How to Dunk a Doughnut: Using Science in Everyday Life: Amazon.co.uk: Len Fisher: Books

Review

The book has entered the top 20 Popular Science Bestsellers on Amazon.co.uk.The author is also listed as a top 10 Popular Science Author on www.countrybookshop.co.uk. There has been a fantastic level of interest in Len and the book was listed as a hardback fast climber in The Times (31 August 2002). A full page feature ran in the Independent, a feature has also appeared in the Irish Independent and Daily Express, an extract has been bought by the Mail on Sunday, Len has also been interviewed for features in Daily Record - Glasgow, Bristol Evening Post, Teletext, Western Daily Press, Herald - Glasgow and Venue Magazine - Bristol. There is interest in Len taking up a regular column inthe Express Magazine. He is currently writing features for publication in the New Statesman, The Mirror, Times Higher Education Supplement and The Daily Telegraph. Len has appeared on BBC Radio Essex, LBC, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Leeds, Today FM - Ireland, BBC Wiltshire Sound, BBC Radio Bristol, GWR Radio Bristol, Newstalk - New Zealand Radio, and through the General News Service BBC Radio Breakfast programmes in Humberside, Lancashire, Bristol, Sheffield, Leicester, Northampton, BFBS, Stoke, Newcastle, Norfolk, West Midlands and Wales. Interviews are booked with CBS News, and have been recorded for ABC Radio Australia. Len Fisher author did a fun and popular piece for the Today Program - BBC Radio 4 on 8/1/03 to discuss whether bird baths freeze more quickly with hot or cold water in them, many listeners carried out their own experiments and reported the results. He then wrote afull page piece in the DAILY MAIL the day after. His book reached no 8 on Blackwells popular science bestseller list just prior to Christmas and was reported as no 8 in Bestsellers from Oxford in the New Scientist 12/12/02. The author has signed stock copies of his book in Bristol and signed copies of his book at the Science Museumbookstore, London on 24 August. He presented a paper on flavours and foods at an Oxford Symposium attended by international media on September 7th. The book is in the top ten science books as listed by the Science Museum. Len's Radio 4 series of 15 min programmes (based around DIY - Len pottering in the shed with a gang of pals) will air on five consecutive afternoons at 3.45pm, beginnig on 3rd March. Len is also taking part in the IgNobel Laureates' tour, startingon 7th March and will be appearing at the following venues: Instituteof Electrical Engineers, London (Friday 7th March), University of Manchester(Monday 10th March), Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh (Tuesday 11th March), University of Leicester (Wednesday 12th March) and Bristol (Thursday 13thMarch). Reviews have appeared in New Scientist, Physics World, Financial Times, Chemistry in Britain and in Rated Magazine; a review is due to appear in the Yorkshire Post. ... a flavoursome read.Financial Times ..fascinating ... entertaining ..New Scientist ... informative and often very funny ...Chemistry in Britain Book Clubs and InternetThe book was a TSP recommended title, along with Randy Cohen's "The Good, the Bad and the Difference". The two together are described as "Discover how a philosopher and a scientist view the real world". The book was also choice of the month by World Books www.worldbooks.co.uk. Streetsonline.co.uk listed "How to Dunk a Doughnut" as an "essential pre-order", and now lists it in their selected list of new releases. There is arecommendation at studentbookworld.com and features on BBC web-site http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/news/2002/08/15/news1/doughnuts.shtml SciTech dai

TIMES HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT

"This erudite book carries its learning lightly. It is difficult not to be charmed." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

5 reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars

Write a customer review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Pepper and Handsprings 16 Jan 2004

By takingadayoff TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

As a non-science oriented person, I found myself skipping around in this book, skimming parts about claw hammers and boomerangs, but reading the entire chapter on supermarket bills. I had recently heard about the Ignobel Prize on the radio, which the author of this book has won.

I enjoyed the chapter on The Physics of Sex, but had to read the notes to find out why a woman taking the antidepressant clomipramine supplemented her dosage with pepper. (The side effects were delightful!)

In addition to making science more accessible, Fisher makes scientists seem more human. He describes colleagues of his reacting to successes by singing, shouting, and one who removed all his clothes and did a series of handsprings. Now that is a happy scientist.

Comment |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

A truly readable and enjoyable popular science book 27 Nov 2002

By A Customer

Have you ever tried to read a popular science book and given up after a few pages? Are you still interested in learning something about science and what scientists do? If so, then this is the book for you. In this brilliant book Dr Fisher has succeeded, where many scientists have failed, in writing a book which is truly accessible (and enjoyable!) to the layperson, without sacrificing the quality of the scientific content.

Dr Fisher's approach de-mystifies science by examining how scientific analysis can be applied to ordinary everyday situations, from boiling an egg to catching a ball. His lighthearted biscuit dunking experiments were widely reported across the world. Dr Fisher deals with subjects dear to most of our hearts: beer, food, sex and shopping amongst others, and this is one of the things that make this book so readable. The science is interspersed with anecdotes about the many scientists Dr Fisher has worked with and about the way scientists actually go about their work. The elements are carefully mixed to allow the science to be easily digested in bite-sized pieces, and for those who want to read further there are extensive appendices, notes and references at the back of the book.

I recommend this book to anyone. It is informative, thought provoking and a pleasure to read.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

learn physics the easy way 12 Jan 2005

By Mr. David Edwards

I can unreservedly recommend this book to all aspiring scientists. In a delightfully amusing well written way are described some of the important principles of how science really works. This is not in any way a complete book on physics - it's not meant to be. But as an appetiser, using simple ideas and diagrams it will take some beating. We need more of these types of books where the excitement of science is put over with enthusiasm and clarity. I found only one mistake in the text where it is indicated that rusting depends on Oxygen and water: it also requires Carbon Dioxide.

And if you are a budding scientist read it with Michael Faraday's "The Chemical History of a Candle" to find out how real, fundamental but essentially simple science is undertaken.