Quest For Perspectives, A

"It is a great pleasure to dip into Kameshwar Wali's rich selection from the works of the great Chandra, and to read Wali's illuminating comments. In addition to the seminal scientific papers, organized by subject, sometimes establishing whole fields of physics and astronomy, and almost bringing them to conclusion, the volumes include more than 300 pages of 'semi-popular' articles and talks (some previously unpublished), whose philosophical depth and beauty of expression would alone recommend these 'selected works'." Laurie M Brown Northwestern University, Nov 2001 "Apart from knowing the works of great scientists, students of science should also learn something about the creative process through which these scientists achieved them. In the case of Chandra, these papers give a glimpse into the mind of a highly methodical person who had identified his goals and worked hard and creatively to get there. For such readers Wali has done a commendable job, for which we should be thankful." Professor Jayant V Narlikar The Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Jan 2002 "... I am glad to find an opportunity to formulate an encouragement to proceed ahead with Chandra's legacy, and my faith in these new directions of astrophysical research. In forthcoming decades, these superb volumes of collected works ought to play an invaluable role." Anne Magnon CUST-Blaise Pascal University, 2002 "Wali's choices in these two volumes are a more selective and more interesting subset, picked as much to give a sense of the man as of the science ... Chandra's celebrated Reviews of Modern Physics article 'Stochastic Problems in Physics and Astronomy' (1943) alone is worth the price of the volume ... Fascinating also are the two 1953 papers by Chandra and Enrico Fermi, the writing of which Chandra later remembered as one of the most exciting experiences of his scientific career." Physics Today, May 2002 "The latter topic contains some fascinating essays and accounts of interdisciplinary lectures." Mathematical Reviews, 2003