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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
A wonderful & "magical" book! Clearly intended (also) for younger readers, Richard Dawkins explains elemantary facts and phenomena of life (rainbows, earthquakes, evolution etc) in his clearly unique way. And by doing so he reveals how magical our world as experienced thanks to and through science already is - without tales of magic, miracles and other nonsense.
Unfortunately, neither my Kindle edition nor the paperback version are as beautifully illustrated as the hardcover apparently is (except for the small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter). But I bought the book because of Dawkins and the science facts so it's not really a downer.
Unfortunately, neither my Kindle edition nor the paperback version are as beautifully illustrated as the hardcover apparently is (except for the small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter). But I bought the book because of Dawkins and the science facts so it's not really a downer.
4 stars = I think it is really good for 13+ olds
For an adult the book does not contain much novelty, yet the book is fantastic for children or YA - Dawkins succinctly explains the concepts of evolution, stars and space, galaxies, light, earthquakes, the scientific method and, above all, the importance of critical thinking. I think a refreshing read for a young adult on the brink of reading more books on science in their future!
I sometimes found Dawkins to be a bit preachy when he addressed religion and said its stories of miracles were fakes - it is like we got it, no need to spend such a long time on this topic. Maybe it all boils down to his history with religious people wherein he may feel the need to explain the topic in depth and counter-argument everything. Also, I found he stressed maybe a bit too strongly that we should not "invent miracles and fairies" and indulge in the creation of such stories because "the reality is magical as it is" - I get the point, it is the central theme of the book after all, yet sometimes I felt it got blown into different proportions, maybe into ones he himself did not want. Stories and "mystical fairytale-ish" magic is fine and fun, or am I mistaken? Should we stop writing literature altogether?
Dave McKean's illustrations - ineffable, as always <3.
Anyway, highly recommended for YA.
For an adult the book does not contain much novelty, yet the book is fantastic for children or YA - Dawkins succinctly explains the concepts of evolution, stars and space, galaxies, light, earthquakes, the scientific method and, above all, the importance of critical thinking. I think a refreshing read for a young adult on the brink of reading more books on science in their future!
I sometimes found Dawkins to be a bit preachy when he addressed religion and said its stories of miracles were fakes - it is like we got it, no need to spend such a long time on this topic. Maybe it all boils down to his history with religious people wherein he may feel the need to explain the topic in depth and counter-argument everything. Also, I found he stressed maybe a bit too strongly that we should not "invent miracles and fairies" and indulge in the creation of such stories because "the reality is magical as it is" - I get the point, it is the central theme of the book after all, yet sometimes I felt it got blown into different proportions, maybe into ones he himself did not want. Stories and "mystical fairytale-ish" magic is fine and fun, or am I mistaken? Should we stop writing literature altogether?
Dave McKean's illustrations - ineffable, as always <3.
Anyway, highly recommended for YA.
There were a few interesting points mixed in with some pretty strong dogma and dismissiveness. I don't think I could recommend this to anyone - it's too simple for adults, and too dogmatic for children. The section on Humian probabilities was interesting, but could have been dealt with much better.
Review of elementary topics in science.
Relearned a few forgotten items, and affirmed many items remembered.
Reawakened my fascination with cosmology.
Relearned a few forgotten items, and affirmed many items remembered.
Reawakened my fascination with cosmology.
A good introduction to some of the top ideas of basic science (evolution, species. astronomy, etc.) for young people. A bit repetitive at times, but full of great illustrations and written in a very approachable way. Note-is written for a British audience and includes some British terms and phrases that American adolescents might not understand.
Seemed more like a children's book to me. Very pretty. Recommended for about 10yrs up
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
What a lovely and beautiful book! I read a few pages every few once in a whole over the year, and felt like a child again, rediscovering the wonders of the universe. Probably Dawkins' least antagonistic book, and rightly so as its aim was to reveal to the younger generation the 'magic of reality' - rather than just criticising religions. A joy to look at as much as to read, perhaps more than reading even ;) Ah...had I encountered this book as a teenager...perhaps I wouldn't have opted just for single science GCSEs eh...
A high school level introduction to science and critical thinking.