VII
PREFACE
M
any years in the making, this book aims at improving the skills as
communicators of my fellow-scientists. Advancement of know-
ledge is synonymous with diusion of results, rst within the scientic
community and then to the public at large. Accordingly, the book has two
main parts, corresponding to these two constituencies, with their widely
dierent needs. A third, smaller section is devoted to informing decision-
makers. I have attempted a rather comprehensive coverage.
Readers whose native language is not English – which incidentally is
also my case – may nd the book useful. While this is not a manual on
speaking and writing English – there are plenty of those around – they
may nd it educative nevertheless.
In the vast majority of cases, I have rst-hand experience of what I
write about. In addition, I have consulted a recognized expert on each
topic.
Each of the main parts is subdivided into two sections, Guidelines and
Genres. e segments are set in alphabetical order within each of those
subsections. Hence, the table of contents serves at the same time as an
index. Within each segment, a few cross-references remind the reader
of related subject matter in other parts of the book. Inevitably, there are
repetitions, for which I apologize. A brief bibliography of some useful
articles and books is provided.
It is my pleasure to thank for their precious advice, which has markedly
improved this manual, my friends and colleagues: Philip Ball, Alex Bellos,
Jim Bennett, Wesley T. Borden, John Hedley Brooke, Gregory L. Diskant,
Roald Homann, Jamie C. Kassler, Joseph B. Lambert, Robert L. Lichter,
Annette Lykknes, Jozef Michl, Peter J. T. Morris, Guy Ourisson, Philippe
Perez, Daniel Raichvarg, Christopher Ritter, William Roberts, Edward T.
Samulski, Jerey Seeman, Peter Stang, Mel Usselman, Laura van Dam,
Stephen J. Weininger.
I was gratied by the impressive professionalism of Dr. Marion Hertel
and her colleagues at Springer, in Heidelberg.
My thanks go, last but not least, to my wife Valerie. She has gratied me
with her skillful and imaginative editing of the individual pieces, making
them both leaner and tastier.
Spring Pierre Laszlo
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