Stephen F. Mason (1923–2007)

7/9/22

Mason's book was on the required reading list for my Physics degree at the University of Leicester - provided, of course, that you wanted to learn about the history of the sciences. It's an interesting read in vacuum, though you are expected to know the basics of the science he talks about. Also, summing up 2000-odd years of scientific progress (up until the late 1950s) in a book only 600 pages long is a difficult task, but Mason manages it well, and rarely does the book tone seem forced.

A comprehensive and well-respected history of the sciences, arranged by topic. Useful and well-written, if dated nowadays, this is an ideal reference for anybody needing a clear picture of the development of any fields of science up to about the 1960's.