Twentieth-Century Classic Books and Benchmark Publications in Biology

Abstract

There is a rich body of scientific books and articles that have contributed to the education and training of biologists during the past century. Academics and other contributors to science journals have attempted—with mixed success—to identify the works that have enhanced the understanding and enjoyment of students majoring in biology throughout their undergraduate academic training. Efforts to classify publications in terms of their value to biology students and the public at large have been hindered by the lack of input from those who actually read and use the materials, as well as by the sometimes subjective views of the authors who compile such lists. For example, in 1988 J. L. Carter and W. V. Mayer published an article in BioScience entitled “Reading beyond the Textbook: Great Books of Biology,” which highlighted books that students majoring in biology should be encouraged to read. However, the sample size used to compile their list was limited, and there was no attempt to sample biologists in a comprehensive manner. Almost a decade later, R. L. DiSilvestro's (1997) article, “Books to Remember: A Look at a Few of the Twentieth Century's Classic Mainstream Biology Texts,” catalogued his personal list of recommendations, but it too lacked input from the AIBS membership. Then, in 1999, Scientific American published an article by Philip and Phyllis Morrison, “100 or So Books that Shaped a Century of Science,” based on input handed down over time from readers, reviewers, and the editorial staff at the magazine. They attempted to round out this legacy of about 80 titles to provide readers with a compilation of 100 books that had had an impact on scientific discovery and understanding in all branches of science during the past century. This was a step in the right direction, but the Morrisons' effort also was based on a small sample; moreover, their article did not focus on the books that were noted for having the greatest impact on career training or publications in professional journals that had most profoundly guided the careers of scientists from diverse fields within the biological sciences.

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