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In reply to ledbetter
LETTER
TO THE
IN REPLY
TO
EDITORS
LEDBETTER*
It is certainly not my intent to disassociate myself from responsibility for book reviews that I perform. ProI&sor Ledbetter. who published a book u-ith a number of typographical errors, seems to find it ditficult to credit that rlrrtiosphrric E~rriror~rrnt also occasionally has the same problem. The omission of my name from the r;‘\ieH of his book was inadvertent. and not intended to conceal anything. Professor Ledbetter also seems to feel that he is specifically the target of unique criticism. As a fairly constant reader of booksand writer of reviews. I uould say that the shortcomingsof his book-which do exist-are predominantly a testimonial to the fact that he is human. not superhuman. He has attempted to fill a perceived lack in the array to text books. Very possibly. this was done in somewhat of a hurry to meet an academic year deadline. The results falls substantially short of perfection. and precisely in those areas where almost anyone. trying to cover as broad a field as he has assayed. would have shortcomings. Clarity of writing tends to be directly proportional to closeness to one’s own field of greatest expertize. The avoidance of undefined jargon requires enormous self discipline and careful review. Almost inevitably, some key papers will escape one’s notice. and one will therefore include information that is out of date. Adequately proof reading one’s own ~rritinp is nearly impossible, particularly under pressure of time. I have all the same feelings. However, once the book is actually published. it is the business of the reviewer to hoist cutc’~rs to the actual shortcomingsof any book, and to warn prospective buyers to look out for them. I would not personally hcsitatc to use Dr. Ledbetter‘s book as a text, assuming that nothing better comes along in the interim. I cannot recommend it for someone ne!v to the &Id. who lacks the necessary background knowledge to correct the errors u here they occur. .Varional Cenrerlix- .Arnro.sph~ric Res~wch. Boulder.
Colorado
50302. L’. S. .A.
Ja\ns P. Lorx-,i-. JR.
TO THE
IN REPLY
TO
EDITORS
LEDBETTER*
It is certainly not my intent to disassociate myself from responsibility for book reviews that I perform. ProI&sor Ledbetter. who published a book u-ith a number of typographical errors, seems to find it ditficult to credit that rlrrtiosphrric E~rriror~rrnt also occasionally has the same problem. The omission of my name from the r;‘\ieH of his book was inadvertent. and not intended to conceal anything. Professor Ledbetter also seems to feel that he is specifically the target of unique criticism. As a fairly constant reader of booksand writer of reviews. I uould say that the shortcomingsof his book-which do exist-are predominantly a testimonial to the fact that he is human. not superhuman. He has attempted to fill a perceived lack in the array to text books. Very possibly. this was done in somewhat of a hurry to meet an academic year deadline. The results falls substantially short of perfection. and precisely in those areas where almost anyone. trying to cover as broad a field as he has assayed. would have shortcomings. Clarity of writing tends to be directly proportional to closeness to one’s own field of greatest expertize. The avoidance of undefined jargon requires enormous self discipline and careful review. Almost inevitably, some key papers will escape one’s notice. and one will therefore include information that is out of date. Adequately proof reading one’s own ~rritinp is nearly impossible, particularly under pressure of time. I have all the same feelings. However, once the book is actually published. it is the business of the reviewer to hoist cutc’~rs to the actual shortcomingsof any book, and to warn prospective buyers to look out for them. I would not personally hcsitatc to use Dr. Ledbetter‘s book as a text, assuming that nothing better comes along in the interim. I cannot recommend it for someone ne!v to the &Id. who lacks the necessary background knowledge to correct the errors u here they occur. .Varional Cenrerlix- .Arnro.sph~ric Res~wch. Boulder.
Colorado
50302. L’. S. .A.
Ja\ns P. Lorx-,i-. JR.