Thinking About Almost Everything: New ideas to light up minds [Paperback]

What do layers of waste tell us about the history of civilisation? Is thinking itself determined by chromosomes? How does light illuminate the world?

Thinking About Almost Everything brings together original thinking on a staggering range of topics across the sciences, arts and humanities, grouped into nine imaginative and sometimes startling thematic categories. Entries on terror, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and climate change are juxtaposed in the '(Un)settlement' section, while 'Presences' brings together plant genetics, race, humans and animals, music theology, and the Willmore Conjecture. The short (often just one-page) essays are written in a lively and accessible style, and the book is illustrated with original and challenging images. Thinking About Almost Everything shows how even the most intricate and complex knowledge can enliven public curiosity and spark new thinking on issues either known or yet to be discovered.

'I am enchanted by the notion of harnessing the power of new ideas and innovative thinking to challenge conventional thought. Looking at real-life issues from unshackled, academically-charged viewpoints provides a seductive draw to solving all of the earth's problems by using your head.' Bill Bryson, Chancellor, Durham University What do layers of waste tell us about civilisation? Is thinking determined by feelings? How does light illuminate the world? Thinking About Almost Everything brings together original thinking from many different disciplines on a remarkable range of life-shaping topics, grounded into nine imaginative and sometimes startling chapters. One chapter juxtaposes entries on terror, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and climate change, while another brings together plant genetics, race, humans and animals, music theology, and the Willmore Conjecture. All of these short essays are written in a lively and accessible style,by highly regarded academics at Durham University. Thinking About Almost Everything shows how even the most intricate and complex knowledge can e nliven public curiosity and spark new thinking on issues either known or yet to be discovered.

Professor Ash Amin is the executive director of the Institute of Advanced Study, a flagship venture launched by Durham University in 2006 to catalyse new thinking on big ideas through sustained dialogue between the academic disciplines and with opinion makers, policymakers and the public. Professor Michael O'Neill is a Professor of English and a director of the Institute of Advanced Study. He has published books, chapters, and articles on many aspects of Romantic literature, and on an array of Victorian, twentieth- and twenty-first century poets.