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jobustitch's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've ever read. I think of it as a starting point book; just enough to whet your appetite so that you will go read other books about the subject. I now have a list of books to read because of reading this one.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this ... I'm not sure how much I'll really remember. There were reviews of things I already knew, and lots of new information too. I wouldn't mind having a copy on my bookshelf, but I don't know that I'd really re-read it. I went with the audio edition, but also checked out the Kindle copy. The narrator had a British accent ... and I think that made it all feel more "intellectual"? With a David Attenborough sound, where we are used to having that be an authority on documentaries and such. I'm not sure if the "grand" feel would be there with a regular ol' American accent.
I was NOT impressed with the transition from disks to an audiobook file - throughout we'd get the "this is the end of disk 7" statement. Seriously, there wasn't an editing team that could take the time to edit that out? The Table of Contents in the audiobook was also lacking ... I am a person who looks at the TOC and any offered headers, to help keep things in context (what is our subject this chapter?) There was a nice TOC in the Kindle copy ... I figured I'd retype it here for reference (if I ever have the audio file again without the Kindle copy, or just to remember what "everything" discussed was, and where/which chapter).
Introduction
Part 1 - Lost in the Cosmos
1. How to Build a Universe
2. Welcome to the Solar System
3. The Reverend Evan's Universe
Part 2- The Size of the Earth
4. The Measure of Things
5. The Stone-Breakers
6. Science Red in Tooth and Claw
7. Elemental Matters
Part 3 - A New Age Dawns
8. Einstein's Universe
9. The Mighty Atom
10. Getting the Lead Out
11. Muster Mark's Quarks
12. The Earth Moves
Part 4 - Dangerous Planet
13. Bang!
14. The Fire Below
15. Dangerous Beauty
Part 5 - Life Itself
16. Lonely Planet
17. Into the Troposphere
18. The Bounding Main
19. The Rise of Life
20. Small World
21. Life Goes On
22. Goodbye to All That
23. The Richness of Being
24. Cells
25. Darwin's Singular Notion
26. The Stuff of Life
Part 6 - The Road To Us
27. Ice Time
28. The Mysterious Biped
29. The Restless Age
30. GoodBye
In the Kindle copy, there were also notes and some illustrations - a full biography too.
It was all interesting ... one of my boys did online high school (pre&post covid) and was struggling, so I would sit through all his school classes and lectures and take notes and then tutor him privately. Years after my own high school and college, I was back learning biology, chemistry and physics. It was interesting here to hear a lot of what I knew, plus additional information. Presented in a more "storytelling" way, very conversational, 1st person, a little like a Ted Talk or professor giving a lecture. I am glad there isn't a test though ;) Listening just for "enjoyment" I'm not sure how much I'll really remember.
Per proFanity - x2 ... quoting someone
I was NOT impressed with the transition from disks to an audiobook file - throughout we'd get the "this is the end of disk 7" statement. Seriously, there wasn't an editing team that could take the time to edit that out? The Table of Contents in the audiobook was also lacking ... I am a person who looks at the TOC and any offered headers, to help keep things in context (what is our subject this chapter?) There was a nice TOC in the Kindle copy ... I figured I'd retype it here for reference (if I ever have the audio file again without the Kindle copy, or just to remember what "everything" discussed was, and where/which chapter).
Introduction
Part 1 - Lost in the Cosmos
1. How to Build a Universe
2. Welcome to the Solar System
3. The Reverend Evan's Universe
Part 2- The Size of the Earth
4. The Measure of Things
5. The Stone-Breakers
6. Science Red in Tooth and Claw
7. Elemental Matters
Part 3 - A New Age Dawns
8. Einstein's Universe
9. The Mighty Atom
10. Getting the Lead Out
11. Muster Mark's Quarks
12. The Earth Moves
Part 4 - Dangerous Planet
13. Bang!
14. The Fire Below
15. Dangerous Beauty
Part 5 - Life Itself
16. Lonely Planet
17. Into the Troposphere
18. The Bounding Main
19. The Rise of Life
20. Small World
21. Life Goes On
22. Goodbye to All That
23. The Richness of Being
24. Cells
25. Darwin's Singular Notion
26. The Stuff of Life
Part 6 - The Road To Us
27. Ice Time
28. The Mysterious Biped
29. The Restless Age
30. GoodBye
In the Kindle copy, there were also notes and some illustrations - a full biography too.
It was all interesting ... one of my boys did online high school (pre&post covid) and was struggling, so I would sit through all his school classes and lectures and take notes and then tutor him privately. Years after my own high school and college, I was back learning biology, chemistry and physics. It was interesting here to hear a lot of what I knew, plus additional information. Presented in a more "storytelling" way, very conversational, 1st person, a little like a Ted Talk or professor giving a lecture. I am glad there isn't a test though ;) Listening just for "enjoyment" I'm not sure how much I'll really remember.
Per proFanity - x2 ... quoting someone
miafromorchardstreet's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
mag_lange's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
What an incredible book!
brooke_w's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
As someone who isn’t particularly science-minded, this audiobook became a lot more engaging when I sped it up to 1.9 speed.
kiki_13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0