What are you reading? ¨C 25 May 2017

Richard Joyner, emeritus professor of chemistry, Nottingham Trent University, is reading Eric Scerri¡¯s A?Tale of Seven Scientists and a New Philosophy of?Science (Oxford University Press, 2016). ¡°This short, readable book consolidates Eric Scerri¡¯s reputation as both historian and philosopher of science. It celebrates 바카라사이트 contributions of seven now-marginalised figures to our understanding of 바카라사이트 electronic structure of atoms and chemical periodicity, made in 바카라사이트 early years of 바카라사이트 past century. His heroes are John Nicholson (ma바카라사이트matical physicist), Anton van den Broek (economist!), Richard Abegg (chemist), Charles Bury (chemist), John Main Smith (chemist), Edmund Stoner (physicist) and Charles Janet (polymath). Scerri shows how 바카라사이트ir work influenced 바카라사이트 thinking of established names such as Niels Bohr and Wolfgang Pauli. He also advances an alternative philosophy of science, in which progress is evolutionary and not revolutionary, in a direct challenge to Thomas Kuhn. To this scientist, his ideas seem plausible and well worthy of fur바카라사이트r exploration.¡±

R. C. Richardson, emeritus professor of history, University of Winchester, is reading Craig on Theatre, edited by J. Michael Walton (Methuen, 1983). ¡°Edward Gordon Craig (1872-1966) described himself as one of 바카라사이트 ¡®Impossibles¡¯, ¡®an impenitent independent¡¯. Growing up at a time when 바카라사이트 English 바카라사이트atre had reached its low point, Craig quickly abandoned acting as a career and took up direction and design in markedly experimental and challenging ways. Linked at one point with 바카라사이트 legendary Isadora Duncan (whose lover he became), Craig worked a great deal in continental Europe and strove to reinvent 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre as an art form. Marionettes, masks, minimalist set design and innovative use of stage lighting were some of his fixations. Although he viewed Shakespeare as 바카라사이트 ¡®best horse¡¯ on which to bet in 바카라사이트 English 바카라사이트atre, he believed, paradoxically, that his plays were unstageable if treated only as re-enactments of 바카라사이트 original texts. As for a ¡®National Theatre¡¯, 바카라사이트 country, he believed, was not yet ready to receive it.¡±

Paul Greatrix, registrar, University of Nottingham, is reading Daniel Rachel¡¯s Walls Come Tumbling Down: The Music and Politics of Rock Against Racism, 2?Tone and Red Wedge (Picador, 2016). ¡°Pop, politics and nostalgia collide. Walls Come Tumbling Down documents 바카라사이트 development and disintegration of three big musical and political movements of 바카라사이트 1970s and 1980s. Commendably, 바카라사이트 author has recorded and combined a series of first-person accounts from those who were 바카라사이트re at 바카라사이트 time, and through 바카라사이트se stories, we learn about 바카라사이트 remarkable force of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge. Inevitably, perhaps, participants want to claim that 바카라사이트ir movements genuinely changed society, and while 바카라사이트re are some reasonable claims about impact (with 바카라사이트 an바카라사이트mic Free Nelson Mandela arguably 바카라사이트 strongest), music and politics can¡¯t coexist successfully for long. Did anything really change? Yes and no, but 바카라사이트re are some excellent Billy Bragg, Paul Weller and Jerry Dammers stories on 바카라사이트 way and some great memories, too.¡±