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spideygirl's review
3.0
This is the first anthology I have read of this series. I felt there were quite a few essays examining ethical and social aspects of the impact of science.
My favorites were:
In Deep - cave diving, redefining your expectations for exploring and mapping uncharted territories
The Empathy Exams - medical acting, one woman's reflection on her past
One of a Kind - use of social media and the internet to bring together a very small group of people affected by NGLY1 mutation
My favorites were:
In Deep - cave diving, redefining your expectations for exploring and mapping uncharted territories
The Empathy Exams - medical acting, one woman's reflection on her past
One of a Kind - use of social media and the internet to bring together a very small group of people affected by NGLY1 mutation
balletbookworm's review
4.0
Really solid collection of science writing. Opens with a fantastic essay about mapping the world's deepest caves. Atul Gawande piece had me in tears.
piratequeen's review
4.0
Great collection of articles from a variety of sources, covering everything from cave explorers to gene patenting to passenger pigeons. There are SO many science articles published every year, wading through them is nearly impossible unless you know what you're looking for, so this was good for me. One article in particular, about right whales that get caught in fishing lines and are slowly sliced up and exhausted until they drown, kindled an ember of rage in my chest, and has given me a cause I would like to throw my money towards; if you're interested in marine conservation, it's well worth a read. Some of it was not my cup of tea, and some of it was awesome, but I learned something from all of these articles, and I can't ask for more than that.
brizreading's review
2.0
Unfortunately this was a meh collection. It ran heavy on eco and nature, lighter on hard science. The only physics essay (that I can recall) was a bio-essay on Higgs (of particle fame). Even that article felt thin. Nothing on computers or jiggery pokery Internettery, alas.
At its best, this series has blown my mind and opened up my horizons. At its worst (and this 2015 edition was pretty bad), it's just OK. I mean, it's never been BAD. But the disappointment of non-inspiration can be acute. Oh well, obviously I'll read all the other editions I can get my hands on, and I recommend you do too. :)
At its best, this series has blown my mind and opened up my horizons. At its worst (and this 2015 edition was pretty bad), it's just OK. I mean, it's never been BAD. But the disappointment of non-inspiration can be acute. Oh well, obviously I'll read all the other editions I can get my hands on, and I recommend you do too. :)
jessferg's review
5.0
Every selection in this 2015 edition is wonderful. I don't think I could pick a favorite but there's so much of interest not only from a science perspective but from a historical and social impact perspective, too. Selections are weighted a little heavily from a couple publications but it's hard to find fault with that when the articles are, in fact, so good.
Among the topics included in these 26 essays are: effects of light (or lack of) on populations, cave exploration, corvids, hyenas, turtles, whales, passenger pigeons, Ebola, plant patents, river restoration, medical decision making, rare diseases, empathy, curiosity, risk prediction, deep-sea mining, urban wilderness, polar jet streams and Jennifer Francis, New Zealand, hominoid fossils, Peter Higgs, and memory reconsolidation.
It's a lot to take in but think of the good impression you'll make by being well-read. Science!
Among the topics included in these 26 essays are: effects of light (or lack of) on populations, cave exploration, corvids, hyenas, turtles, whales, passenger pigeons, Ebola, plant patents, river restoration, medical decision making, rare diseases, empathy, curiosity, risk prediction, deep-sea mining, urban wilderness, polar jet streams and Jennifer Francis, New Zealand, hominoid fossils, Peter Higgs, and memory reconsolidation.
It's a lot to take in but think of the good impression you'll make by being well-read. Science!
visualradish's review
5.0
I have become a fan of this series. I am a curious person by nature, and this series introduces me to other curious people in the world. This year's anthology wasn't as depressing as 2013's and 2011's.
jshepard's review
4.0
I am really a sucker for nature essays. I have read this series most years since 2000. The books are curated magazine articles from the prvious year (in this case 2014). I am not sure why I enjoy them more in book form than in the magazines. I think it is because I am more focused when presented as a book. In any case, I find these essays an excellent end of day meditation on the endlessly facinating and rapidly changing developments in Science and the equally important impact on us humans. These essays are alway a riot of ideas and opening each is like unwrapping christmas gifts. This book's topics included rural solar lighting in India (cool!), light pollution, end of life care, plant patents (boo!), medical actors (who knew?) Phineas Gage and lots more. It took a while to read this one, though.
monicajosephine's review
5.0
I need to read all of the previous editions of this book. So good. So thought provoking. So informative.
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