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'Delightful compilation of 100 easy pieces . . . one of the world's best writer-scientists . . . Jones is the Alan Bennett of science' - Financial Times 'Jones once again shows that, for all its difficulties, science can still be fun' - Independent 'One of the most engaging and revealing portraits of science and its practitioners you'll ever read' - Daily Express 'Wonderful examples of scientific storytelling . . . Simply fascinating' - Simon Singh, Sunday Telegraph 'Short essays ranging from astrophysics to anthropology . . . Perfect for anyone after occasional food for thought' - New Scientist
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'Jones once again shows that, for all its difficulties, science can still be fun'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The bad news is that this book deals with such a wide and varied set of topics, that it's impossible to categorise it. The good news is that Jones presents each subject so well and with such enthusiasm that it's a delightful read. You may read it front to back, the reverse, or purely at random. Such is the nature of a book of selected essays on the wonders of nature and the methods of studying them. Sifting through his columns in Britain's "Daily Telegraph" to select merely a hundred must have been a daunting task, but Jones managed it admirably. As the publisher's blurb declaims, it's "a hundred easy pieces about science". They fail to mention each one is a treat to encounter.
Jones has a string of excellent books to his credit: "Almost Like A Whale" ["Darwin's Ghost" in the US] and "Y-The Descent of Men" being among the better known. He knows how to write to an informed and interested audience. He's so good at it that he's won a medal for "increasing public knowledge of science". The title derives from his work on snails and the notoriety gained by James Watson's account of the revelation of DNA's structure. Although Jones' own field is biology, he's able to venture into other disciplines in this collection. Even history is probed for unusual information - the "Telemobiloskop" is certain to gain your attention at the next cocktail party. For a biologist - and a malacologist at that, it might seem out of place for Jones to dabble in astrophysics or physics itself, yet he manages it with panache. In today's world, however, genetics plays too significant a role to be passed over lightly, and Jones provides several excellent items on the topic.
Applying a sense of irony and humour throughout these pages, Jones easily dispels the image of the dour scientist. He's not above examining his own mistakes, even while depicting critics as "vultures drawn to carrion". Nobody "peer reviews" books on science aimed at the general public, and things slip by. His discussion of errors he made in "Almost Like a Whale" is accompanied by his views on evolutionary psychology. In the process, he reminds us that we're a social species, and must tread lightly in making generalisations about how that situation is manifested in science writing. It would have been nice if Jones had avoided the lure one scientist-essayist fell prey to. Instead of baseball, however, at one point Jones deals with the national sport of his own. The axes he has to grind are kept strictly associated with science. A highly readable, entertaining and useful book.
Jones has a string of excellent books to his credit: "Almost Like A Whale" ["Darwin's Ghost" in the US] and "Y-The Descent of Men" being among the better known. He knows how to write to an informed and interested audience. He's so good at it that he's won a medal for "increasing public knowledge of science". The title derives from his work on snails and the notoriety gained by James Watson's account of the revelation of DNA's structure. Although Jones' own field is biology, he's able to venture into other disciplines in this collection. Even history is probed for unusual information - the "Telemobiloskop" is certain to gain your attention at the next cocktail party. For a biologist - and a malacologist at that, it might seem out of place for Jones to dabble in astrophysics or physics itself, yet he manages it with panache. In today's world, however, genetics plays too significant a role to be passed over lightly, and Jones provides several excellent items on the topic.
Applying a sense of irony and humour throughout these pages, Jones easily dispels the image of the dour scientist. He's not above examining his own mistakes, even while depicting critics as "vultures drawn to carrion". Nobody "peer reviews" books on science aimed at the general public, and things slip by. His discussion of errors he made in "Almost Like a Whale" is accompanied by his views on evolutionary psychology. In the process, he reminds us that we're a social species, and must tread lightly in making generalisations about how that situation is manifested in science writing. It would have been nice if Jones had avoided the lure one scientist-essayist fell prey to. Instead of baseball, however, at one point Jones deals with the national sport of his own. The axes he has to grind are kept strictly associated with science. A highly readable, entertaining and useful book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was disappointed with this collection of reprinted articles. One of the themes that runs through the book is that artists, writers, printers, TV shows etc regularly misinterpret science either through ignorance or to further their own purposes, much to the chagrin of the good professor.
I don't know very much about science but I do know that the author of Frankenstein was Shelley's wife, not his sister (page 41). On page 213 we are told that "Peter the Great detested facial hair so much he shaved his nobles himself". Here a historical fact is taken and distorted to such an extent that its real meaning is lost, merely to serve the journalistic interests of the author. On the same page you find the ancient Egyptian Queen Matshrpdont. Try putting her into Google and see how many results you get.
The problem for me was that I spotted enough inaccuracies about the things I knew, to start to doubt the things that I was being told of which I didn't know.
He is an easy read though, and just needs a better editor
I don't know very much about science but I do know that the author of Frankenstein was Shelley's wife, not his sister (page 41). On page 213 we are told that "Peter the Great detested facial hair so much he shaved his nobles himself". Here a historical fact is taken and distorted to such an extent that its real meaning is lost, merely to serve the journalistic interests of the author. On the same page you find the ancient Egyptian Queen Matshrpdont. Try putting her into Google and see how many results you get.
The problem for me was that I spotted enough inaccuracies about the things I knew, to start to doubt the things that I was being told of which I didn't know.
He is an easy read though, and just needs a better editor
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The single helix is hard to put down and often very funny. Each chapter is a brief article of only 3 pages. The book’s theme is to have no fixed subject. It dips into a wide range of subjects shining a brief, but very illuminating, light on each.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Jones The Joker
The Single Helix is Steve Jones's attempt at popularising science. It's shaped by his frustration with the strictures of producing the academic article which he considers is now... Read more
Published on 21 May 2010 by Neutral
So - so
The idea of simply collecting and transferring Steve Jones' newspaper column into a book doesn't work and is pretty lazy. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2008 by C. A. Gallagher
Interesting, but Marred by Inaccuracies
This book should be seen as opinions rather than facts. While it does present many concepts in digestible 3 page format for the layman, the author is tripped up by his own... Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2007 by S. Hartwell
The Single Helix
This is a strangely dissatisfying read, which is a real shame as Jones is an excellent author and i've enjoyed many of his other books. Read more
Published on 15 July 2007 by Spider Monkey
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