Reading Room
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Peer Review and Manuscript Management in Scientific Journals by Irene Hames This comprehensive yet concise book provides a thorough and complete guide to every aspect of managing the peer review process for scientific journals. Until now, little information has been readily available on how this important facet of the journal publishing process should be conducted properly. Peer Review and Manuscript Management in Scientific Journals fills this gap and provides clear guidance on all aspects of peer review, from manuscript submission to final decision. Peer Review and Manuscript Management in Scientific Journals is an essential reference for science journal editors, editorial office staff and publishers. It is an invaluable handbook for the set-up of new Editorial Offices, as well as a useful reference for well-established journals which may need guidance on a particular situation, or may want to review their current practices. Although intended primarily for journals in science, much of its content will be relevant to other scholarly areas. Irene Hames has kindly granted Sense About Science permission to reprint several parts of her book, which can be downloaded in pdf format by clicking on the links.
You can read selected reviews of this book on the Blackwell website - click here.
Published by Blackwell Publishing, ISBN# 1405131594
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In the Name of Science Issues in Responsible Animal Experimentation by F. Barbara Orlands Where does the balance lie in the use of animals for human benefit? In this book, F. Barbara Orlands examines this issue in close detail and with an incredible level of balance and patience. She starts with an historical perspective on animal experimentation which makes the reader realise how far we’ve come on this issue already; there was a time, not so long ago, when it was the belief of educated men that animals were incapable of experiencing pain and were put on the earth for the benefit of mankind. The book then moves through an analysis of all the issues that could possibly be considered - the sourcing of experimental animals, the purpose of the research, the use of animals in education versus research to name but a few. Detailed and rather dry perspectives are interspersed with particular case studies that created food for thought or catalysed change in national or state policy. The only drawback for this book, from the point of view of a non-American living and working outside of the states is that the book’s primary focus is the examination of the issues around animal experimentation in the USA. Examples from Europe, Canada and the Antipodes (where the author indicates that the development of polices to protect animals in research facilities were in existence well before the issues were raised in the USA, and where policies are still far stronger than those in place in the USA) are used sparingly, only to counterpoint to the state of thinking and policy in the USA. Despite this, ‘In the Name of Science’ is a thought-provoking and thoroughly researched examination of animal experimentation issues that any research scientist would benefit from reading.
Published by Oxford University Press, ISBN# 019510871X
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Discarded Science Ideas that seemed good at the time... by John Grant Did someone really think that…? Beginning with the birth of the Earth and ending with theories of life after death such as cryonics and thanatology, this book examines how scientific views have been influenced by religion and politics and how, despite their good intentions and ingenious explanations for their ideas, scientists were often just wrong. The author, John Grant, has published over 70 books including Corrupted Science (2007), from which this latest book follows on.
Published by Facts, Figures and Fun , ISBN# 1904332498
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The Ferocious Summer Palmer's Penguins and the Warming of Antarctica by Meredith Hooper Meredith Hooper’s book is an odd mixture, offering a glimpse into the tight-knit world of Antarctic field research and recounting its history, whilst at the same time giving a warning illustration of the effects of global warming. The question is whether any one book can succeed in all of these aims (and more) and remain a satisfying and informative read. The overall theme is that Adélie penguins found near the Palmer research station on the Antarctic Peninsula can act as a marker for the extent and severity of global warming. Changes in snow fall, sea ice extent, predator numbers and other factors linked to recent rapid warming have caused the penguin population to drop. This was dramatically observed during the so-called “ferocious summer” that Hooper spent at Palmer. The book provides an insight into the lives of those who are dedicated to documenting and understanding the ecology of the Antarctic Peninsula. Right from the start, she succeeds in setting the scene and creating an atmosphere of isolation. The highs and lows of research in such extreme conditions &emdash; the frustration of work cancelled by weather, the closeness of friendships and the dedication required to spend days counting penguins in freezing conditions or dissecting their stomach contents &emdash; are vividly recreated. At times, however, it becomes a little too much of an insider’s experience (“I know because I’ve been there…”; “nobody else understands us…”), leaving the reader feeling somewhat excluded. The fact that Hooper originally trained as a historian ensures that Ferocious Summer reads very differently from your average popular science tome. Throughout the book, descriptions of Antarctica’s geography and ecology are given a strong historical slant. Some of the anecdotes about early fieldwork are particularly interesting (anyone fancy a solitary 12-hour shift on a glacier noting down thermometer readings?), and the scale and foresight of the research is incredible. Early scientists recorded data in the hope that it would be useful to those analysing trends 30 years in the future &emdash; definitely an interesting concept in our fast-paced world of instant gratification. The main problem with the book, as far as I’m concerned, is its lack of direction. The first chapter explains the link between decreasing Adélie penguin numbers and global warming, but as the book progresses we are simply presented with snippets of history, and anecdotes about birthday parties and catching penguins. Not that the absence of a coherent thread makes the book unpleasant to read, just a little jumbled! All in all, not a bad read &emdash; but perhaps one for those with a particular interest in Antarctica.
Published by Profile Books, ISBN# 1846680239
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The Tiger That Isn’t by Michael Blastland & Andrew Dilnot If like Benjamin Disraeli famously said, and there really are only three types of lies in this world “Lies, damn lies and Statistics”, we need a way to see through the latter to facts beneath. This book by Michael Blastland and Andrew Dilnot aims to give us, the reader exactly that; the tools we need to take a closer look at the statistics with which we find ourselves bombarded with on a daily basis. In order to see the true results behind the smoke and mirrors, giving us the ability to interpret them for ourselves. The book covers the potentially boring world of statistics and what they mean, but presents them in a way that I found both amusing and informative. As a non statistician I was amazed at my naivety towards numbers and how easily they can be used to bamboozle and confuse. The book covers a wide range of frequently misquoted statistics in areas such as, cancer research, pensions, the NHS, wealth, disease as well as many other areas. These statistics are then explained in a simple fashion which makes you wonder how they were ever misquoted/misused (often to sensationalise an article) in the first place. Everyone knows not to believe everything you read in the papers but I had naively overlooked the statistics angle. Now the part of the news that I had believed prior to reading the book and quoted in discussions to appear smarter has disappeared. As I previously thought that you can’t argue with cold hard statistical facts. However, now I find myself more critical of the statistics I read, and in a better position to interpret them with confidence, in order to make up my own mind on their validity. One early example in the book covers the controversial topic of the state retirement age being increased from 65 to 67. It was then reported in a national paper, that 1 in 5 men would therefore never receive a state pension, having misread a mortality table and no one ever questioned the statistic. The story itself may have caused a few heart attacks in men getting close to that magical age but the true figure is in fact 4% not 20%. One of the most important tools this book teaches us we all already possess but often overlook when faced by the power of statistics - common sense. You have to ask yourself “If you think about it, does this really make sense?” I would have loved more examples but I suspect that they might be saving some material for their radio 4 “More or Less” show or future books so I can’t be too harsh for that. Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts, states: “If every politician and journalist were required to read this engaging and eye-opening book ... we would live in a wiser, better-governed world.” I agree with the sentiment entirely.
Published by Profile Books, ISBN# 1861978391
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Corrupted Science Fraud, ideology and politics in science by John Grant I tremendously enjoyed John Grant’s latest book on scientific deviance - a rip-roaring adventure through the dark underbelly of science. If you are still under the belief that science is an impartial, noble pursuit of knowledge untainted by ego or undue influence then prepare to be shocked as Grant illustrates that throughout history, dark forces have undermined the scientific process time and time again - invariably to the detriment of both science and the public. Grant starts with the small fish, such as the routine practice of senior academics publishing, in their own name, work performed almost entirely by their junior assistants, and ends with the political subjugation of science on a national and international level. We learn that far from defending against fraud, academic institutions are set up in a way as to positively encourage it - demanding ever-increasing levels of productivity (measured by papers published per year), and willing to ignore the trend for “co-authors” to sign off on studies that they have not even read, let alone performed. So too do we learn that far from the maxim “nullius in verba”, academia often treats its most senior scientists as beyond reproach, so that their work becomes sacrosanct and the mistakes within go unchallenged, sometimes for decades. The middle of the book details the various run-ins science had endured through the years. From the pseudoscientists of the early 20th century, obsessively trying to prove the existence of ether and N-rays, to the implausible substances thrown up by the paranoia of the Cold War (such as Red Mercury, for which a considerable market of buyers and sellers exists, despite the fact that it is a completely fictional substance). We also tour the clashes between the Church and science, from the Inquisition of Galileo to the prosecution of Snopes. One of the joys of Grant’s book is his willingness to name names when it comes to the villains (and occasional heroes) of science - this is not a mild-mannered or impartial report. Grant exposes those responsible for the subversion of science through the ages - not only its major players such as Lysenko and Hwang Woo-Suk, but even those small-time tricksters whose malfeasance hardly registered outside of scientific circles. If there is any doubt in your mind as to Grant’s unforgiving approach, simply read the titles of the last chapter, “The Political Corruption of Science”: Stalin’s Russia, Hitler’s Germany and Bush’s America. Ouch.
Published by Facts, Figures and Fun, ISBN# 9781904332497
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How To Fossilise Your Hamster by Mick O'Hare This book is a absolutely great! I’m sure it will do at least as well as its best selling predecessors “Does anything eat wasps?” and “Why don’t penguins’ feet freeze?”. But do not be fooled into thinking that this is just more of the same. Whilst the contents of the previous books have been taken directly from the “Last word” column of New Scientist, “How to Fossilise Your Hamster” is a series of, often ingenious, experiments designed to allow you to discover the answers for yourself. The book does deliver on its grandiose intent of showing us “... how great science has been achieved though experimentation”, although I suspect that theoretical scientists everywhere will nettled by the assertion that they don’t do “real” science. For those of us how have read and enjoyed the previous books, there is a certain satisfying smugness to be had from noticing the problems that are repeated (such as why beer froths in a dry glass, but not a wet one), however this only adds to the fun, since it encourages us to go and test the answers we were given. Since these experiments have been written by one author, the book does lack some of the varied and unexpected wit that is prevalent through out the previous books (and the Last word column itself), however there are enough amusing comments and side stories to keep you smiling all the way to the end. For the most part the experiments are clearly aimed towards children and, as far as I can tell, all relevant safety advice had been included, however this is definitely a handbook for the enthusiastic mum or dad rather than something for younger kids to try on their own (especially with the inclusion of several alcohol based investigations). Occasionally more diagrams would have been of benefit, making some of the more complicated set ups easier to understand, but for the most part all the experiments are well explained and potential pitfalls clearly described. Most importantly the explanations of what is going on in each mini-project are both clear and comprehensive and should provide you with answers that will satisfy even the most inquisitive of children. Do not be tempted to skip over the “P.S.” section as this contains many great nuggets of background info (occasionally important safety advice that should probably be more prominently displayed) and many of the funniest anecdotes. This book easily lived up to my expectations of an amusing, well written description of many interesting household experiments for the enthusiastic amateur, but it also made me sit up in disbelief when it said that water rising in an upturned jar containing a candle isn’t due to the burning of the oxygen. Refusing to accept what I was reading, I ran to the kitchen and immediately set about trying to prove that the good people at New scientist were simply misled. They were of course correct and after a few minutes I conceded defeat and acknowledged that this really is “where the true pleasure in science lies.”
Published by Profile, ISBN# 1846680441
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Better Looking, Better Living, Better Loving by John Emsley Chemistry, with its daunting plethora of jargon and technical detail, appears to be the most feared of all the sciences, and the most alien to the layman. John Emsley confronts this view with his book, Better Looking, Better Living, Better Loving. Each topic begins with a snippet of an imaginary newspaper of the future, heralding the latest invention in the field. He goes on to demonstrate just how common chemistry really is in our everyday lives, and how much we rely on it. More importantly, he explains how it all actually works. Find out how gold is used to treat arthritis, and why red hot chilli can provide pain relief. Discover solar panels that generate power even on cloudy days, and why carbohydrates in our diet are not such a bad thing. The book is a review of how chemistry really works, and how we use it every day. From nail polish to deodorant, and self-cleaning glass to fabric softeners, chemistry surrounds us. The ways in which it all works are not simple but by means of well-chosen anecdotes and clear, concise explanations, Emsley makes those concepts accessible to his non-scientific audience. This book provides the means to understand the products and appliances that we rely on. It equips the reader with sufficient knowledge about the chemicals they use and to which they are exposed, and to understand the potential risks involved. Where controversial topics arise, the author lays out the arguments on either side of the debate in a refreshingly impartial manner so as to allow the reader to make their own decisions. As with all books of this genre, there are unavoidable lapses into more technical language. However, for the most part Emsley employs a style that, whilst informative, keeps the issues simple. He achieves this by doing away with many of the more complicated elements, the details of which the more enthusiastic reader can pick up in the extensive glossary. My only criticism is of the title and presentation of the book, which don’t help it to stand out in the crowded shelves of today’s popular science literature. This is unfortunate since there is much to learn from it and the author’s style is very approachable. Don’t judge this book by its cover. Jump in and discover just how much chemistry is responsible for.
Published by Wiley-VCH, ISBN# 3527318631
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The Shock of the Old by David Edgerton David Edgerton’s book has two central messages about technology’s place in world history. First, the new is not always as new as it seems; and second, the future - more often than not - lies in the old. We sometimes seem hypnotized by technology and innovation. As consumers, we crave the newest and the next. We see ourselves at the bleeding edge of the technological revolution, craning our necks to see what the future of transport or communication might hold; and if it’s bigger, shinier or faster than last time, so much the better. When we compile our timelines of innovation - with headings like ‘Technology That Shaped the World’ - we esteem those inventions that in some way broke the ‘wow’ barrier. Spaceflight, steam power, the atom bomb and the Internet all figure uncontroversially whenever we cast a lazy eye over the history of technological change. But, Edgerton argues, how meaningful is such a retrospective that dwells so heavily on the magnificent at the expense of the mundane? In The Shock of the Old, he tries to make us admit the difference between what impresses us and what has really changed us. The book is littered with examples to isolate the innovation-centric view from the use-centric view, and it tries to show that the latter is much more accurate and illustrative when we really want to see the pattern of technology’s impact on the world. A use-centric view - where we consider what technology is actually affecting the lives of the population of the world at any one point in time, and not just that small rich portion - shows that technologies ‘disappear and reappear, and mix and match across the centuries’. The condom, already in wide usage before the advent of its much-lauded alternative, the contraceptive pill, has made an even greater resurgence in the modern era. Can such an ordinary technology be truly said to have had less ‘use-based’ impact than rocketry or the aeroplane? The ‘high cultural visibility’ of some inventions, Edgerton argues, can exaggerate their significance. The two world wars are typically seen as events powered and shaped by mechanical industry. But without the hundreds of thousands of horses and other working animals which were also employed (and killed) on both sides - carrying supplies, for example - both wars would have been fought as differently as if the machine gun had not been invented. Technologies are often seen to be useful the moment they are invented. Yet in 1900, steam power was in greater usage than ever before, despite having been around for a century. In 2000, we used more old-fashioned coal than at any time during the 20th century. Even the ‘domestic revolution’ of the 1950s, where household appliances like washing machines were alluded to as the great liberators of well-off housewives, did not have an impact until much later. A more immediate effect was that technology replaced servants and changed the role of the housewife from supervisor to operative - overall production increased, but leisure time, at least immediately, did not. One argument I found particularly convincing is that of absolute usefulness. When we attribute significance to something, we try to imagine how life would change if it instantly disappeared. But apparent novelty can be undermined by considering the alternatives the past has always offered. It’s easy to forget that information transfer didn’t start with the Internet, or the manipulation of species with genetic engineering. It is quite possible that the lowly sticking plaster has made a bigger ‘use-based’ splash than much of what is typically reported on by the wide-eyed neophile. But ultimately, this book just didn’t fascinate. Some parts were well argued and convincingly pitched. Some of the facts stick too, in a ‘Did you know…?’ way. But too many sections were loaded with forgettable statistics that should have been summed up diagrammatically, preferably in place of some of the grainy monochrome photographs, which themselves are fairly unedifying. The fact-laden subject matter, though meticulously researched, is sometimes a little dry and I wished the thesis had been condensed into a long broadsheet feature rather than an entire book. I accepted many of the points made by the author, but sometimes I didn’t really care. Maybe, like the chroniclers whose analyses are challenged by Edgerton, I am just more attracted to the historically spectacular than the genuinely significant.
Published by Oxford University Press, ISBN# 0195322835
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Power, Sex and Suicide Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life by Nick Lane In each of our cells there are hundreds of biological batteries: phenomenal structures derived from bacteria and known as mitochondria. Nick Lane’s book details the good, the bad and the ugly contributions that mitochondria make to life. The racy title does not convey the amount of evolutionary biology contained in Lane’s book and perhaps it should because, essentially, that is what this book is about: the evolution of multicellular organisms and the part that mitochondria play in the process. Lane writes with a fluent, easy-to-read style and discusses some major theories that are truly amazing and enlightening. These include the evolution of apoptosis to stimulate sex and then being used to kill cells, genders evolving to prevent conflict between mitochondrial genomes, new approaches to tackling the symptoms of ageing by counteracting free-radical leakage and natural selection acting on mitochondria. Lane makes what could have been a dense, impenetrable science book very readable by adding summary passages tying everything together at intervals throughout the book and by the welcome inclusion of a comprehensive glossary. He also gives touching insights into the personal lives of the scientists who made ground-breaking discoveries regarding mitochondria. Nevertheless, I did wonder at whom this kind of book is aimed? Only people with at least an undergraduate background would be able to fully grasp the concepts within; however, I would definitely recommend that anyone take time to read the Introduction (a molecular biology tutorial) and Epilogue (a summary of all the chapters without the full arguments, and with an interesting passage about Lane’s own contribution to primary mitochondrial research). A refreshing aspect of the book is that it draws in a vast number of aspects of biology, but sometimes the balance seems a little strange. For example, there is an enormous amount on scaling, but very little on mitochondrial division, one of the more elegant and well-documented organelle events. The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs and drawings: I would have liked to see more of these, and the drawings in particular deserve colour to bring them to life. This notwithstanding, I never thought that reading a lengthy book entirely about mitochondria could be so pleasurable. Lane excels at highlighting the importance and significance of this organelle, resulting in a text which is accessible and fascinating in equal measure.
Published by Oxford University Press, ISBN# 0199205647
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Bandolier’s Making Sense of the Medical Evidence by Andrew Moore and Henry McQuay “These days everything is seemingly badged as ‘evidence-based’, irrespective of the amount or quality of evidence that is available. Too often someone will claim an evidence base when the evidence they have is a study of two men and a dog, in which the dog got better and the men weren’t ill anyway.” This handy guide is produced by the authors of Bandolier, an independent journal focusing on evidence-based healthcare. Alarmingly, we are told in the introduction that, in Bandolier’s experience, something of the order of only 1% of articles published in medical journals are scientifically sound. This guide sets out to help healthcare professionals, journalists and interested members of the public, find their way through this jungle of faulty evidence. The guide acknowledges that the peer-review system is an important step in assessing such evidence. However, it highlights that peer-review is subject to human error and by no means prevents all suspect evidence from making its way to us. It is after all just the first step in assessing research. This book aims to equip the reader with the tools to spot those trials which don’t live up to their earlier promise. Although it is very thorough, this is not a huge volume that will sit dauntingly at the top of a book shelf, too difficult to lift, let alone read. ‘Bandolier’s Little Book…’ does exactly what it says on the tin. It is divided into seven sections; a basic understanding and tools, clinical trials, observational studies, diagnostic testing, adverse events, health economics and things that don’t fit easily. Each section is divided into labelled subsections and as such it is very easy to navigate. It also has a useful glossary at the back for those readers less well-versed in medical language. Clearly written, it is as easy to read and as humorous as a book on assessing medical evidence could hope to be. It not only contains examples from previous medical trials and articles, but also examples outside of healthcare to simplify some of the ideas involved. For example, the importance of size in clinical trials is introduced with the example of two sock drawers and the issue of how many socks you would need to pull out to be (100%, 90%, 80%...) sure of the proportion of red socks in each. Finally, the book is well-presented with a large number of clear diagrams and graphs that serve to break up as well as illustrate the text. ‘Bandolier’s Little Book…’ successfully achieves its aim to enable healthcare professionals to make sense, quickly and easily, of the evidence with which they are presented and therefore be able to make informed decisions on the best options for patients. However, the clear explanation of the ideas and examples means that it is just as accessible to anyone outside of the healthcare profession who might wish to consult it. As such it will benefit patients and doctors alike and should be regarded as essential for healthcare workers and medical journalists.
Published by Oxford university Press, ISBN# 0198566042
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Testing Treatments by Imogen Evans, Hazel Thornton & Iain Chalmers How do we know whether a particular drug, therapy or operation really works, and how well? How reliable is the clinical evidence? Are clinical trials truly unbiased? And is current research fully focused on the real needs of patients? Such timely questions are raised and resolved in this probing inquiry into modern clinical research, with far reaching implications for daily medical practice and patient care. Special offer for Sense About Science supporters. To get Testing Treatments at the reduced cost of £10, follow the link below and, when asked, insert coupon code: BLTEST Get Testing Treatments for £10
Published by British Library Pubishing Division, ISBN# 071234909X
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One in Three by Adam Wishart When I first heard about One in Three, in particular that it was a son’s personal journey into the history of science and cancer, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Sharing Adam’s situation of having a father with an incurable prostate cancer, I was concerned that this book would be too grim or too personal. However, I am delighted to say that I was wrong; this is a fascinating book of the history of medicine and cancer and, in the end, reassuring in many ways highlighting as it does the huge advances that we have made in the developed world towards treating all diseases, not just cancers. The book charts cancer’s existence, social reaction and treatment from 1831 to 2003. However, Wishart makes it clear from the outset that cancer is a disease with a very long history even though it only began to haunt the medical profession’s conscience in the early 19th Century. When first identified in ancient times it was responsible for only a tiny proportion of deaths; life expectancy was short and few people lived long enough to develop a life-threatening tumour. It was only as we began to conquer diseases like tuberculosis and epidemics like dysentery, typhus and cholera that cancer became more prominent. Today, two-thirds of cancer cases occur in the over 65s and it is seen in part as a disease of longevity. The early stages of the book serve as a reminder of how far we have come in our treatment of disease. Wishart documents the experience of one of the first public operations on a cancer patient: 32 year old Chinese labourer Hoo Loo. Loo had an enormous – four foot in circumference – tumour. Doctors in Canton had refused treatment and he travelled to London with the correct belief that doctors there would operate on him. Unfortunately, in 1831 there was no anaesthetic (being first used in an operation in 1846) and the trauma of having such a procedure was enough to kill Hoo Loo on the operating table. There was also no understanding of hospital disease, or the importance of sterile conditions, these factors made early operations a risky venture both for patient and doctor. Today, a popular view on the causes of cancer is that rising incidence is due to the increased amounts of pesticides, fertilisers, food colourings and other chemicals released into the environment by modern industrial practices. One of the most influential proponents of this theory was Rachel Carson in her book Silent Spring (1954). Caron’s book was informed, Wishart writes, by the work of Wilhelm Heueper a German doctor. Heuper worked in the 1930s for a laboratory funded by Du Pont. Whilst there he recalled a published paper which suspected certain aromatic amines to have caused bladder cancer in dye workers. Heuper suspected that Du Pont’s workers were also at risk. Heueper dedicated his career to investigating what he thought were the environmental causes of cancer with mixed results; many considered his work to be against scientific and industrial progress. Hueper’s theory was eventually dismissed in the face of new scientific investigation: Richard Doll’s research into lung cancer and smoking. Hueper was disparaging of Doll’s research but when the US Surgeon General established a Committee of Smoking they found, after reviewing Doll’s evidence, that cigarette smoking was linked to cancer. Further, Hueper’s theory about the dangers of industrial chemicals was rejected: “It must be emphasized quite strongly that the population exposed to industrial carcinogens is relatively small and that these agents cannot account for the increasing lung cancer risk in the general population.” Although the causes of certain cancers remain contested or unknown, this important chapter in the history of cancer is worth flagging showing as it does how new scientific investigation began to inform the understanding of what caused cancers allowing a shift away from the guesswork of the past. Wishart’s book is packed with interesting material and research about cancer. The chapters on prevention outlining the lengths ‘healthy’ people will go through to reduce their risk of cancers, such as the women who took tamoxifen before they had breast cancer, illustrate the fear that the ‘c’ word strikes in people. The trials and tribulations of different cancer treatments from chemotherapy to radiotherapy to hormone treatments bring home the enormous amount of research and at times personal determination of medics and other individuals to beat the disease. The time line approach of how we have taken on cancer, the progress made and the lessons learned, are valuable to anyone with an interest in the subject. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of medicine. The meticulous documentation of the politics and science of cancer are both enthralling and illuminating.
Published by Profile Books Ltd, ISBN# 1861977522
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The Elements of Murder by John Emsley Did you know that Saddam Hussein had a secret weapon, thallium sulphate, and bumped off his opponents by adding it to their yoghurt, orange juice, vodka or Coca-Cola? Or that UNICEF’s attempt in the 1970s to provide safe drinking water resulted in mass arsenic poisoning? John Emsley’s latest book is a tour through an area of chemistry which fascinates and frightens in equal measure: the chemistry of poison.Emsley leads us through a series of deliberate murders: compelling human drama which includes both domestic serial killers and such famous figures as Napoleon, Mozart, and King Charles II. He tells us too of accidental deaths and environmental poisoning disasters. These lurid tales are woven in with information on the chemistry of the potentially toxic elements mercury, arsenic, antimony, lead, thallium, and some others. We learn how they were discovered, their benefits and dangers, and the results of their presence in some rather surprising places: wallpaper, paint, and pottery glaze to name but a few. Emsley spent 20 years as a researcher and lecturer in chemistry before becoming a science writer and as in his previous books he has included a formidable amount of research here. The chemistry is all there if you want it, with a useful glossary as well. But what really stands out are the lovingly detailed descriptions of individual poison cases: the diary entries, the emotional blackmail, the evidence and, more often than not, the hanging. So The Elements of Murder can be approached on two levels: as a memorable general interest read and as a reference on selected chemical elements, to be dipped into now and then. Only the most committed reader would trawl through all of the chemistry on first viewing, but its presence is crucial: it shows us that poisoning is a complicated business. A toxic element on its own is not guaranteed to kill: a successful poisoning depends on such factors as the dosage, the method of administering the poison, the particular compound in which the toxic element is contained, and the entirely unpredictable reactions of an individual. This point is clearly illustrated by the amazing number and variety of poisoning stories we are told. While the book’s content is fascinating, the same cannot be said for its style. Facts about chemicals are repeated, mistakes in spelling and grammar are liberally scattered around, and the last chapter, ‘Other poisonous elements’, feels like an inconclusive add-on. Perhaps the copy-editor has not done their job properly. Unfortunately this makes for a tough read at times, though Emsley’s ability to find interesting facts compensates for that. For despite its flaws, this book is gripping. It’s the eternal lure of the poison story: why did someone want to murder another human being, how did they do it, and how, despite the subtlety of their method, were they detected? And how could I tell if I were being poisoned? In some cases, such tales are based on ill-founded rumour. In this book, the facts are impeccably researched and laid out before us. Recommended to anyone interested in the darker side of human nature.
Published by Oxford University Press, ISBN# 0192806009
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Hippocratic Oaths by Raymond Tallis Poet, philosopher, novelist and physician, Professor Raymond Tallis is one of the world’s foremost scientific philosophers. In this book, for the first time, he brings together his diverse intellectual interests to address profoundly important questions about our well being.
Published by Atlantic Books, ISBN# 1843541270
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Facing Up Science and its Cultural Adversaries by Steven Weinberg Both the brilliant scientist and the provocative writer are fully present in this book as Weinberg pursues his principal passions, theoretical physics and a deeper understanding of the culture, philosophy, history, and politics of science. Each of these essays, which span fifteen years, struggles in one way or another with the necessity of facing up to the discovery that the laws of nature are impersonal, with no hint of a special status for human beings. Defending the spirit of science against its cultural adversaries, these essays express a viewpoint that is reductionist, realist, and devoutly secular.
Published by Harvard University Press, ISBN# 0674011201
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Science in Public by Jane Gregory and Steve Miller A fascinating and insightful look at science in the media. Does the general public need to understand science? And if so, is it scientists’ responsibility to communicate? Critics have argued that, despite the huge strides made in technology, we live in a “scientifically illiterate” society—one that thinks about the world and makes important decisions without taking scientific knowledge into account. But is the solution to this “illiteracy” to deluge the layman with scientific information? Or does science news need to be focused around specific issues and organized into stories that are meaningful and relevant to people’s lives? In this unprecedented, comprehensive look at a new field, Jane Gregory and Steve Miller point the way to a more effective public understanding of science in the years ahead.
Published by Perseus Books, ISBN# 0738203572
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