reviews

Random Wanderings... Author:  Bill Green Although scientists may not be a highly religious segment of the population, they still have the common human drive to canonize their forebears.  Walking down the garden path where Darwin strode while contemplating the natural world or holding the very telescope that Galileo used to see the moons of Jupiter can invoke an emotional reaction from even the most strident materialist.  It is with this sense of wonder that geochemist Bill Green has traveled the world over a long career, seeking out many of the scientific world’s most “holy” sites.  Boltzmann’s Tomb is his account [...]

Family Secrets... Author:  Lee Sandlin There are countless American family stories out there, featuring notable individuals and remarkable historic events.  But what if your family doesn’t include any extraordinary characters or achievements?  What if you come from typical, average stock with undistinguished immigrant roots?  Well, Lee Sandlin is more than just an ordinary writer and he’s not going to let his completely ordinary Midwestern heritage stop him.  There’s always a story to tell if you dig deep enough.  The Distancers is Sandlin’s family story, a singular slice of American history. Sandlin, a Chicago journalist, has seen success with his first [...]