A YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO SCIENCE

A better title might be What the Next President Should Know About Science: A Personal View—not just because ``Young Person'' has such an old-fashioned tone but because this collection of 84 brief essays seems aimed squarely at policy and decision makers who, in Gallant's opinion, need to know a great deal more about reproduction, genetics, pollution, and the navigation of Spaceship Earth through the next century. The author is openly scornful of creationists who think the earth is only 10,000 years old but also of right-to-lifers, who take a position where science's role is far less clearly defined. Gallant's writing (some of it adapted from his 70 earlier books) is accessible, and the topics are important, whether grouped under ``How Science Works and How We Use It,'' ``The Human Organism,'' ``The Physical World,'' ``Science and Human Values,'' or the three other broad headings. But the lecturing, slightly curmudgeonly tone won't do much to draw the intended audience. Further reading, including many recent periodical articles; 30 b&w photos, 10 drawings, bibliography, and index not seen. (Nonfiction. 10+)