Professor Brian Cox is probably the best-known physicist in the world today. As presenter of the hit television series Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe, his affable charm and infectious enthusiasm has brought science to a whole new audience. Born in Lancashire in 1968, Cox was a bright, but not brilliant pupil at school - only receiving a D grade for A level mathematics. He flourished at university, however, gaining a first-class honours degree and an MPhil in Physics from Manchester University before being awarded his PhD in particle physics in 1998. Alongside his studies he also found time to play keyboards for the band D:Ream, and the band topped the charts in 1994 with 'Things Can Only Get Better', which was famously used by the Labour Party for its 1997 election campaign. Although he has appeared in several television shows, Brian Cox is not just a celebrity presenter - he is a Royal Society University Research Fellow, a professor at the University of Manchester, and he also works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland. In 2010 he was awarded an OBE for his services to science, and he has also won several awards for his television work.
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About the Author
Ben Falk is an entertainment journalist and author of Robert Downey Jr: The Fall and Rise Of The Comeback Kid. He regularly writes about TV, movies and entertainment for Sky and The Huffington Post and has previously written for dozens of magazines and websites including AOLTV, Empire, Grazia and BBC Online. He was Hollywood bureau chief for Press Association and has worked as a television producer.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Reculet
Format:Hardcover
I hope Brian Cox hasn't read this book !
It really is a very poorly written biography that completely fails to convey any coherent account of Cox's development as person, musician, scientist or stellar science broadcaster. I sincerely hope that Brian can at some stage find the time to write an autobiography, because I am certain his own writing will be far more insightful, entertaining and clear, and certainly less error-prone than this garbled offering from Ben Falk.
To choose just one from the many mistakes that Cox would have eliminated immediately had he been given the chance; Falk writes "It's not hard to see why he [Cox] was so buoyed by the news of a new earth-like planet [Kepler 22-b] discovered by CERN scientists." I think "astonished" would be a better adjective than "buoyed" to describe Cox's (and CERN and NASA's) likely reaction to that nonsense! Only a writer completely out of touch with even the popular-broadcast world of fundamental science could possibly have penned that line!
Falk is somewhat more convincing when dealing with the earlier non-academic phase of Cox's adult life, as keyboard player in the pop world for example, but all of his accounts are third-party, obtained from interviews with, or writings and tweetings of those who knew Cox at the time - there is no sign of any direct contact by the author himself with his subject. This has the unfortunate but predictable consequence of ensuring that one learns far more about (admittedly interesting) friends, family and colleagues of Cox than of the person himself - and it is a flaw that runs throughout the book.
Falk's writing is littered with inconsistencies that might have been eliminated by even half-competent editing (for the lack of which the publisher must bear main responsibility); for example, telling us in one place that Cox obtained his Physics degree at the University of Manchester, while in another having the undergraduate Cox supervised by an academic from a different University; also, describing how busy Cox was becoming a Particle Physicist at DESY in Hamburg, while, apparently at the same time, working "pretty much full time" for TV company TWI; no attempt is made by Falk to resolve or explain these contradictions.
Let's have an autobiography Brian - surely you must have finished filming Wonders of Life, and you have already co-discovered the Higgs - its the perfect time to save the rest of us from half-baked biographies of you :D
It really is a very poorly written biography that completely fails to convey any coherent account of Cox's development as person, musician, scientist or stellar science broadcaster. I sincerely hope that Brian can at some stage find the time to write an autobiography, because I am certain his own writing will be far more insightful, entertaining and clear, and certainly less error-prone than this garbled offering from Ben Falk.
To choose just one from the many mistakes that Cox would have eliminated immediately had he been given the chance; Falk writes "It's not hard to see why he [Cox] was so buoyed by the news of a new earth-like planet [Kepler 22-b] discovered by CERN scientists." I think "astonished" would be a better adjective than "buoyed" to describe Cox's (and CERN and NASA's) likely reaction to that nonsense! Only a writer completely out of touch with even the popular-broadcast world of fundamental science could possibly have penned that line!
Falk is somewhat more convincing when dealing with the earlier non-academic phase of Cox's adult life, as keyboard player in the pop world for example, but all of his accounts are third-party, obtained from interviews with, or writings and tweetings of those who knew Cox at the time - there is no sign of any direct contact by the author himself with his subject. This has the unfortunate but predictable consequence of ensuring that one learns far more about (admittedly interesting) friends, family and colleagues of Cox than of the person himself - and it is a flaw that runs throughout the book.
Falk's writing is littered with inconsistencies that might have been eliminated by even half-competent editing (for the lack of which the publisher must bear main responsibility); for example, telling us in one place that Cox obtained his Physics degree at the University of Manchester, while in another having the undergraduate Cox supervised by an academic from a different University; also, describing how busy Cox was becoming a Particle Physicist at DESY in Hamburg, while, apparently at the same time, working "pretty much full time" for TV company TWI; no attempt is made by Falk to resolve or explain these contradictions.
Let's have an autobiography Brian - surely you must have finished filming Wonders of Life, and you have already co-discovered the Higgs - its the perfect time to save the rest of us from half-baked biographies of you :D
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I found this an enjoyable read, although, as with any biography, it's not the 'cover star' in their own words of course (although he is routinely quoted throughout).
The clue I guess is in the title - 'unauthorized biography', but it feels well-researched & not just a cash cow.
The book does however seem to deal more with his adult life (as I guess there is more information to be found here) - & all this is covered pretty well, charting his career as musician, student, physicist & eventual TV star.
I was so interested to read about his work at CERN - & one new thing I learnt was that the internet was invented there.
It would have been great though to have had more of his personal thoughts, maybe his hopes, dreams & aspirations as a child & young adult, & to get to really know him more intimately - but I guess this will have to wait for his autobiography (if he ever gets the time to write it!).
All in all, an interesting & informative read about a genuine nice guy (no skeletons in this closet), & someone whose passion for his chosen field has had such a positive effect on how we (& epecially young people) view science.
The clue I guess is in the title - 'unauthorized biography', but it feels well-researched & not just a cash cow.
The book does however seem to deal more with his adult life (as I guess there is more information to be found here) - & all this is covered pretty well, charting his career as musician, student, physicist & eventual TV star.
I was so interested to read about his work at CERN - & one new thing I learnt was that the internet was invented there.
It would have been great though to have had more of his personal thoughts, maybe his hopes, dreams & aspirations as a child & young adult, & to get to really know him more intimately - but I guess this will have to wait for his autobiography (if he ever gets the time to write it!).
All in all, an interesting & informative read about a genuine nice guy (no skeletons in this closet), & someone whose passion for his chosen field has had such a positive effect on how we (& epecially young people) view science.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Sam Pearse
Format:Hardcover
This book is a treat for all fans and followers of Brian Cox and a great human story about the man who has made complex science seem sexy and easy. Clearly written and well researched, it gives us a key to the man who has opened doors to wonders for new generations.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesing read
I enjoyed the book as I am a fan of Brian and his influence on the young scientists of the future.The book was rather rambling and repetitive in places.
Published 19 days ago by E.K.Towler
3.0 out of 5 stars
Unauthorised is the clue
Whilst full of interesting facts about Brian Cox, it relies on quotes and articles that have been previously printed. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. F. Reid
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brian Cox
Excellent! I'm a great follower of Brian Cox. This book is a great insight into the character of Brian Cox
Published 4 months ago by Hal London
5.0 out of 5 stars
I LOVE IT This book is fantastic i brought it for my son for christmas...
This book is fantastic i brought it for my son for christmas he is so pleased with it its amazing, it came on time and the packaging was superb.
Published 4 months ago by happy
5.0 out of 5 stars
sister is a professor
she is all over this. has the dvd's and everything else so whats up with one more book!
good stuff.
good stuff.
Published 5 months ago by Mark Twain
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brian Cox
Given as a xmas present and was very much appreciated by the person I gave it too, and very well presented
Published 5 months ago by Susan LewisAngela James
3.0 out of 5 stars
the wonder of brian cox
the brian cox box was good but I thought it would be better than it was.
alot of the authors information was third party comment and information. Read more
alot of the authors information was third party comment and information. Read more
Published 9 months ago by pat
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brian Cox Science Hero
This unofficial biography is very welcome even though it's effectively a hagiograph.
Cox with Jim Al Khalili has made some telly programs which I recorded and regularly... Read more
Cox with Jim Al Khalili has made some telly programs which I recorded and regularly... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Dr. Pj McKenna
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