Pri reviji Nature bodo v naslednjih tednih objavili intervjuje z avtorji, ki pišejo o znanosti za različne vrste občinstva.
This week we kick off a series of weekly interviews with science book authors in Nature‘s Books & Arts section. Peter Atkins reveals the hard work behind a successful textbook; Carl Zimmer will highlight how passion is essential for popular science; David Brin will reveal that criticism improves fiction writing; Georgina Ferry will share research tips for biographies; and Joanna Cole will explain how to convey science to children.
Najprej so se pogovarjali s Petrom Atkinsom, avtorjem zelo uspešnega univerzitetnega učbenika Physical Chemistry. Že odgovora na prvi dve vprašanji velja posebej izpostaviti:
What is the purpose of a textbook?
To inspire a mode of thought. Ideally, a book then becomes a companion for life.
What is a good science textbook?
One that is considerate to the students — one that tries to put itself in their position and to explain and interpret what is going on. The author has to imagine himself as a student, and think and then write down what the student might be puzzling over. It also needs a logical flow.
Avtor dobrega učbenika mora po mnenju Atkinsa pisati skozi oči študenta. Sproti mora spremljati pričakovan tok misli ciljnega občinstva in v svojem tekstu neprestano odgovarjati na morebitne dileme in pomisleke, ki se sprožajo v glavi študenta. Enako velja seveda tudi za učbenike na gimnazijski ravni.
Zanimivo branje, hvala! Me pa ne navdušuje njegova ideja za "spopad s trgom rabljenih knjig" – da bi namreč izdal elektronsko knjigo in jo po enem letu izbrisal. Pri knjigi je najbolj dragocena investicija čas, da jo prebereš, njena korist pa ne samo v enkratnem ali enoletnem branju, temveč tudi v tem, da jo imaš na polici za tisti (neizogibni) čas, ko boš spet hotel kaj pogledati v njej. V bistvu se ta ideja ("There is a way — to produce electronic books [e-books] and kill them after a year.") prav nesramno bije tudi s prvim odgovorom samega Atkinsa: "Ideally,… Beri dalje »