An energetic read ...

Yesterday night I finished reading a biography of James Joule, by Donald Cardwell. (Manchester UP, 1990, 0719034795)

Scientific biography can be a difficult thing to achieve, striking a balance between describing the man and his science, and can be quite dry reading. There's lots of contextual material in this biography and that largely diverts it from this danger. In particular, Cardwell is at pains to explain the development of Manchester and the role of its Literary and Philosophical Society (often just called the Lit and Phil). He also makes extensive use of Joule's correspondence, especially with Thompson, Tyndall and others.

Joule's generation were perhaps the last non-professional scientists. As he grew into old age, the universities were beginning to proliferate and the professional academic scientist was beginning to be a recognised profession. We see his obsession with precision and his range of interests, as the individual disciplines of science were still beginning to be distinguished.

There is certainly much in this volume to commend. Whilst Dirac, Feynman etc. perhaps make more exciting and intriguing subjects, Joule nonetheless has something to teach all of us about perseverance in the pursuit of scientific truth.

I've also finished Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett. This is only the second of the Discworld series that I've read, but I enjoyed it very much, so I think more will be following during the course of the year!