Martin Harwit

Partly a history of 1900s research on astrophysics and cosmology, and partly an analysis of societal influences on this work, such as the big-and-strategic-science vision of Vannevar Bush and the role of [ugh] the military-industrial complex. Pays much attention to questions such as "Do our modern views about the Universe reflect inherent properties about the Cosmos, as is generally believed, or is our depiction of the Universe a social construct?" (p 318) More technically informative, more scholarly, and less quickly readable than a popularization would be.… (mehr)

When I was a child my mother told me that history couldn't be accurate until everyone involved and their children were dead. My mother was right about something! The Smithsonian wanted to put together a factual account of the bombing of Hiroshima to commurate the 50th anniversary of the event. Such an exhibit was fine as long as it didn't question the necessity of dropping the bomb or mention that Japanese suffered. Even where legimate historical documents that question assumed truths (i.e., 1 million American's would have been killed if the Bomb wasn't dropped) could not be shown. Harwit's description of the ultimately failed juggling act trying to keep multiple group happy provides a disturbing, but worthwhile read.… (mehr)