Because scientists have amassed an enormous amount of new knowledge over the past century, attempts to summarize it all in a single volume are unlikely to succeed. From his unique former position as publisher of Scientific American
for 38 years, Piel seems as equipped as anyone to achieve such an undertaking. Unfortunately, even his effort falls short. Piel organizes his material into seven sections: the fundamental forces of nature, quantum mechanics, cosmology, molecular biology, geology, the evolution of life and human evolution. Each chapter appears to have been written for a different audience; the ones focusing on physics require fairly sophisticated understanding ("In the cloud chamber, lithium yielded a two-prong track at the point of collision, signifying its break-up into two alpha particles"). Those on biology and geology are much more accessible to lay readers ("evidence is strong that Mendel designed his experiments to test his hunch that a trait is carried thus intact from one generation to the next"). No field of study, however, is handled in a completely satisfying manner, whoever the intended audience. Piel simply does not supply more than a cursory overview of any topic. Many subjects deserving of attention, given the book's title, are omitted; there is virtually no discussion of any medical topic, of the creation and dissemination of computing technology or of environmental advances, to name just a few. Although the book is generous with illustrations (mostly maps and diagrams), their cartoonish style renders them more distracting than enlightening. (Nov. 1)
