The first thing I want to say about this book is: about time!!!
John Lienhard is a philosopher who has been using his daily public radio broadcasts to share his wonderful meditations on art, science and humanity. He reads with a inspirational tone, and often his meditations wander into territories unforeseen. I remember one episode where Leinhard starts by talking about a tabloid column about bigfoot on the north pole, then shelley's frankenstein and then some scientific topic. I remember also with fondness Leinhard's paean to the man who invented leaded gasoline and how significant a technological improvement it was considered at the time (and how maligned his invention is in the modern day). Leinhard writes with a keen sense of historical irony and can transition from one discipline into another with ease.
I would compare Leinhard's prose to that of a Francis Bacon, a Carl Sagan or an Edmund Wilson. His writing is at the top of his field, and his mastery of the intracies of engineering, physics or any other scientific field are truly astounding. The 5 minute radio program form forced them to be concise, and frequently I've been impressed by how succinctly he can convey an entire life of a scientist in less than 5 minutes: the tragedies and triumphs.
Perhaps in book form these meditations won't seem as remarkable. (I compare it with Garison Keilor, whose wonderfully witty spoken prose hangs limp on the book page). However, I've read many of his essays at his web site at University of Houston, and there is still the same excitement and vigor in the written prose. My only complaint is that they are not available for download in audio form.
I am not a scientist, but Lienhard makes me want to be. He has helped me to see the connections between art and science, life and science, god and science. I can't tell you how many times I've been driving in a daze and how Mr. Lienhard's 5 minute meditation suddenly fills my life with clarity.
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