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Amazon.co.uk Review
Roger Highfield, science editor of The Daily Telegraph and author of The Arrow of Time, takes an offbeat look at Christmas by examining it from a scientific perspective. Can Reindeer Fly? ranges across every field of science--from cloned Christmas trees and the genetic defect that makes Santa so plump, to warp-drive sleights and the physics of snow-flakes--and disentangles they myriad cultural influences that come together to make up our modern Christmas. What are the thermodynamics involved in cooking a turkey? Is the concept of a virgin birth scientifically feasible? What happens to us physically when we overindulge in alcohol? Do people really feel more depressed around Christmas? How does Santa manage to deliver all those presents in one night? (He has, in fact, little over two ten-thousandths of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) With topics ranging from "The Decline and Fall of Virgin Births" to "Christmas Astrology"; from "Santa: The Hallucinogenic Connection" to "The Dreadful Sprout", Can Reindeer Fly will convince you that Christmas is for everyone-- even scientists.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
An extensively revised edition of a light-hearted scientific look at the rituals and icons of Christmas from such questions as the thermodynamics involved in cooking a turkey to the likely celestial candidates for the Star of Bethlehem and what happens to us physically when we over-indulge in alcohol. And there's a new chapter on how religion can help your entire life.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you want to know how Santa delivers all those presents, why he is so fat, the chemistry of intoxication and the genetics of the Virgin Birth, this is the book for you. Can Reindeer Fly? has all this and much much more, from snowball Earth to GM Xmas trees. The hardback is a good price and, though a bit whimsical (if not daft) would make an excellent present for anyone who is in any way interested in science.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've always been a huge fan of Christmas (as has my Mum), & with that in mind, my Mum got me this book for Christmas a couple of years back. I can honestly say I picked it up & didn't put it down again till it was finished. And then I read it again!
It's absolutely fascinating - exploring all the 'mythical' things associated with Christmas & applying science to them to test their viability. In the case of Santa's reindeer, it's proven that they would all be female, as the males lose their antlers, but the females keep theirs till they have their young - FACT! Another favourite of mine (and a question I'm sure children all over the world ask) is how does Santa fly, in all weathers, all around the world, delivering all those presents to all the children IN ONE NIGHT? That question & many more are answered in this fun book. As for the Bethlehem Star & why Santa is so fat, well, you'll have to get a copy of the book & read it for yourself - I won't spoil it for you.
Seriously though, I never thought science could be this interseting! So interesting, in fact, that you hardly think you're reading science at all. And it really does help bring all that whimsical wonder back to Christmas (I'll be listening for Santa's all-female reindeer team next year!).
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This was a book that was really good but could have been even better. It takes the various phenomena of Christmas chapter by chapter and looks at the history and science of each, including candidates for the Christmas Star, the reasons for Santa's longevity and obesity, the anthropology of gift giving and how Rudolph and the other reindeer fly and manage to get every child their present in time for Christmas morning. Very good but quite heavy going.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Festive fun
A fun December read. I love that so much thought went into everything mildly Christmas related, although a few chapters did bore me to skipping a page or four. Read more
Published 5 months ago by D. J. PITT
Can reindeer fly
Not the sort of book to read if you want an everyday conversation with someone about subjects such as , the weather, the government, petrol prices etc. Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2009 by D. Lassut
For Christmas lovers and parents of questioning small children!
I LOVE this book and read it every year. It is amusing yet informative. Perfect for answering all those pesky questions about how presents are delivered in 24 hours, how the... Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2009 by Antigone
Silly seasonal
If you've ever wondered how Santa manages to deliver all the world's presents in one night (clue: it's quantum), how to cook a perfect turkey or how the Star of Bethlehem knew... Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2007 by S. Bailey
Christmas questions answered
Was Jesus born in a stable? Was the Bethlehem star really a star or could it have been a comet or another planet? When was Jesus born? Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2005 by Peter Durward Harris
Good for the Christmas Scientist
This is a rather eclectic collection of short science articles covering - amongst others - genetics, physics, psychology and engineering. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2005
BRILLIANT - A great stocking filler!
A superbly written book detailing the scientific theories behind Christmas - from snowfall to how Santa manages to deliver all of his presents in one night (without incinerating... Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2004 by S. Helyer
Somewhat disappointing
Being a scientist and also in a festive mood, I one day found myself purchasing this book. I was looking for something serious, yet light to read next to the fire over Christmas. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2004 by J. Cronin
Quirky and curious but a bit disjointed.
This is an oddity in that the contents are well thought out and are interesting, but the narrative linking them is so dry in took me a long time to read through. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2003 by Martin Ohara
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