The University of Texas at Tyler Libraries

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Library Journal Review

This is the second entry in the Facts on File "Encyclopedia of Women" series, joining A to Z of Native American Women (LJ 8/98). Like the first volume, it profiles over 150 women, in this case women who have made contributions in a wide range of fieldsÄmedicine, genetics, ecology, archaeology, astronomy, botany, mathematics, physics, computer science, zoology, chemistry, and related scientific fields. The selections cover women from antiquity to the present, ranging from fourth-century Greek physician Agnodice to astronaut/physician Mae Carol Jemison. Essays on each woman are generally 300 to 1000 words, recounting essential biographical information: education, career, contributions to the field, and, perhaps most interestingly, obstacles they faced in male-dominated careers. Most essays include a photograph, and all include suggestions for further reading. The biographical sketches are arranged alphabetically, and the volume concludes with indexes by field of endeavor, country of birth, country of major scientific activity, and year of birth. This very readable collection of essays and sketches is a useful quick reference point to begin research on one of these women scientists. It will be a good companion to American Women in Science (LJ 2/15/99) and Greenwood's Notable Women in Mathematics (LJ 7/98). Known mainly for her juvenile books, Yount has authored several other Facts on File titles, including Black Scientists (1991), Contemporary Women Scientists (1994), and Twentieth-Century Women Scientists (1995). Recommended for general audiences.ÄKathy Breeden, Lupton Lib., Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

School Library Journal Review

YA-Yount provides excellent biographical material on 150 women who have contributed to these fields. With an informative but not overly scholarly writing style, this is a top-notch choice for high school libraries. The author hopes to motivate young women to pursue these careers even though there will be prejudices to overcome. Although most of the women are scientists, the inclusion of some mathematicians may help bridge a gap in collections. The charts increase the reference value, as the women are arranged by field, nationality and country of work, year of birth, and a chronology. Yount includes fewer women than Martha J. Bailey's American Women in Science (ABC-CLIO, 1994), but the articles are longer.-Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CHOICE Review

Yount's biographical dictionary profiles 150 women whose research has made direct contributions to science. Both present-day scientists and those from earlier periods from all countries are included. Entries are brief (one to two pages in length), are arranged alphabetically, and include bibliographies. The biographical sketches provide family background, education, personal obstacles overcome, and details about scientific work. Numerous indexes list the women by time period, field of study, country of birth, and country of scientific activity. Fifty black-and-white photographs complement the text. Fields covered range from astronomy and mathematics to physics and zoology. Readers will find new names here along with the familiar--Greek philosopher Hypatia, Marie Curie, Margaret Mead, Italian physicist Laura Bassi, astronomer Williamina Fleming, and biochemist Zhao Yufen. A good general resource. M. J. Finnegan; Corvallis-Benton County Public Library