By Wade Allison, Oxford University Press. Hardback ISBN 9780199203888, £49.95 ($98.50). Paperback ISBN 9780199203895 £24.95 ($49.50).
This book is for every physicist who has ever needed to answer the question: what is physics for? Physics has reduced fear and increased safety for society, largely by extending the power to see. The methods used are magnetic resonance, ionizing radiation and sound, with their extensions. The author follows how they are applied by modern technology to “seeing” in clinical medicine, including therapy, and in other spheres of human activity such as archaeology, geophysics, security and navigation. By taking a broad view of the entire field, the book encourages comparisons and underlines the importance of public education. Physics undergraduates and graduates, as well as professional physicists, will find this book of interest.
