- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Arcade Publishing; 1 edition (15 Oct 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1559706805
- ISBN-13: 978-1559706803
- Product Dimensions: 22 x 15.8 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,030,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
How to Dunk a Doughnut
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Product Description
Review
"Nutty science - we love it. Why bother figuring it out when you can try it out? Len Fisher even explains the physics of sex - think rocket launcher." (THE TIMES )
"Full marks to Mr Fisher for at least trying to make science fun." (THE DAILY MAIL )
"This erudite book carries its learning lightly. It is difficult not to be charmed." (TIMES HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT )
"Wryly funny but informative book... well worth an afternoon of anyone's time." (FOCUS )
"Too many popular science book lack any practical output... Fisher is different. His explanations are directed at the important things: how to boil a perfect egg, the physics of sex, and why some vegetables absorb more gravy than others." (THE HERALD ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
"Full marks to Mr Fisher for at least trying to make science fun." (THE DAILY MAIL )
"This erudite book carries its learning lightly. It is difficult not to be charmed." (TIMES HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT )
"Wryly funny but informative book... well worth an afternoon of anyone's time." (FOCUS )
"Too many popular science book lack any practical output... Fisher is different. His explanations are directed at the important things: how to boil a perfect egg, the physics of sex, and why some vegetables absorb more gravy than others." (THE HERALD ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
TIMES HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT
"This erudite book carries its learning lightly. It is difficult not to be charmed."
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Inside This Book
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Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
One of the main problems that scientists have in sharing their picture of the world with a wider audience is the knowledge gap. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
One of the main problems that scientists have in sharing their picture of the world with a wider audience is the knowledge gap. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
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.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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
Format:Paperback
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
interesting in parts
As the title suggests, this book looks at some unusual problems in a scientific manner, and in doing so, the author aims to humanise science and make it more accessible to the... Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2003 by Cajal's cerebellum
What your science teacher should have taught you!
This entertaining book is based on a series of radio, television and press
interviews on making the science of everyday situations accessible. Read more
interviews on making the science of everyday situations accessible. Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2002 by Simone Blomberg
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