An overview of man's search for knowledge of his world, the prolific Asimov's new book [Exploring the Earth and the Cosmos] deals with exploration of space (e.g. continents, oceans, atmosphere, solar system), time (e.g. calendars, life spans, time travel), matter (e.g. electrons, vacuums, size of the earth), and energy (e.g. high temperatures, absolute zero). This is a book which sparks the imagination and gives the reader a sense of the human need to discover. It is NOT an in-depth study but rather a reprise of explorers' journeys and scientific investigation throughout history. It's loaded with bits of information (e.g. a "lustrum" is a period of five years) that will delight trivia buffs.

High school students will find this useful in many ways. Its chapters are brief and well-organized, offering concise information about subjects frequently studied in secondary school. Its detailed index includes such...