Potential readers should follow the author's lead and ignore the subtitle of this survey of the history of science in Europe and America, or they may be disappointed. Amsterdam-based writer Crump (Solar Eclipse; The Anthropology of Numbers) does discuss the evolution of scientific equipment, but the book is centered around the scientists, not their instruments. Crump begins with mankind's discovery of how to create fire and ends with SQUIDs, superconducting quantum interference devices. In between, there is chemistry, astronomy and 20th-century physics. The sections on advances in electricity and energy measurement make for particularly fascinating reading. Overall, however, Crump's book would have been more successful if he had followed the lead of his subtitle. He attempts to cover too much, and inevitably there are striking gaps and imbalances that leave the final product feeling scattered.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [382]-386) and index.

Contents : From the mastery of fire to scie... 1, Copernicus to Newton 35, Science technology and communica... 77, Discovering electricity 101, science refounded 119 matter and its transformations 145, The new age of physics 203, 15422001 28, ground zero 325, Big science 345