Little Book of Big Ideas: Economics (Little Book of Big Ideas series)
Adult/High School—Each of these surveys presents a series of enthusiastic and illuminating essays on people who contributed significantly to the advancement of their fields. The roughly 500-word entries explain concisely what they did and why it was important. The essays also include an inset stating when and where the individuals were born and died, and a one-sentence summary of what they accomplished, and often include a second inset defining relevant vocabulary. Moore also sets the scientists within the context of their times. In both books, accessibility varies from piece to piece. Some present the central idea simply enough for laypersons to readily grasp; others are difficult for readers without minimal education in the discipline to comprehend. The emphasis on conciseness can also result in misleading information. Moore's discussion of Landsteiner's discovery of ABO blood typing, for example, gives the correct original names of the four blood types, A, B, C, and O, but leaves readers to guess how they correspond to the current nomenclature of A, B, AB, and O (hint: C was not renamed AB). All in all, though, these books are valuable sources of succinct information on key concepts and will provide inspiration for budding scientists and economists.—Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.