Product Description

In these 4 all-new titles-each with its own clip-art CD and wall chart-DK shines its Eyewitness spotlight on vital topics from the past, present, and future. While Mesopotamia explore the cradle of civilization and Great Scientists reveals the minds that shaped the modern world, China investigates the present-day culture of the most populous country on the planet, and Oil takes a look at the controversial substance responsible for the beginning-and, if we're not careful, the end of life as we know it today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #116646 in Books
• Brand: DK Publishing
• Published on: 2007-06-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .54" h x 8.73" w x 11.34" l, 1.36 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 72 pages

From Booklist
This title in the familiar, slightly revamped Eyewitness series introduces the work of pioneering scientists, beginning with Aristotle and ending with Stephen Hawking. Women aren't entirely ignored, although only two are among the 30 inclusions, with one or two more briefly identified elsewhere in the text. The design is busy, but never seems crowded. Each two-page spread features an introductory paragraph summarizing a scientist's contribution with a sentence or two of personal information, a time line, and a small picture of the individual. The remainder of the spread is a scattering of sharp photos, extensively captioned in very small type, that aim to establish the historical effect of the scientist's work. The information delivery is hit-and-miss, but Fortey opens the way to some interesting questions (what, for example, were the details of Richard Feynman's accusations against NASA after the 1986 Challenger explosion?). Unfortunately, there are no resources to help readers answer them. As far as piquing interest goes, however, the author's approach works well; it will even attract older readers. A slipcased poster and a CD of clip art are included. Zvirin, Stephanie

Review
"The [Eyewitness] books are breathtaking...You'll have so much fun poring over them that you'll hardly know you're learning." -- Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel