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3 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
making science interesting and relevant
11 Nov 2008
Format:Paperback
As a high school science teacher, I find The Science of Heroes to be an excellent example of how to interest people in science. It starts from something interesting and culturally relevant--the popular TV show Heroes--and explores the aspects of science that are relevant to each character's special powers.
The subtitle claims that the book's purpose is to explore the real-life possibilities behind the TV show, but I think its real value is in Carts-Powell's "here's what you need to know" explanations of the science involved, and how that science got us to where we are today. Because the scope of the book is limited to the TV show, the explanations could not stand as a replacement for a textbook, but the descriptions provide the kind of background that scientists, teachers, and textbook authors wish everyone had. Moreover, because people are more likely to actually read the stories and become interested in science as a result, the book may well accomplish something that those scientists, teachers, and textbook authors have been trying to do for generations.
Because each chapter looks at a different character and a different branch of science, the book is easy to read piecemeal. This would make it well-suited for a science teacher who wants to use the chapters relevant to their disciplines as supplemental reading material. It also makes the book well-suited for use as a coffee table book, in a waiting room, or as interesting reading material on an airplane or while commuting by train to work.
In short, I highly recommend it for anyone who finds the world to be an interesting place.
The subtitle claims that the book's purpose is to explore the real-life possibilities behind the TV show, but I think its real value is in Carts-Powell's "here's what you need to know" explanations of the science involved, and how that science got us to where we are today. Because the scope of the book is limited to the TV show, the explanations could not stand as a replacement for a textbook, but the descriptions provide the kind of background that scientists, teachers, and textbook authors wish everyone had. Moreover, because people are more likely to actually read the stories and become interested in science as a result, the book may well accomplish something that those scientists, teachers, and textbook authors have been trying to do for generations.
Because each chapter looks at a different character and a different branch of science, the book is easy to read piecemeal. This would make it well-suited for a science teacher who wants to use the chapters relevant to their disciplines as supplemental reading material. It also makes the book well-suited for use as a coffee table book, in a waiting room, or as interesting reading material on an airplane or while commuting by train to work.
In short, I highly recommend it for anyone who finds the world to be an interesting place.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
for the curious
30 Oct 2008
Format:Paperback
Three things you should know about me to understand my reaction to this book:
1) Science and math are my weak points;
2) I'm still intrigued by the mechanics of science;
3) I'm a pop culture geek.
I had great fun with "The Science of Heroes." If given the chance, I'd rather have logical explanations behind the impossible in the fiction I read and/or watch, and this book gives me that chance. Carts-Powell comes up with creative explanations for the phenomenons in the series, and she writes in a way that's clear, concise, and informative. I definitely recommend it to Heroes viewers who want to dig a bit deeper.
1) Science and math are my weak points;
2) I'm still intrigued by the mechanics of science;
3) I'm a pop culture geek.
I had great fun with "The Science of Heroes." If given the chance, I'd rather have logical explanations behind the impossible in the fiction I read and/or watch, and this book gives me that chance. Carts-Powell comes up with creative explanations for the phenomenons in the series, and she writes in a way that's clear, concise, and informative. I definitely recommend it to Heroes viewers who want to dig a bit deeper.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Truth is stranger than fiction
1 Dec 2008
Format:Paperback
I'm a reading teacher. If I were a science teacher, I would buy 30 copies of this book and keep it in my classroom. It's written on a level that both adults and eighth graders can thoroughly enjoy. Forget "assume a spherical cow," we're into the realm of "assume an orbital coyote" now. The style is easy-to-read, with amusing but effective examples, and the content is surprisingly deep.
You don't need to be a fan of "Heroes" to enjoy this book. Personally, I've never watched a single episode. What _The Science of Heroes_ does is not just to explain the background of a science fiction series but to get at the reality underneath - the world in which we live. It shows that science is catching up to television, that invisibility and time travel are more possible than we ever imagined, and that truth really is stranger than fiction. Five stars.
You don't need to be a fan of "Heroes" to enjoy this book. Personally, I've never watched a single episode. What _The Science of Heroes_ does is not just to explain the background of a science fiction series but to get at the reality underneath - the world in which we live. It shows that science is catching up to television, that invisibility and time travel are more possible than we ever imagined, and that truth really is stranger than fiction. Five stars.
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