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A review by ravenousbibliophile
This Explains Everything: Deep, Beautiful, and Elegant Theories of How the World Works by John Brockman
4.0
In 1997, John Brockman and friends launched 'Edge', an online magazine/blog for collating and showcasing the most radical and perhaps the most fascinating questions/theories in the fields of science, mathematics, philosophy, technology etc. Every year, on the anniversary of Edge, John and his friends decide put forth the 'Edge Question'. The answers to this question are then published on the website.
In 2012, the Edge Question that was asked to these intellectual stalwarts was "What is your favorite Deep, Elegant or Beautiful explanation?". The answers (in some cases essays and in some cases a small paragraph) are what form this book.
Like many other works of a cerebral nature, this book is difficult to read in a single sitting. However, it does make for an intellectually stimulating (and sometimes hilarious) read, if tackled peace-meal. The question as you may have noticed, is rather vague. But when you ask some of the brightest minds in the world a question like that, the answers are extremely thought-provoking. The content is mostly related to the field that each contributor represents, but in some cases, the answers are simply a different way of looking at everyday occurrences. This blend of intelligence and common-sense is what makes this book (in my opinion) the intellectual equivalent of the Promethean fire.
In 2012, the Edge Question that was asked to these intellectual stalwarts was "What is your favorite Deep, Elegant or Beautiful explanation?". The answers (in some cases essays and in some cases a small paragraph) are what form this book.
Like many other works of a cerebral nature, this book is difficult to read in a single sitting. However, it does make for an intellectually stimulating (and sometimes hilarious) read, if tackled peace-meal. The question as you may have noticed, is rather vague. But when you ask some of the brightest minds in the world a question like that, the answers are extremely thought-provoking. The content is mostly related to the field that each contributor represents, but in some cases, the answers are simply a different way of looking at everyday occurrences. This blend of intelligence and common-sense is what makes this book (in my opinion) the intellectual equivalent of the Promethean fire.