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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
informative
I usually don't like non-fiction but I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to learn about how things work, and the myths about them. It seems, not like you're reading a book, but having a conversation with a friend. I recommend this book to those who want to ease their way into non-fiction.
While I enjoyed this book and it was well done because it's Dawkins, it clearly wasn't intended for me. In fact, the audience for this book seems to be people with shockingly little education as almost all the information contained in it is stuff a person should learn by the end of high school, stuff like "what is an earthquake?", "what is a rainbow?", the basics of evolution and gravity and other stuff like that. The fact that this book has to exist at all for adults is quite sad.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book is a great introduction to science for children. Dawkins explains the most relevant phenomena that kids would be interested in, all the while explaining how to think critically. The myths at the beginning of almost every chapter were also fun.
informative
medium-paced
Prose is standard Dawkins, which for me has come to mean: knowledgeable, playful, crystal clear and fulfilling. It wasn't as ground breaking for me as his books on evolution - in that sense, the book would be more awe inspiring to a younger reader, someone who's just set foot on the path of scientific knowledge.
Having said that, that same prose combined with Dave McKean's magnificent and thoroughly thoughtful illustrations makes for the most delightful visual journey into the mysteries of nature I have ever had the joy to set my eyes on!
Having said that, that same prose combined with Dave McKean's magnificent and thoroughly thoughtful illustrations makes for the most delightful visual journey into the mysteries of nature I have ever had the joy to set my eyes on!
DNF page 100. As I was reading, I became very confused by the way this was written and the facts being presented simply because I already knew all this information. I began to think the book was totally unnecessary, until I read some reviews and found out this wasn’t intended for adults. Nowhere on the book does it say this is meant for younger readers and I’m kinda annoyed I wasted money on something I learned in basic biology class.
With that being said, I see the value here for readers between the ages of maybe 10-14 or so, when they’re just starting to learn more about biology. Otherwise, this book isn’t a necessary read. I’m in my mid-twenties, was not a science major in college, and haven’t taken any sort of biology in YEARS but I still remembered most of what was being said to me in this book. I also found it a bit condescending at times, maybe that’s just me but it annoyed me. I normally like Dawkins but this was a miss. No rating since I’m not the intended audience.
With that being said, I see the value here for readers between the ages of maybe 10-14 or so, when they’re just starting to learn more about biology. Otherwise, this book isn’t a necessary read. I’m in my mid-twenties, was not a science major in college, and haven’t taken any sort of biology in YEARS but I still remembered most of what was being said to me in this book. I also found it a bit condescending at times, maybe that’s just me but it annoyed me. I normally like Dawkins but this was a miss. No rating since I’m not the intended audience.
informative
medium-paced
Very much of a beginner's book...for someone with little to no scientific literacy.