Everything's Relative: And Other Fables from Science and Technology

In this chatty popular science volume, physicist Rothman (Instant Physics; Doubt and Certainty) dispels cherished fables of scientific achievement by revealing that scientists sometimes lie, steal from each other and pursue personal and national glory in unethical ways. Rothman dissects historical records to reveal the complex and often ugly reality of the old scientific saw, ""Either you do the calculation or you get the credit."" Though he states that his intended audience is ""the masses weaned on high school and college texts, television and magazines,"" his frantic forays into quantum physics, electromagnetism and relativity may lose lay readers. But details of personal rivalries and unscrupulous behavior among mythologized figures like physicist Richard Feynman and Thomas Edison are undeniably fascinating. Rothman sets a lot of the blame for the problem at the feet of the biggest award in science and on the public's""naive picture of science as a collection of discoveries made by isolated geniuses."" He suggests abolishing the Nobel Prize, and with it scientists' desire to claim first dibs on discoveries. Ultimately, the book does offer credit to the unsung heroes of science, but it whips too quickly through names, interactions, dates and scientific principles. Readers may feel as if they've been left with tarnished heroes, without having the satisfaction of discovering clear replacements.