Makers of Modern Science, a series of biographies (available on standing order at a 20% discount), explores the lives and achievements of scientists who have made the greatest contributions to human knowledge during the 19th and 20th centuries. Each scientist's achievements, including underlying scientific principles, are discussed simply and clearly and are free of technical jargon. Drawing on primary sources such as diaries, memoirs, letters, and contemporary news stories, as well as secondary sources, each volume depicts the human drama of scientific work, the excitement and frustration of research, and the exhilaration and rewards of discovery. Each book, which includes black-and-white photographs, diagrams, an annotated bibliography, and a detailed index, contains a final chapter summarizing the legacy of the scientist's achievements.

This ninth and latest book in the series, completed shortly before Pauling's death (August 19, 1994, at the age of 93) and therefore completely up to date, profiles the life and work of the only person to receive two unshared Nobel prizes. The author, a chemist and science educator, discusses the childhood, education, personal life, and multifaceted activities of this controversial scientist, pacifist, humanitarian, and health proponent. Virtually every aspect of Pauling's career his application of one science (physics) to elucidate another (chemistry) and his pioneering work on crystallography, quantum mechanics, mineralogy, anesthesia, electronegativity, molecular biology, orthomolecular medicine (a term that he coined), immunology, the structure of proteins and DNA, nuclear physics, and nutritionis included. His Nobel prize­winning work on the structure of the chemical bond (chemistry prize, 1954) and his campaign against nuclear weapon testing (peace prize, 1962) and his advocacy of megadoses of vitamin C to prevent and treat the common cold, cancer, and AIDS, the work for which he was best known to the public, are prominently featured. Each of the 11 chapters includes notes and exact references to sources. A glossary of scientific terms is provided.

As long-time aficionados of Pauling, we were delighted to find that, although intended primarily for a juvenile audience, the book contains photographs that we had not seen previously, as well as facts that we were able to use in our articles on Pauling. This short but superlative biography of the man who has been characterized as one of the 20 greatest scientists of all time, one of the two greatest scientists of the 20th century (the other being Einstein), and the greatest chemist since Lavoisier (the 18th-century founder of modern chemistry) should be useful in attracting and motivating young persons to a scientific career. We warmly recommend it to students, science teachers, and general readers interested in one of contemporary science's most fascinating, creative, and provocative personalities.