In 1995, journalist Dava Sobel’s Longitude caused an earthquake in the history of science community. The present article analyses how only recently historians of science have fully realized the novelty the book represented. In the meantime, the international success of popular books by journalists on the history of science has become a well-known phenomenon. The author suggests that the huge publishing success of Sobel’s book - the “Sobel Effect” – has provoked three main kinds of reaction among historians: rejection, detachment, and imitation. Which of the three strategies is the best, for both public and authors?

Govoni P. (2005). Historians of science and the Sobel effect. JCOM: JOURNAL OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS, 4(1), 1-17 [10.22323/2.04010201].

Historians of science and the Sobel effect

GOVONI, PAOLA
2005

Abstract

In 1995, journalist Dava Sobel’s Longitude caused an earthquake in the history of science community. The present article analyses how only recently historians of science have fully realized the novelty the book represented. In the meantime, the international success of popular books by journalists on the history of science has become a well-known phenomenon. The author suggests that the huge publishing success of Sobel’s book - the “Sobel Effect” – has provoked three main kinds of reaction among historians: rejection, detachment, and imitation. Which of the three strategies is the best, for both public and authors?
2005
Govoni P. (2005). Historians of science and the Sobel effect. JCOM: JOURNAL OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS, 4(1), 1-17 [10.22323/2.04010201].
Govoni P.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
5175-19390-2-PB.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipo: Versione (PDF) editoriale
Licenza: Licenza per Accesso Aperto. Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate (CCBYNCND)
Dimensione 828.39 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
828.39 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/18731
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact