News about the Science Shelf archive of book reviews, columns, and comments by Fred Bortz
Issue #13, January-February, 2006: In the Beginning of the New Year, Fred Reviewed the Heavens and the Earth
Dear Science Readers,
After a brief hiatus to meet the deadline for a book manuscript of my own, I have returned to active reviewing. As usual, I have been receiving more books than I can review. The Books Received page lists the latest arrivals at my desk, several of which will be reviewed here later. For others, I have pre-publication copies to offer in exchange for a Science Shelf review. Check out the list.
I added two new book reviews to the Science Shelf in January after they were published in the Chicago Sun-Times. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel each published the first and has scheduled the second as of this writing (January 29, 2006). The Dallas Morning News may also publish the second review. One book looks at speculations about the heavens, and the other is about as down to Earth as you can get.
My first published review for 2006 is about Bodies We've Buried: Inside the National Forensic Academy, the World's Top CSI Training School by Jarrett Hallcox and Amy Welch with Foreword by Dr. Bill Bass. It's an entertaining look inside a nationally renowned training program for crime scene investigators. That's what CSI stands for if you've only heard of but never seen any of the successful network television programs of that name. Despite some lapses in facts, the book is interesting reading, especially when the authors go behind the scenes of their ten-week course and visit places like the University of Tennessee's famed "Body Farm," which would be named the Bass Antropological Research Facility except for the apt but unfortunate acronym that would create.
You may not buy into every aspect of Basalla's interpretation of this fascinating slice of science history. Still, it is hard to dispute that his research is thorough and his analysis well-stated. If you are a SETI advocate or Carl Sagan fan, you may consider Basalla a skunk at the garden party. But even so, you will surely admire his ability to play a role that Sagan himself would occasionally assume, that of agent provocateur who brings attention to an argument well worth having.
Speaking of being provocative, you might also want to visit my blog, which includes a recent entry about the politics of climate change. Whether you agree or disagree with me, see why I think that putting science in the deep freeze is no way to deal with global warming.
I know many readers of the Science Shelf wait for books to come out in paperback before buying them. Two of my favorite titles from the past year or so are now available in that binding:
I've added a new Science Shelf link, thanks to a chance reconnection with an old friend. I know many of my readers appreciate science-related exhibits and collectables, so be sure to check out my high-school coin-collecting buddy Dr. David Fleishman's online museum of antique spectacles.
I'll close with the usual appeal for Science Shelf clicks, since I appreciate your financial support for the work necessary to maintain the site. I'm not very good at making sales pitches, because I think that the value of a service ought to be apparent. But I realize that even my most loyal readers need a reminder that they can help me recover the cost of this site and generate a small amount for my efforts without spending a penny more than they normally would. I have added a prominent gateway link to Amazon.com on the main page of The Science Shelf. If you have some book shopping to do, or if you want to buy anything else that Amazon sells (even a George Foreman grill for those spring and summer cookouts ahead), please use your Science Shelf bookmark -- you do have it bookmarked, don't you? -- and click that link to Amazon.com. Or this one.
And remember, if you learn about a book through a page on the Science Shelf site, you can make sure my efforts are rewarded by using the links on the Science Shelf page to buy that title.
Also, I'm always glad to hear about your finds to share with other visitors to The Science Shelf. Please e-mail me the author and title, and I'll create a page for that book. I will either keep the recommendation anonymous, use your cyber-alias or, if you permit, your real name and/or e-mail address. Add a sentence or two or a more detailed review (up to 1000 words) and I'll consider it for publication here. See the Science Shelf guidelines page for more information.
I also write children's science books, which you can learn more about at "Dr. Fred's Place".
Thanks for your interest. Please e-mail me comments and suggestions about my reviews or this website.
Note: All materials on this site are the copyrighted property of Alfred B. Bortz. Individuals may print single copies of reviews or columns for their own use. For permission to publish or print multiple copies of any of the materials on this site, please contact the author by e-mail.
Bodies We've Buried: Inside the National Forensic Academy, the World's Top CSI Training School by Jarrett Hallcox and Amy Welch with Foreword by Dr. Bill Bass. It's an entertaining look inside a nationally renowned training program for crime scene investigators. That's what CSI stands for if you've only heard of but never seen any of the successful network television programs of that name. Despite some lapses in facts, the book is interesting reading, especially when the authors go behind the scenes of their ten-week course and visit places like the University of Tennessee's famed "Body Farm," which would be named the Bass Antropological Research Facility except for the apt but unfortunate acronym that would create.
Civilized Life in the Universe: Scientists on Intelligent Extraterrestrials by George Basalla. It's almost certain to challenge your preconceptions about the history of the quest for civilizations on distant worlds.
Astro Turf: The Private Life of Rocket Science by M. G. Lord
The Botanist and the Vintner: How Wine Was Saved for the World by Christy Campbell.
