BKAWSCHB.RVW 961218 "The Addison-Wesley Science Handbook", Gordon J. Coleman/David Dewar, 1997, 0-201-76652-3, U$18.00/C$24.95 %A Gordon J. Coleman %A David Dewar %C 1 Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867-9984 %D 1997 %G 0-201-76652-3 %I Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. %O U$18.00/C$24.95 800-822-6339 Fax: 617-944-7273 bkexpress@aw.com %P 281 %T "The Addison-Wesley Science Handbook" When I were a lad, we used to all buy the "Handbook of Chemistry and Physics" produced by the Chemical Rubber Company. I'm not quite sure *why* we all bought the "CRC Bible", but we did. I still haul mine out from time to time to look up the odd formula. Coleman and Dewar have done the same thing on a reduced scale, and added some biology and geology. This means it is the right size, and broadly enough based, to be hauled off the shelf time and again by amateurs and professionals alike. Science grads will recognize old friends they haven't seen or used in a while. Those who work in the sciences can quickly find a half-remembered equation in a related field. The layperson can find interesting and informative tidbits. For the most part, this is a reference, rather than a tutorial. There are some quick explanatory pieces, particularly in the sections on biology, chemistry, and geology. The dozen or so pages on the human body would be an excellent background for a first aid course--just enough material to have the procdures make sense, but not bogged down in tons of detail. As with the CRC Bible, I was disappointed to find that certain entries didn't appear. Overall, though, the choice is quite good. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1997 BKAWSCHB.RVW 961218 ====================== roberts@decus.ca rslade@vcn.bc.ca rslade@vanisl.decus.ca "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke http://www.netmind.com/~padgett/trial.htm