Review: Little science, big science

Has modern science grown into an immense monster? The author, a perceptive historian of science, gives his answer to this question and to others concerning the nature of the ""Big Science"" that continues to explode around us today. Scientists, scientific literature, science expenditures--everything scientific is ??ultiplying far faster than either the population or non-scientific things. Dr. Price studies both the past and the present for clues to what the future holds. He investigates the evolution of modern science from the ""Little Science"" of earlier days; and he concludes that the transition was more gradual than is generally believed. The growth followed, and is still following, predictable measurable patterns. Quantity does not mean quality. But ""Big Science"" has brought wealth, prestige and power to the scientific community--and its members must now shoulder their obligations to society. No longer can they be ""lonely children who find it easier to relate to things than to people"". Throughout the book, Dr. Price cites and interprets a great deal of data before coming to several interesting conclusions. Such an approach should appeal to scientists; but the general reader may find it tough-going at times.