Unless we are brilliant at science in our teenage years, many of us put off 'childish things' - science museums, palaeontology - in favour of museums, art galleries and concert halls. A cultured person, Natalie Angier argues, should know about the classic ideas of physics and biology as well as the classic works of Beethoven and Picasso. Drawing on conversations with many of the world's leading scientists, Angier takes us on a vivid, good-humoured and informative tour of this neglected canon. An entertaining guide to scientific literacy - from stem-cell research to bird flu and global warming - that explains the machinery of this place we call home.
The Canon: The Beautiful Basics of Science
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'A work-out for the brain ...Angier has clarity and charm.' -- Independent
Book Description
Every cultured person should know a few big things about science - wonderfully bright and engaging, this book tells you what they are.
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First Sentence
SCOTT STROBEL, A BIOCHEMIST at Yale University, is tall, tidy, and boyishly severe, his complexion a polished apple, his jaw ajut, his hair a sergeant's clipped command. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
SCOTT STROBEL, A BIOCHEMIST at Yale University, is tall, tidy, and boyishly severe, his complexion a polished apple, his jaw ajut, his hair a sergeant's clipped command. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By J. Charlesworth
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
As the subtitle suggests, the Canon sets out to explain the basics of science, and show the beauty of how we use the scientific method to figure out how the world works. Using plenty of real-life (often wacky)examples, Natalie Angier neatly explains most, if not all, of the concepts she covers. Where she really excels, however, is at making connections between them, which is exactly where high school science often falls short. She doesn't go into much detail about any one topic, but that's not the point of the book, so I wasn't at all disappointed.
Angier is American, and some reviewers have complained that her humour and examples come mostly from her home continent. That's true, but I don't think it spoils the book in any way, and I didn't find her jokes hard to grasp- for example her quip about how you feel like more than 60 per cent of your body is water when you're bursting for a pee is about as universally human as these things come. If you're not a fan of puns, then beware- but I never felt that Angier's wordplay detracted from the scientific content she was describing. Over and over again she shows her ability to use real-life, down-to-earth examples, bring universal concepts into the realm of the average human's experience, and to bring some of the beauty of poetry into the scientific literature.
I read this book because I want to be a secondary science teacher, and I found Angier's examples were an excellent source of ideas for use in the classroom. I didn't learn a lot of new science, but I did learn some new ways to explain familiar concepts, and ways to hook the interest of people who may have been turned off the very idea of science. With the fact and test-based nature of school curricula, it's a tough job indeed to get across the sense of excitement that scientific discovery brings. Angier manages this, and for that this book is to be applauded.
Angier is American, and some reviewers have complained that her humour and examples come mostly from her home continent. That's true, but I don't think it spoils the book in any way, and I didn't find her jokes hard to grasp- for example her quip about how you feel like more than 60 per cent of your body is water when you're bursting for a pee is about as universally human as these things come. If you're not a fan of puns, then beware- but I never felt that Angier's wordplay detracted from the scientific content she was describing. Over and over again she shows her ability to use real-life, down-to-earth examples, bring universal concepts into the realm of the average human's experience, and to bring some of the beauty of poetry into the scientific literature.
I read this book because I want to be a secondary science teacher, and I found Angier's examples were an excellent source of ideas for use in the classroom. I didn't learn a lot of new science, but I did learn some new ways to explain familiar concepts, and ways to hook the interest of people who may have been turned off the very idea of science. With the fact and test-based nature of school curricula, it's a tough job indeed to get across the sense of excitement that scientific discovery brings. Angier manages this, and for that this book is to be applauded.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
When I bough this book, I was sceptical. Having read Bill Brysons effort at explaining popular Science - and finding it funny, I suspected that this would be dry by comparrision. I am please to say I was wrong.
The book is written in such a way that you can feel the enjoyment that the author has for her subject matter - anyone who can make the concept of "Calibration" engaging and a page turner cant be praised enough.
As a teacher I bought it for general interest and it serves that field very well.
Glen Gilchrist
The book is written in such a way that you can feel the enjoyment that the author has for her subject matter - anyone who can make the concept of "Calibration" engaging and a page turner cant be praised enough.
As a teacher I bought it for general interest and it serves that field very well.
Glen Gilchrist
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a natural scientist and subsequently a physician nearing the end of their career, I came to this book from the position of a father and grandfather.
I found my joy of science immediately reengaged and many of the holes in my knowledge which have necessarily developed over the last 35 years were filled in.
But more importantly I felt at once engaged by the straight forward style and excited by the proscess of the understanding of the world around me.If only every school child could - NO, WOULD mnage to read this they may be better equipped than the sadly half hearted science I have seen my children experience at school. I hope my arriving grand children will read it early and capture the magic that science can deliver not only to the intellect but also to the imagination.
I found the experience of this book on a par with Oliver Sacks' "Uncle Tungsten".
Brilliant.
I found my joy of science immediately reengaged and many of the holes in my knowledge which have necessarily developed over the last 35 years were filled in.
But more importantly I felt at once engaged by the straight forward style and excited by the proscess of the understanding of the world around me.If only every school child could - NO, WOULD mnage to read this they may be better equipped than the sadly half hearted science I have seen my children experience at school. I hope my arriving grand children will read it early and capture the magic that science can deliver not only to the intellect but also to the imagination.
I found the experience of this book on a par with Oliver Sacks' "Uncle Tungsten".
Brilliant.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
A book to be avoided
The Canon is presumably aimed at adults and it claims to provide them with some of the basics of science. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Norman Coe
1.0 out of 5 stars
Self-important, wittering drivel
This is the exact opposite of good science writing.
It layers a mass of irrelevant wittering on top of a small amount of science. Read more
It layers a mass of irrelevant wittering on top of a small amount of science. Read more
Published 18 months ago by P. Judge
3.0 out of 5 stars
No Principia
This book has received mixed reviews and The Canon has divided reviewers into those that obviously love Angier's style and witticism and those whom it clearly irritates. Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2010 by John Dexter
1.0 out of 5 stars
The worst book I have encountered for many years
I was attracted by the press hype for this book and should have had the sense to read more customer reviews. Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2009 by Peter Horsley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Book!!
What a great read...does exactly what it says on the cover...explains complex scientific concepts in an easy to understand dialogue. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2009 by Michael W. Tynan
3.0 out of 5 stars
Annoying writing style detracts from content
I liked the idea of this book, its aim to provide a comprehensive, basic introduction to the sciences. Read more
Published on 17 May 2009 by Jenny
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good intentions, flawed presentation
I set out to write a review giving my thoughts on this book, but I found that Stephen A Haines has got there before me. Read more
Published on 17 May 2009 by MC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny science
Apart from the American slant and references to American shows etc. I really enjoyed this book. Even better it often made me laugh. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2009 by Dr. Norman White
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
Educational and funny in equal measure. Angier makes the complicated accessible and jogs long forgotten memories of science classes at school. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2008 by AD bookworm
2.0 out of 5 stars
A few facts obscured by too much clever writing
This was a very disapointing book. I cannot believe I learnt so little from reading 264 pages. I find my two main criticisms have already been mentioned by previous reviewers. Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2008 by M. Locke
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