK.
BOOK
NOTES.
MATHEMATICS, OUR GREAT HERITAGE. Essays on the N a t u r e and Cultural Significance of Mathematics. Selected and edited by William L. Sehaaf. 291 pages, 14 X 21 cm. New York, H a r p e r & Brothers, 1948. Price, $3.50. These essays have been collected for the thoughtful reader who would understand why mathematics is of much importance to mankind. Grouped in five sections, the essays t r e a t of mathematics from the following viewpoints: its role as a creative art; its origin and development; its internal structure and intrinsic nature; its relation to science and technology; and its culttiral and humanistic bearing. The sixteen authors include some of the most outstanding writers on mathematical and scientific topics, such as E. T . Bell, G. H . Hardy, George Sarton and T . Dantzig. ENGINEERING THE NEW AGE, by John J. O'Neill. 320 pages, 14 X 21 cm. New York, Ives Washburn, 1949. Price, $3.50. A veteran science reporter, Mr. O'Neill, in this volume, presents some thoughts on how man can make the e a r t h a better place in which to live. He sees the need for a development of social consciousness by science and engineering with a resulting new approach to the world's problems. The treatment is interwoven with facts from various sciences.
BOOK NOTES.
529
uses of organosilicon compounds are discussed, the physical chemistry of these materials is almost completely ignored. The chapter on nomenclature is adequate and consists for the most part of quotations from the article by Sauer, and the report of the American Chemical Society's Nomenclature Committee on rules for the naming of silicon compounds. I t is unfortunate that these rules have been so consistently violated in the text. The t a b l e of physical constants includes values of melting point, boiling point, density, and refractive index for most known organosilicon compounds and is the most useful feature of the book. This book may be of value to workers in the field who want in one place an extensive bibliography with some comment on each reference. I t may be helpful to those who wish to know about the various uses of silicone materials, although the chapter on this topic has a confused organization. I t will be useful for its list of physical constants of individual compounds. The book will be confusing to the average chemist with no previous knowledge of the field, and it is likely to be of little value to students or to non-chemists. The statements by the publisher on the dust j a c k e t that this book "critically evaluates all lhe vast amount of work done in this unusual and little understood department of organic chemistry," and that it is the "first critical summary of the subject," are both unwarranted and unfair to the author who makes no such claims. ARTHUR E. NEWKIRK.
BOOK
NOTES.
MATHEMATICS, OUR GREAT HERITAGE. Essays on the N a t u r e and Cultural Significance of Mathematics. Selected and edited by William L. Sehaaf. 291 pages, 14 X 21 cm. New York, H a r p e r & Brothers, 1948. Price, $3.50. These essays have been collected for the thoughtful reader who would understand why mathematics is of much importance to mankind. Grouped in five sections, the essays t r e a t of mathematics from the following viewpoints: its role as a creative art; its origin and development; its internal structure and intrinsic nature; its relation to science and technology; and its culttiral and humanistic bearing. The sixteen authors include some of the most outstanding writers on mathematical and scientific topics, such as E. T . Bell, G. H . Hardy, George Sarton and T . Dantzig. ENGINEERING THE NEW AGE, by John J. O'Neill. 320 pages, 14 X 21 cm. New York, Ives Washburn, 1949. Price, $3.50. A veteran science reporter, Mr. O'Neill, in this volume, presents some thoughts on how man can make the e a r t h a better place in which to live. He sees the need for a development of social consciousness by science and engineering with a resulting new approach to the world's problems. The treatment is interwoven with facts from various sciences.