[.ca] Nanotechnology: A Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea (ISBN 0131014005)

Nanotechnology, A gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea:
This book is a great overview for the non-scientist. I found it to be an easy and quick read overall. This was the first book that I read on Nanotechnology and I understood about 80% of what was being said, after reading 3 more books on the topic and coming back to this one - I understood about 95% of what was being said. I have given this book to several friends that are interested in learning more about nanotechnology and they all find it to be and helpful.

Nanotechnology from across the ocean.:
I came to this book as someone with some knowledge of the field. It's good; accurate, up-to-date and, in my judgment, understandable to a layman with a basic science education. Written from the viewpoint of what is arguably the leading Department in the field, and so with a significant bias, it nonetheless gives a bird's eye view of the world-wide situation. But for some of the stuff is featured, this is the first exposure. 'Nanotechnology' is a buzz-word and the history of buzz-words is that they are over-hyped. Perhaps this will be true of nanotechnology, but for sure it will have a real impact on the lives of us all. So, since publication of the book, the American Chemical Society has established a Nanoscience Subdivision, a sure sign that they are convinced that the subject is here to stay. I had only one problem with the book, but one which resolved itself. I suspect that, as they wrote the book, the authors included colored diagrams at appropriate points in the text but, at publication, were told that these colored diagrams would be collected in the middle of the book, the in-text versions being black and white. So, we have black and white diagrams referred to as if they were in color - but with no reference to either the existence or whereabouts of the colored versions. Which I found disconcerting until the truth dawned. Perhaps this pattern is recognized in North America, but if so, the recognition has yet to cross the pond, from where I write.

Nano Introduction:
This book provided an easily comprehensible overview of many aspects of nanoscience. Concepts were presented without too much overwhelming scientific language. All in all, a good book for someone who wants an introduction to the world of nanoscience, applications of nanotechnology, and how the future will be affected by new discoveries in this field.

Feel free to pass this book by!:
I have been very interested in the field and study of nanotechnology. I recently bought some books of which one was Mark Ratner's--Gentle Introduction. I struggled about halfway through before finally putting it down due to the incessant babble about how good Northwestern is and that the book's examples were quite unhelpful. I understand that someone can be very proud of where they work and the type of people they interact with; and there is nothing wrong with that. However, I quickly became tired of how he thinks that the epicenter of the nanotechnological world revolves around Northwestern and his small group of colleagues. He seems to be kissing butt with his descriptions of them and rarely ventures to other areas of the world where other important research is going on. I also was quite unhappy with the explanations of both technology examples and pictures in the book. The explanations do not fully describe what you are looking at and if you do not already have an idea of what he is trying to explain (from another research source) you will find yourself feeling like you are lacking full understanding. This book is hardly a "gentle" introduction so don't waste your money on it like I did. It's more like walking down a dark path in a fog than receiving a clear understanding of where nanotechnology has come from and where it's going. -Matt

An Excellent Introduction to Nanotechnology:
I thought this book was an excellent introduction to the field of nanotechnology for the non-scientist. I highly recommend this book to those interested in cutting-edge scientific ideas as well as those with a particular interest in nanotechnology. I am a lawyer and graduate law student interested in the field of nanoscience from a legal/regulatory perspective. I have not taken a science course since early high school and I wanted a book which would give me a "gentle introduction to/overview of" the field so that I could grasp the science/technical basics. I found this book perfect for that purpose. It simplifies complex ideas without being simplistic. It starts with the very basics and explains simple concepts - like what is an atom, what is a molecule - without dumbing-down the information. It then progresses to the more complex, offering a terrific overview of nanoscience from the broadest possible perspective. It covers virtually every area - from optics, to electronics, to biotechnology, to ethics and investment issues. It even contains a helpful glossary of important terms. I thought that it was a wonderful book, intelligently written, brief and to the point. I can see how some people who are well versed in science might find this book too basic. However, as the authors point out in the introduction to this book, it was designed to introduce the scientific basics of nanotechnology to non-scientist professionals. It succeeds in doing just that. I know I will refer to it time and again during my research and I will recommend it to everyone with an interest in this fascinating field.