CHOICE Reviews Online

Reprinted with permission from CHOICE http://www.cro2.org/, copyright by the American Library Association.

47-6207 Q223 2009-39865 CIP
Science & Technology \ General

Schultz, David M. Eloquent science: a practical guide to becoming a better writer, speaker, and atmospheric scientist.
American Meteorological Society, 2009. 412p bibl index; ISBN 9781878220912 pbk, $45.00.
Reviewed in 2010jul CHOICE.

Scientists often enter their respective fields to escape grammar and sentence structure, and soon discover that there is much more writing to come. In Eloquent Science, Schultz (experimental meteorology, Univ. of Helsinki, Finland) gathers the tools he has accumulated over his own career as a researcher, editor, and teacher, and methodically addresses the rules and processes for all arenas of scientific communication. He initially focuses on journal publication, from issues as large as deciding where to submit a manuscript, to details as small as strategies for combating writer’s block. Later chapters provide guidelines for editing, peer reviewing, and delivering oral and poster presentations. Schultz finishes by stressing the importance of clear and appropriate communication throughout one’s career. This book is essential for the graduate student presenting results at a conference, the early career scientist struggling with his or her first publication submission, and the seasoned scientist writing a constructive review as a manuscript editor. The book’s full title will unfortunately stave off non-meteorologists, but the work is perfect for becoming a better communicator in any scientific discipline. Every scientific professional would profit from this eloquent and well-structured reference.

Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students and above. — D. L. Jacobs, Rider University