"Those who are curious to learn how the principles of mechanics have
been evolved, from what source they take their origin, and how far they
can be deemed of positive and permanent value, will find Dr. Mach's able
treatise entrancingly interesting.... The book is a remarkable one in
many respects, while the mixture of history with the latest scientific
principles and absolute mathematical deductions makes it exceedingly
attractive."--_Mechanical World_, Manchester and London, England.
"Mach's Mechanics is unique. It is not a text-book, but forms a useful
supplement to the ordinary text-book. The latter is usually a skeleton
outline, full of mathematical symbols and other abstractions. Mach's
book has 'muscle and clothing,' and being written from the historical
standpoint, introduces the leading contributors in succession, tells
what they did and how they did it, and often what manner of men they
were. Thus it is that the pages glow, as it were, with a certain
humanism, quite delightful in a scientific book.... The book is
handsomely printed, and deserves a warm reception from all interested in
the progress of science."--_The Physical Review_, New York and London.
"Mr. T. J. McCormack, by his effective translation, where translation
was no light task, of this masterly treatise upon the earliest and most
fundamental of the sciences, has rendered no slight service to the
English speaking student. The German and English languages are generally
accounted second to none in their value as instruments for the
expression of scientific thought; but the conversion bodily of an
abstruse work from one into the other, so as to preserve all the meaning
and spirit of the original and to set it easily and naturally into its
new form, is a task of the greatest difficulty, and when performed so
well as in the present instance, merits great commendation. Dr. Mach has
created for his own works the severest possible standard of judgment. To
expect no more from the books of such a master than from the elementary
productions of an ordinary teacher in the science would be undue
moderation. Our author has lifted what, to many of us, was at one time a
course of seemingly unprofitable mental gymnastics, encompassed only at
vast expenditure of intellectual effort, into a study possessing a deep
philosophical value and instinct with life and interest. 'No profit
grows where is no pleasure ta'en,' and the emancipated collegian will
turn with pleasure from the narrow methods of the text-book to where the
science is made to illustrate, by a treatment at once broad and deep,
the fundamental connexion between all the physical sciences, taken
together."--_The Mining Journal_, London, England.
"As a history of mechanics, the work is admirable."--_The Nation_, New
York.
"An excellent book, admirably illustrated."--_The Literary World_,
London, England.
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