Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology
- Book Review,
by Lance Day (Editor)
From Booklist
In 1990 Routledge published An Encyclopedia of the History of Technology, edited by Ian McNeil. Two of the 22 chapters in that volume were contributed by Lance Day. Now McNeil and Day are coeditors of a biographical dictionary sketching the work of nearly 1,300 persons of all cultures and all times whom they judge to have made "a significant contribution . . . to the advance of technology." Technology is defined as such areas as aeronautics, broadcasting, electronics, medical technology, railways, and weapons. Ampere, Boeing, Goodyear, Lever, McAdam, Pasteur, and Westinghouse are some of the familiar names covered. Among the few living subjects are Steven P. Jobs and Stephen G. Wozniak.The preface discusses the decisions made with respect to the selection of names, including acknowledging that the name index of the above-mentioned encyclopedia was a starting point for this selection. Biographical Dictionary was compiled with a conscious effort to avoid duplicating dictionaries of scientists such as the multivolume Dictionary of Scientific Biography. The preface further states that most of the biographees are "male, white, European (including North American)." Fewer than one-fourth of the engineers and inventors with biographies in The African American Almanac (6th ed., Gale, 1994) are in this work, and fewer than a dozen women are included.The signed entries follow a standard sequence: dates and places of birth and death, the subject's nationality and a brief statement of his or her principal achievements, a biography of 250^-500 words, honors and distinctions, a bibliography of the individual's publications, and selected references to literature where further information can be found. Names printed in boldface type in the text indicate cross-references. There are numerous see and see also references as well. The dictionary concludes with three indexes: by subject, name, and broad topic.The Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology will provide academic and public libraries with much useful information.
From Book News, Inc.
Profiles important contributors to technology from ancient to modern times, rather than people involved in the fairly recent discipline of the history of technology. The 1,200 alphabetical entries present vital dates and places, a brief identifying phrase, one to several paragraphs describing the life and career, a list of honors and distinctions, and a bibliography. Indexed by subject area, such as aeronautics, land transport, and weapons, as well as by name and subject. Mildly cross-referenced. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Library Review
"...the coverage is superb....the arrangement and layout of the work are exemplary...a triumphant success."
Choice
"Where courses in the history of technology are offered regularly, Day and McNeil will be essential."
Booklist
"The Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology will provide academic and public librarians with much useful information."
Buy from Amazon
Compare Prices
|
|
Home
