Concise Dictionary of Scientific Biography - Tapa dura

"The best English-language collective biography for deceased people who have made important contributions in the natural sciences and medicine is "Dictionary of Scientific Biography" (1970-80, reprinted 1981- ), sponsored by the American Council of Learned Societies. The set, which contains articles and bibliographies concerning more than 4,500 scientists who died before 1981, currently consists of 16 volumes and two supplements. The cost of the set has prevented many libraries from acquiring it. To meet the needs of those libraries, two concise, one-volume editions have been published to act as handy guides to the larger set, this second edition of which updates the first (CH, Jan'82). Although it lists everyone from the parent set, the length of each entry runs about ten percent as long as the original, and the personal bibliographies have been dropped. The biggest bonuses, however, are its lists of scientists by nationality and by field and its extensive index of persons and subjects. Although numerous special biographical dictionaries of scientists are in print, this volume will meet the broadest requirements for this information."
--" CHOICE" (April 2001)

Profiles of nearly 5,500 scientists from throughout history and around the world describe their childhood, areas of research, personal interests, professional achievements, and lasting legacy.