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bupdaddy's review
4.0
I kind of thought this book would be about the difference between what we perceive and what objective reality is, for some reason, but it's not, but I needed a new audiobook and it was there in the library and I didn't care to do research to make sure and it's a Dawkins book about science, so why not?
What it is, is, it's sort of a survey course of Richard Dawkins books. If you've never read a Dawkins book, here's where you learn how Dawkins talks about science in general.
What it is, is, it's sort of a survey course of Richard Dawkins books. If you've never read a Dawkins book, here's where you learn how Dawkins talks about science in general.
uditnair24's review
4.0
After a long period of time I picked up Dawkins's work and it was indeed a delightful reading. Though largely the book is catering to younger audiences but still has learning for all ages. He delves into the magic of reality which is indeed the science. Here is an opening to the book:-
" The third meaning of magic is the one I mean in my title: poetic magic. We are moved to tears by a beautiful piece of music and we describe the performance as ‘magical’. We gaze up at the stars on a dark night with no moon and no city lights and, breathless with joy, we say the sight is ‘pure magic’. We might use the same word to describe a gorgeous sunset, or an alpine landscape, or a rainbow against a dark sky. In this sense, ‘magical’ simply means deeply moving, exhilarating: something that gives us goose bumps, something that makes us feel more fully alive. What I hope to show you in this book is that reality – the facts of the real world as understood through the methods of science – is magical in this third sense, the poetic sense, the good to be alive sense."
Throughout the book there is immense amount of discussion on evolution. Evolution through natural selection is indeed one of the greatest ideas propounded and ofcourse established through ample evidences. Also Dawkins takes digs at various myths and religions and this is expected from the author.
" The third meaning of magic is the one I mean in my title: poetic magic. We are moved to tears by a beautiful piece of music and we describe the performance as ‘magical’. We gaze up at the stars on a dark night with no moon and no city lights and, breathless with joy, we say the sight is ‘pure magic’. We might use the same word to describe a gorgeous sunset, or an alpine landscape, or a rainbow against a dark sky. In this sense, ‘magical’ simply means deeply moving, exhilarating: something that gives us goose bumps, something that makes us feel more fully alive. What I hope to show you in this book is that reality – the facts of the real world as understood through the methods of science – is magical in this third sense, the poetic sense, the good to be alive sense."
Throughout the book there is immense amount of discussion on evolution. Evolution through natural selection is indeed one of the greatest ideas propounded and ofcourse established through ample evidences. Also Dawkins takes digs at various myths and religions and this is expected from the author.
wannabekingpin's review
5.0
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: With great passion author tells us how magical our reality is. And how unfair it is to call things we don’t understand – supernatural. That sort of implies it cannot be explained and creates a dead end for progress. Instead, he tells us myths that explained earthquakes and rainbows and what they really are. Tells us how we know there are planets out there, and how we found out that Earth isn’t, in fact, flat or at the center of the universe. Author tells us, in short, that the very fact we are here, made out of stardust, is magic itself, even if we know the science behind it.
My Opinion: A very interesting and very engaging book. Went from cover to cover in one sitting and regret nothing. There’s some science, not too much, with author very willingly admitting to the things he doesn’t know, understand, and therefor – cannot explain to us. The rest is just beautiful bunch of pointing in awe, look at this, look at that, do you know what ancient people called this? The only con I have got downgraded at the end. Author seemed to be very condescending towards people with different beliefs. But by the end of the book I realized that it is because he feels like it devalues otherwise a priceless phenomena.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: With great passion author tells us how magical our reality is. And how unfair it is to call things we don’t understand – supernatural. That sort of implies it cannot be explained and creates a dead end for progress. Instead, he tells us myths that explained earthquakes and rainbows and what they really are. Tells us how we know there are planets out there, and how we found out that Earth isn’t, in fact, flat or at the center of the universe. Author tells us, in short, that the very fact we are here, made out of stardust, is magic itself, even if we know the science behind it.
My Opinion: A very interesting and very engaging book. Went from cover to cover in one sitting and regret nothing. There’s some science, not too much, with author very willingly admitting to the things he doesn’t know, understand, and therefor – cannot explain to us. The rest is just beautiful bunch of pointing in awe, look at this, look at that, do you know what ancient people called this? The only con I have got downgraded at the end. Author seemed to be very condescending towards people with different beliefs. But by the end of the book I realized that it is because he feels like it devalues otherwise a priceless phenomena.
essieruth's review
3.0
I'd have liked to have given this 3.5 stars.
A nice format of looking at phenomena, the myths used to explain them, and then their scientific explanations. I'd have loved to have read this as a teenager. Ideal for younger audiences.
A nice format of looking at phenomena, the myths used to explain them, and then their scientific explanations. I'd have loved to have read this as a teenager. Ideal for younger audiences.
bookslut007's review against another edition
2.0
This sort of started off okay. Basic mansplaining of scientific concepts. Then it kind of took a turn for the worst IMO. Completely shat on ancient indigenous knowledge and wisdom.. Passing it off as fairytales that are simply ridiculous and something that science can explain away. It's cool if that's how you think and what you feel, but shitting on others beliefs kinda just passes over the line for me.
So this books a nope from me.
So this books a nope from me.
cwenzel's review
4.0
Really enjoyed reading this science refresher before bed. I was familiar with most of the physics but there were a few concepts that I never found as interesting as I did from Dawkins' point of view. Unfortunately, I feel as if this book won't be widely read by its intended audience: people who put too much faith in mythology.
smitchy's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent explanations of common scientific theories well written for the intended audience (8-14 year olds). As an adult with a decent understanding of science I sometimes found it a little over-explained and occasionally Dawkins repeats himself to make a point stick. Even so I found a great deal of value in the book and definitely took note of several sections which would help to explain scientific theories to others. The section on evolution was particularly well explained.
jansyn_liberty's review
2.0
I have never been a spiritual person myself, but I don't discount all spirituality and I think it is incredibly patronizing to do so. While Richard Dawkins does explain the magic of science, he does so in a way that shuts down any other perspective. Thus, to me, he is an unreliable narrator, because anyone who believes that they are 100% right about something and isn't willing to allow diversity into the conversation is just not someone I want to trust. E.g. After describing a number of creation stories, he says, let's "take a look at the true, scientific answer." That phrasing is very white, male, and assumes western exceptionalism. Instead of prefacing each scientific explanation with a "debunking" of other cultures, he should just speak about science.