physical and polymer chemistry. Robert Huang, has successfully assembled 23 contri- butors who have provided I3 rather uneven chapters which satisfy many of these strin- gent requirements. Despite the unfortunate non-standardization of terminology, cross- fertilization of ideas from different chapters is inevitable.

Several chapters deal with the fun- damentals of pervaporation, including trans- port mechanisms, sorption and diffusion in membranes, and thermodynamics. Polymer chemists will appreciate material involving polymer membrane-evaluation, novel copo- lymers, and plasma grafted polymers.

The growing importance of design and engineering in industrial pervaporation pro- cesses is developed. One chapter discusses pervaporation applications in biotechnology, another specifically with water/alcohol separation, while a final chapter reviews the industrial features of vapour permeation. Several authors review plant design in Japan and give specific applications.

Pervaporation is energy saving and has considerable industrial potential. It is domin- ated by work in Japan, U.S.A. Canada, Germany, Holland, and France. This domi- nance is reflected in the sad fact that there is no contribution from a British author.

Maurice H. George

Geothermal Heating. A Handbook of Engineering Economics. By R. Harrison, N. D. Mot-timer and 0. 6. Smarason. Pp. 558. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1990. f60.00, US $102.00.

In Geothermal Heating, the authors analyse the technical, engineering, and economic requirements of geothermal heating systems in a straightforward and comprehensive manner. However. the subtitle, A Handbook of Engineering Economics, is a bit of a misnomer because it is the entire subject of geothermal space and process heating, not just engineering economics, that takes centre stage.

Each topic in the book starts with the basics, allowing readers with a wide variety of backgrounds to follow the analytical de- velopment. In addition. the detailed analysis of all the major geothermal heating installa- tions in the United States. France, and Ice- land makes up a very comprehensive set of case studies. Major economic analysis methodologies (e.g. net present value. inter- nal rate of return, etc.) are reviewed and quite a few cost indexes are presented. However. the costing of geothermal heating installations is very dependent on local con- ditions, so generalizations are not easily made. The major area we find lacking in this book is that the authors do not venture into the realm of geothermal heating’s potential or what is necessary, both technically and economically, to attain that potential. Also, the authors do not cover electrical power production or cogeneration using geothermal heat. A brief treatment of these topics would have been valuable to place direct use ap- plications in the proper context. Nonethe- less, the collection of a large quantity of

geothermal heating data and analyses in a single volume is very useful for anyone in- terested in this topic.

H. .I. Herzog J. W. Tester

Radioactivity Measurements. Principles and Practice. By W. B. Mann, A. Rytz and A. Spernol. Pp. 202. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1991. Paperback f22.50.

If you want a good introduction or an aide m&moire to the measurement of radioactivity in solid and liquid samples this is as good a book as you could find. It covers the basic physics of radioactivity, quantities and units, radiation detectors, methods of radioactivity measurement, the statistics and estimation of uncertainties, as well as the basics of the relevant electronic circuitry. There is even a small chapter on laboratory management. It is admirably clear, concise, and comprehen- sive without excessive detail. What you will not find are any details of sample preparation or of the measurement, for example, of radioactive contamination in air, on surface, or in people. Nevertheless, it always gives appropriate reference(s) for the details if you want them.

My only criticism is that the section on radiation protection is badly written. It mixes roentgens. rems. sieverts, curies, and bec- querels, and - in view of the recent ICRP recommendations - is out of date. But who would read this for advice on radiological protection, anyway?

J. A. Dennis

Supramolecular Chemistry: an Introduction. By Fritz Viigtle. Translated by Michel Grognuz. Wiley, Chichester. 7991. f65.00.

Professor Jean-Marie Lehn, one of the 1987 Chemistry Nobel Laureates. has defined sup- ramolecular chemistry as ‘chemistry beyond the molecule’ or ‘the chemistry of the inter- molecular bond.’ It is consequently con- cerned with the molecular aggregates and molecular assemblies which result from the association of two or more chemical species held together by intermolecular forces.

This book consists of twelve chapters deal- ing with a wide variety of supramolecular structures. The best way of conveying its flavour is to list the chapter headings: Supra- molecular, Bioorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry; Host-Guest Chemistry with Ca- tions and Anions; Bioorganic Model Com- pounds; Bioinorganic yodel Compounds; Clathrate Inclusion Compounds; Directed Crystal Formation with Tailored Additives; Photoresponsive Host-Guest Systems; Li- quid Crystals; Surfactants. Miccllcs, and Vchiclcs; Organic Semiconductors, Conduc- tors. and Superconductors; Molecular Wires. Molecular Rcctilicrs, and Molecular Transis- tars: Light-induced Cleavage 01 Water.

The reviewer agrees with the author’s comment that the choice of topics is debat- able but it is certainly an interesting one, giving rise to a book which the reviewer believes to be unique in its wide ranging

coverage. It is certainly well written, with the literature on each topic being as up to date as possible and this translated edition even con- tains some additional figures not found in the original German text published in 1989.

The author is proud of the fact that the book is the first to contain many stereoscopic views of supramolecular structures. The re- viewer did, however, find some of them confusing: eg figures 17b (p. 40), 19 (p. 42), 10 (p. 127), and 5 (p. 200). Apart from this minor comment this is a valuable book which both new and experienced research workers should have on their bookshelves.

J. E. D. Davies

Atmospheric Data Analysis. By Roger Daley. Pp. 457. Cambridge University Press. 1991. f55.00, US$79.50.

Knowledge of the state of the atmosphere (pressure, temperature, wind, moisture con- tent, etc.) at a given time is important fdr many reasons, including the need for initial conditions for Numerical Weather Predic- tion. The calculation of an estimate of atmos- pheric state, atmospheric data analysis, is the subject of this book.

Dr Daley has produced what must surely be the definitive text in this field for some time to come. He provides a comprehensive survey of the data analysis problem and the mathematical methods which have been em- ployed during the past 40 years to derive an estimate of atmospheric state from the heter- ogeneous observations supplied daily by the World Weather Watch. He is concerned with more than a three-dimensional spatial estimation problem, as the question of dyna- mical consistency of the estimate, essentially coherence in time, has to be faced.

The author leads the reader through a description of the observing systems; a dis- cussion of spatial analysis methods such as function fitting, successive correlation, and statistical interpolation; and a study of in- itialization methods which form the final step in many modern data analysis systems and produce a dynamically balanced state.

The exposition is clear and thorough. with study of idealized or simplified cases enhanc- ing understanding, and a historical perspec- tive underlying the discussion. Deficiencies of even the best currently used methods are clearly pointed out. The book ends with a chapter on possible future research direc- tions.

There are copious references to the re- search literature and some exercises. A sub- stantial array of undergraduate mathematical and statistical methods are employed and some knowledge of basic dynamic meteorol- ogy is advantageous to the reader. Dr Daley is to be heartily congratulated on his signi- ficant achievement.

T. B. Fugard

Sumer and the Sumerians. By Harriet Crawford. Pp. 182. Cambridge University Press. 1991. Hardback f27.50, US $44.50; paperback f7 1.95, US $14.95.

Sumer and the Sumerians spans Mesopota- mian studies from the early Uruk (ca 3800

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B.C.) to the Ur III Period (ca 2006 B.C. following traditional dating). Chapters cen- tre on topics: e.g., ‘Patterns of Settlement and Agriculture’ and ‘Writing and the Arts’. When S. N. Kramer published ‘The Sume- rians’ 28 years ago, he concentrated on tex- tual evidence; Dr Crawford concentrates on archaeological evidence. She describes and illustrates Ur III buildings, but does not attempt to explore the details of Ur III administrative practices. The book is also not a history: neither king lists nor chronology charts appear.

Sumer and the Sumerians is a good re- fresher course for anyone whose studies of Mesopotamian archaeology have faltered over the last 20 years. It threads a detailed and fairly non-controversial course through the sites, finds, and theories relating to Sumerian Mesopotamia with emphasis on the publications between 1970 and 1987 (almost 80% of the bibliography). Ideas, theories, and reworkings of earlier excava- tions from these publications are well summarized and blended with descriptions of excavations. Occasional original insights, such as ideas on the use of the ‘private chapel’ in the Tell Asmar Temple of the Rulers, are a bonus

them here: the first serious discussion of objective curve building and dating metho- dologies; a comprehensive review of the magnetic properties of baked clay and soil; sampling and measuring techniques for archaeomagnetism; retlections on the future trajectory of archaeomagnetism; and a dis- cussion of the sensitive symbiosis which this field requires between archaeologist and geo- physicist. The authors have succeeded in preparing a volume which complements ex- isting texts on archaeological chronometry.

non-scientists, it is a pity that he concentrates so exclusively on results, conveying little of the excitement, playfulness and riskiness of the research itself. The book also promotes a misconception: given that Faraday had a long apprenticeship in one of Europe’s lead- ing laboratories and his tour of the continent with Davy introduced him to many of its leading scientists, it is misleading to claim (as the publisher’s cover blurb does) that he was self-educated. Even though this book is an appreciation rather than a scholarly work, it would have been helpful to include informa- tion about sources for the many excellent illustrations and suggestions for further read- ing about this extraordinarily productive man and the sciences he helped shape.

The truly beginning student will not find this book easy reading, however. A bigger book than this was needed to both illustrate and discuss Sumerian archaeology in detail. Archaeological discussion centres on build- ings and objects which need to be seen to be understood. Typically pages 88-92, discus- sing Akkadian and Ur III architecture, de- scribe five public buildings, but illustrate only two. The archaeological novice must go to specialized publications for the other three. What is needed are references to a compendium of plans and pictures from all major sites; the problem is that such an up-to-date reference work does not yet exist.

In the meantime Sumer and the Sumerians makes a good start at filling a long-standing need for a good archaeological summary of fourth and third millennium B.C. Mesopo- tamia.

Harriet Martin

Archaeomagnetic Dating. Edited by Jeffrey L. Eighmy and Robert S. Sternberg. Pp. 446. University of Arizona Press. 1997. US $60.00.

The technique of archaeomagnetic dating is based on the remarkable phenomenon whereby certain artifacts or features con- structed in antiquity are found to retain an ancient record of the Earth’s magnetic field. The method germinated from seed sown by Thellier and Aitken to the stage where ser- vice dating has become available in Europe within the last decade. This volume contains a harvest of papers by 13 practitioners whose declared objective is not the definitive text- book but rather a review of current topics in magnetic dating with special reference to case studies in North and Meso-America. Archaeological scientists with a magnetic attraction are encouraged to ignore the re- gional bias, for they will find much to interest

Mark Noel

The Lord of Uraniborg: a Biography of Tycho Brahe. By Victor E. Thoren with contributions by John R. Christiansen. Pp. 523. Cambridge University Press. 7997. f40.00, us $59.50.

Tycho Brahe was a key figure in the history of astronomy, not least because of the observing instruments he designed so well, had constructed with such precision, and used in a way which allowed him to minimize instrumental errors. This last was a techni- que he himself introduced during the latter part of the 16th century and which has been adopted in science ever since. Excepting a compendium of papers about Brahe, the last complete biography was that of Johann Dreyer written in 1890, and Professor Thoren’s volume is much to be welcomed.

Beautifully written in modern American style, it contains much new research, not a little by Professor Thoren himself. This in- cludes a superb analysis of Brahe’s theory of the motion of the Moon; a vast amount of enlightening information about 16th century Danish nobility into whose ranks Brahe was born - but against which he rebelled; and new insight into his forced departure from his island observatory Uraniborg. With its useful glossary of astronomical terms, excel- lent appendices (among which are transla- tions by John Christiansen of Brahe’s letters from 1599 until his death in 1601) this is now, without doubt, the standard biography of one of astronomy’s significant figures.

Colin A. Ronan

Michael Faraday and The Royal Institution. The Genius of Man and Place. By Sir John Thomas. Foreword by Sir Brian Pippard. Pp. 234. Adam Hilger, Bristol. 1991. Paperback f 72.50.

This book celebrates Faraday’s close rela- tionship with the Royal Institution as much as it does his scientific achievements. As the author explains, Faraday’s ‘scientific and spiritual presence’ confers ‘a unique aura that pervades the whole place’. The opening chapters deal with the history of the RI and Faraday’s way into science; the closing chapters with Faraday’s enormous contribu- tion to the RI’s mission to disseminate and popularize science and technology. But the meat in the sandwich is, of course, Faraday’s contribution to science and technology. Sir John Thomas provides a comprehensive chronological account of almost everything Faraday did which has been important to modern science. Since the book is aimed at

David Gooding

Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. Volume 36. Pp. 670. The Royal Society, London. 7990. f79.00 (U.K.), f84.00 (Overseas).

This invaluable series began, as Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society, in 1932. The very first issue included notices of such giants as A. A. Michelson, the first American to be awarded a Nobel Prize (1907); Albert Brachet, the Belgian embryologist; and Sir David Bruce, parasito- logist famous for his linking of sleeping- sickness with the tsetse fly. With the comple- tion of the present volume 1280 memoirs have been published. As some of the earliest Fellows to be remembered were born before the middle of the 19th century, the series as a whole is a remarkable record of outstanding achievement in science spanning more than a century. It is by no means only a record of achievement by British scientists, for many of them had close contacts with overseas colleagues, which are duly recorded. Addi- tionally, the Royal Society has long had a special category of fellows, the Foreign Members.

The present volume includes 25 memoirs, with an average length of 24 pages (including a portrait and comprehensive list of publica- tions). Four relate to Foreign Members (E. M. Lifshitz, R. Courrier. N. I. Semenov and

Sewall Wright). The Emperor Hirohito of Japan was also very much a foreign member, but was in fact elected to full Fellowship in 1971 under Statute 12. In a monograph which has been meticulouslv researched - though perhaps rather reticient about his imperialist activities - E. J. H. Corner de- scribes him as ‘a born naturalist who had to be emperor’. Among so many other excel- lent contributions it is perhaps invidious to single out any for special mention. Margaret Gowing’s tribute to Lord Hinton will surely please all those who knew him. Belated. for he died in 1983, it was worth waiting for - written authoritatively and with deep under- standing. Unexpectedly, there is a link be- tween these two seemingly disparate charac- ters Hinton made several visits to Japan from 1956 and - though at exactly 2 metres high and broad in proportions, he towered over his hosts - was immensely popular. The

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