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Inspired by his popular web site, www. badastronomy.com, this first book by Plait (astronomy, Sonoma State Univ.) debunks popular myths and misconceptions relating to astronomy and promotes science as a means of explaining our mysterious heavens. The work describes 24 common astronomical fallacies, including the beliefs that the Coriolis effect determines the direction that water drains in a bathtub and that planetary alignments can cause disaster on Earth. The author sharply and convincingly dismisses astrology, creationism, and UFO sightings and explains the principles behind basic general concepts (the Big Bang, why the sky is blue, etc.). Though some may find him strident, Plait succeeds brilliantly because his clear and understandable explanations are convincing and honest. This first volume in Wiley′s "Bad Science" series is recommended for all libraries, especially astronomy and folklore collections. Jeffrey Beall, Univ. of Colorado Lib., Denver (Library Journal, March 15, 2002)
"...everything′s beautifully explained. He gives the neatest explanation of tides I′ve ever seen...for that alone, this book should be in every school library on the planet." (New Scientist, 4 May 2002)
"...the book might be a better student introduction than many more sober tomes..." (Times Higher Education Supplement, 7 June 2002)
"Bad Astronomy is a book which is both timely and welcome. I would recommend it without hesitation, and I have no doubt that it will be widely read..." (The Observatory, October 2002)
For skeptics, always fans of science: The first two books in a series devoted to "bad science," Bad Astronomy by Philip Plait and Bad Medicine (Wiley, $15.95) by Christopher Wanjek, may warm even a Scrooge′s heart. In short chapters, Plait tackles misperceptions about why the moon looks larger on the horizon and why stars twinkle before moving on, dismantling conspiracy kooks who doubt the moon landing and offering a top 10 list of bad science moments in movie history. Wanjek, a science writer who has also written jokes for The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live, takes an edgy and funny tack in debunking myths such as humans using only 10% of their brains, the utility of "anti–bacterial" toys and the safety of "natural" herbal remedies, ones often loaded with powerful chemicals. (USA TODAY, December 3, 2002)
"...a good read...Plait′s book is readable, entertaining, not exclusively for astronomers, and often very funny..." (Astronomy & Space, June 2003)
"...a great book to dip into..." (Popular Astronomy, January 2004)
"The author sharply and convincingly dismisses astrology, creationism, and UFO sightings.... Plait succeeds brilliantly because his clear and understandable explanations are convincing and honest." (Library Journal, March 15, 2002)
"...everything′s beautifully explained. He gives the neatest explanation of tides I′ve ever seen...for that alone, this book should be in every school library on the planet." (New Scientist, 4 May 2002)
"...the book might be a better student introduction than many more sober tomes..." (Times Higher Education Supplement, 7 June 2002)
"Bad Astronomy is a book which is both timely and welcome. I would recommend it without hesitation, and I have no doubt that it will be widely read..." (The Observatory, October 2002)
"...a good read...Plait′s book is readable, entertaining, not exclusively for astronomers, and often very funny..." (Astronomy & Space, June 2003)
"...a great book to dip into..." (Popular Astronomy, January 2004)
Dr. Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist for Scientific American, and author of The Borderlands of Science
"Thank the cosmos for the bundle of star stuff named Philip Plait, who is the world's leading consumer advocate for quality science in space and on Earth. This important contribution to science will rest firmly on my reference library shelf, ready for easy access the next time an astrologer calls."
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Consider the humble chicken egg. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Consider the humble chicken egg. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Plait does it well, even on his website. He admits his mistakes and ruthlessly attacks those spreading false wisdom, even stopping for the easy mopping up of the common misconceptions. Anybody with a remote interest in astronomy would do well to obtain a copy of Bad Astronomy.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a must if you have had enough of old wives tales about why the sky is blue and how the moon affects the tides. Plait explains many many astronomical misconceptions in a very intelligent yet entertaining way. Here is a wonderful way to teach your kids (and yourself) why summer turns to autumn, why stars twinkle and why the world did not end during the Great Planetary Alignment of 2000. This book also examines the moon landing hoax, which I found highly amusing.
Even if you are not into astronomy, this book is one that will make you laugh at some of the tall tales you were told in your youth regarding the planets, the moon and the stars. The added bonus is these fun facts are written by an intelligent 'astronomer, teacher, lecturer and all-around science junkie' who works in the physics and astronomy department at Sonoma State University. I think it's safe to say that this man knows his stuff!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Misunderstanding the laws of nature will often bring misery to people, in terms of loosing money, faith or opportunity. For example, the guys that looks for some secret plot to fake the Lunar landing (Apollo 11) must miss a lot of the wonders of the planetary expeditions brings these years. For the hard-core believers of faked / bad astronomy, this book will bring nothing of interrest; they have already made up their minds.
For others, however, especially for young students of nature, this book is a "must-read". Old wives tales, like the water running clock-wise out of the sink in the Northen Hemisphere and anti-clock-wise on the Southern (or was it the other way around?) and several more similar yarns are dealt with in a serious but entertaining way. To say it short: The book is funny!
The book is of course an edited version of the now famous website where the author brings more and updated news. The book is dated, but it is a must for a teacher of physics / science for the schools.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
To Badly Go
Philip Plait's book is an entertaining examination of common misunderstandings astronomical, along with witty debunks of the moon landing `hoax' and practitioners of pseudoscience... Read more
Published 2 months ago by F Henwood
Bad Astronomy - apt title!
I was so very disappointed with is book. Bad Astronomy - is bad! Some very small part of the content was marginally interesting but as for the rest of it - not impressed one bit. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sue Manning Huddersfield United Kingdom
Easy to read, informative, *and* educational.
Extremely clear and well presented information on many astronomical misconceptions. I particularly found the chapter on tides not only to be educational, but to present the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Michael Noel Jones
Down to earth book about space
Phillip Plait has a way with words. Despite the topic being a bit "frightening" for non-astronomers, and people who don't know much about space, Phillip Plait has made a wonderful... Read more
Published 19 months ago by L. Birkemose
Really good book :) Everyone should read this.
I really enjoyed this book, it dispels all the hoaxes that people make up. I read abit of this at my college library and it had alot more subjects then i first thought, i then... Read more
Published on 26 May 2010 by AstroChick
Superbad
Why is the sky blue and sunsets orange? Why do Earth's oceans experience two tides a day? What is the brightest star in the night sky (if you said Polaris, you're wrong! Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2010 by C. A. Gallagher
Moon Landing Hoax
I bought this book, based on the good reviews. The main interest for me would be the "Moon Landing Hoax", as a photographer I was eager to read arguments that the Apollo... Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2007 by Digitalan
This Astronomer is Bad!
Phil Plait is an astronomer who got fed up with the misconceptions surrounding his subject, and he has set out to rectify the situation. He has succeeded. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2004 by T. Walker
Throw back your head and marvel!
This is for anyone who's ever looked up and wondered. I was thrilled by not only this book's content but the amount that my tired old brain absorbed. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2003 by Darren Halford
Bab Astronomy is a very good read
Very well argued, and well explained, rebuttal of some of the old wives tales, misconceptions, and Conspiracy Theorists beliefs. Read more
Published on 22 July 2002 by John D Jackson
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