Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
In these days it's easy to find good factual science and technology books, but hard to find good scientific reasoning books, especially for young readers. I am glad to have found The Magic of Reality : How We Know What's Really True. Richard Dawkins is a British biologist. The book includes 12 chapters. Topics include evolution, natural selection, biology, cosmology and physics, but mostly importantly, what is scientific reasoning and how to tell reality from myth and imaginations.
The message is clear: the reality itself is beautiful; it is wonderful to pursue scientific truth; we do not need supernaturals to make us feel special. I think these messages are important and relevant in an age where anti-science and conspiracy theories taking hold of our political and daily life.
Richard Dawkins is an atheist and a vocal critic of organized religions. There are several mentions of bible stories in this book but his tone is very mild.
The message is clear: the reality itself is beautiful; it is wonderful to pursue scientific truth; we do not need supernaturals to make us feel special. I think these messages are important and relevant in an age where anti-science and conspiracy theories taking hold of our political and daily life.
Richard Dawkins is an atheist and a vocal critic of organized religions. There are several mentions of bible stories in this book but his tone is very mild.
A great book on an introduction to science. The illustrations by Dave McKean support Richard Dawkins excellent writing. A good read for all ages.
Here's a good introduction to a lot of stuff, but if you've already got a passing knowledge of astronomy, geology, biology, and optics, you mind find this a little boring. I'd definitely give it to a kid or anybody who hasn't previously been curious about . . . Stuff. The only thing I was really surprised and delighted to see was one of the last chapters which asked "Why do bad things happen?"
The religious (by which I mean "fundamentalist Christian") types will be frequently annoyed because Dawkins refers to Christian and Jewish Bible stories as myths the same way he talks about stories from Native Americans, the ancient Greeks, and everybody else in the universe. But I figure they are already dead set against the guy anyway, so who cares?
It's kind of a pretty book, but, especially near the end, the illustrations ran more toward decoration than explanation and the explanations got on the wordy side.
Overall, I think you should probably read a review from someone who is new to all this information if you really care about reviews.
The religious (by which I mean "fundamentalist Christian") types will be frequently annoyed because Dawkins refers to Christian and Jewish Bible stories as myths the same way he talks about stories from Native Americans, the ancient Greeks, and everybody else in the universe. But I figure they are already dead set against the guy anyway, so who cares?
It's kind of a pretty book, but, especially near the end, the illustrations ran more toward decoration than explanation and the explanations got on the wordy side.
Overall, I think you should probably read a review from someone who is new to all this information if you really care about reviews.
What a fascinating book.
I realize this is written at a rather primary level, but there's so much here that was just never covered when I was going through school that it almost seemed new to me. The beauty of science. The magic of reality. Dawkins does a great job in showing us how amazing nature is. Of course, there's the requisite, constant reminder that all and every religion is completely and crazily untrue, and that gets pretty old. But the real stuff - the science - is just plain cool. Very enjoyable read.
Of course, Dave McKean's illustrations merely serve to make the book that much better.
Recommended.
I realize this is written at a rather primary level, but there's so much here that was just never covered when I was going through school that it almost seemed new to me. The beauty of science. The magic of reality. Dawkins does a great job in showing us how amazing nature is. Of course, there's the requisite, constant reminder that all and every religion is completely and crazily untrue, and that gets pretty old. But the real stuff - the science - is just plain cool. Very enjoyable read.
Of course, Dave McKean's illustrations merely serve to make the book that much better.
Recommended.
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Verplichte kost voor iedereen. De magie van de werkelijkheid glashelder en op wetenschappelijke wijze uitgelegd.
This is my first book by Richard Dawkins, but definitly not my last!
How I love this man and his way of explaining things. He makes science easy, interesting and fun! I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times while reading this book.
Loved it!
More book reviews here: Elzas book reviews
How I love this man and his way of explaining things. He makes science easy, interesting and fun! I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times while reading this book.
Loved it!
More book reviews here: Elzas book reviews
Science has its own magic: the magic of reality. This is the first scientific book I have read willingly and not for school. I found it very much enlightening for it has explained some topics of physics, chemistry and biology (some of which I have studied earlier in school but never quite understood) in a very simple and interesting way, also, I found it very entertaining for the many myths that start each chapter. I can clearly remember almost 80% of the contents of the book and that is why I am sure I am going to read it all over again sometime in the near future. Every line in this book is worth memorizing.
informative
The first few chapters were insightful but then the book started to dumb itself down with information that is quite commonly known.