1979 00 00 American Scientist, V 67, I 3 - Review of Messages from the Stars - Frank Drake

Magazine Overview

Title: American Scientist
Issue: Vol. 67, No. 3
Date: May-June 1979
Publisher: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society

This issue of American Scientist features reviews of three books related to space, extraterrestrial life, and the future of humanity in space. The main cover story is about Albert Einstein's personal side.

Book Reviews

Messages from the Stars: Communication and Contact with Extraterrestrial Life by Ian Ridpath

This book is reviewed by Frank D. Drake. Drake describes the book as a "Pocket Encyclopedia of Intelligent Life in Space," offering a brief but informative review of every subject, fad, and enigma associated with ideas of other civilizations in space and potential contact methods. The reviews are noted as being full of correct and up-to-date facts, presented in a balanced way with both scope and editorial comment. Skepticism is applied where appropriate, even for subjects the author, Ian Ridpath, is enthusiastic about. Drake suggests Ridpath is well-suited for this topic due to his professional background, which provides knowledge without excessive prejudice. The book covers classical subjects like the origins of life, planetary systems, and the Viking biology experiments, concluding that radio signals and searches are the most promising contact methods. It also discusses automated space probes and space colonies. Ridpath addresses pseudoscience, providing synopses of claims by Von Daniken, pyramidologists, and UFO-logists, including the stories of the Dogon people and Sirius, and the UFO adventure of Barney and Betty Hill, not hesitating to condemn when justified. The book is praised for being well-written and giving credit to the right people. Drake suggests that readers might desire more illustrations and tables for radio signal searches. He recommends the book for those wanting to understand our current standing with "Them."

Beyond the Moon, 6th ed. by Paolo Maffei

This book is reviewed by J. Veverka. It is the English translation of a popular Italian book, aiming to describe contemporary knowledge of the universe in an exciting, non-textbook manner. The reviewer notes that the English edition is not sufficiently up-to-date for the late 1970s, with inadequate treatment of recent discoveries in high energy astronomy and solar system studies. The section on the Viking exploration of Mars is described as an afterthought, failing to adequately satisfy inquisitive readers. Some technical errors are attributed to the text's outdatedness, but more serious are the author's failures, such as inaccurately stating Titan is smaller than Mercury and not recognizing Titan as one of the most remarkable objects in the solar system. The book is noted for its original and informative line drawings.

Space Trek: The Endless Migration by Jerome Clayton Glenn and George S. Robinson

This book is reviewed by J. Veverka. It is described as a significant contribution to the revival of interest in human activity in space, offering a 1977 snapshot of the political climate surrounding space industrialization and migration. The authors make cogent remarks on the cultural significance, international implications, and likely conflicts arising from a second culture in space. The book focuses on the ideas of Gerard K. O'Neill and his colleagues, suggesting that technology exists for large-scale human enterprises in space using resources from the Moon and asteroids. Engineering studies have confirmed the cost-effectiveness of manufacturing satellite power stations and other products in space from nonterrestrial materials.

Other Content

Albert Einstein: The Human Side

This section highlights a book titled "Albert Einstein: The Human Side," selected and edited by Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffmann. It offers new glimpses from Einstein's archives, featuring personal and mostly unpublished papers. The book reveals traits such as wit, modesty, humor, compassion, and wisdom through his correspondence, including replies to a fifth-grader about human classification and a banker about belief in God. The book is priced at $8.95 and is a Literary Guild Alternate.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue focuses on scientific inquiry, particularly in the fields of astronomy and space exploration. The book reviews demonstrate a critical yet appreciative stance, evaluating the accuracy, timeliness, and scope of the works. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between established science and pseudoscience, with a willingness to condemn unsubstantiated claims. The editorial stance appears to favor rigorous scientific investigation and balanced reporting, as exemplified by the review of Ian Ridpath's book and the critique of the outdated information in 'Beyond the Moon'. The inclusion of 'Albert Einstein: The Human Side' suggests an interest in the personal aspects of scientific figures, adding a human dimension to scientific discourse.