Writing for Science

This book's main selling point is also its main problem.

The book has ten chapters, each of which discusses one aspect of "writing for science." Such a comprehensive overview is unusual and, as such, some parts of it might be useful to inexperienced non-scientists who are asked to teach a one-semester course on "writing for science" to undergraduate or graduate students.

However, since none of the topics is covered in great detail, working scientists at every level would be better advised to buy one of the many books that focus on the particular task at hand, such as preparing a talk, writing a dissertation, writing a paper or preparing a grant proposal. The level of detail in this comprehensive volume is insufficient to be of adequate assistance to a scientist who is unsure how to proceed with a particular task.

The book is, perhaps, intended as a scientist's lifelong companion, given as a gift on graduation from high school and designed to remain with the scientist throughout his or her career. Unfortunately, the book doesn't provide sufficiently detailed information in its individual chapters to merit space on a working scientist's desk.