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Can Reindeer Fly?: The Science of Christmas
 
 
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Can Reindeer Fly?: The Science of Christmas (Paperback)

by Roger Highfield (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Phoenix; New Ed edition (7 Nov 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0753813661
  • ISBN-13: 978-0753813669
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 27,692 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #18 in  Books > Mind, Body & Spirit > Mythology > Encyclopaedias
    #67 in  Books > Science & Nature > Mathematics > Popular Maths
    #69 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Anthropology > Customs & Folklore

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Roger Highfield, science editor of The Daily Telegraph and author of The Arrow of Time, takes an offbeat look at Christmas by examining it from a scientific perspective. Can Reindeer Fly? ranges across every field of science--from cloned Christmas trees and the genetic defect that makes Santa so plump, to warp-drive sleights and the physics of snow-flakes--and disentangles they myriad cultural influences that come together to make up our modern Christmas. What are the thermodynamics involved in cooking a turkey? Is the concept of a virgin birth scientifically feasible? What happens to us physically when we overindulge in alcohol? Do people really feel more depressed around Christmas? How does Santa manage to deliver all those presents in one night? (He has, in fact, little over two ten-thousandths of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) With topics ranging from "The Decline and Fall of Virgin Births" to "Christmas Astrology"; from "Santa: The Hallucinogenic Connection" to "The Dreadful Sprout", Can Reindeer Fly will convince you that Christmas is for everyone-- even scientists. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


Review

An extensively revised edition of a light-hearted scientific look at the rituals and icons of Christmas from such questions as the thermodynamics involved in cooking a turkey to the likely celestial candidates for the Star of Bethlehem and what happens to us physically when we over-indulge in alcohol. And there's a new chapter on how religion can help your entire life.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
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2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A quirky scientific take on Christmas festivities, 9 Nov 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Can Reindeer Fly?: The Science of Christmas (Hardcover)
If you want to know how Santa delivers all those presents, why he is so fat, the chemistry of intoxication and the genetics of the Virgin Birth, this is the book for you. Can Reindeer Fly? has all this and much much more, from snowball Earth to GM Xmas trees. The hardback is a good price and, though a bit whimsical (if not daft) would make an excellent present for anyone who is in any way interested in science.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars BRILLIANT - A great stocking filler!, 31 Mar 2004
By S. Helyer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Can Reindeer Fly?: The Science of Christmas (Paperback)
A superbly written book detailing the scientific theories behind Christmas - from snowfall to how Santa manages to deliver all of his presents in one night (without incinerating due to the immense G forces and wind resistance he would experience)!!

This book does require some scientific knowledge but it isn't too heavy. You can really get into this and have a great laugh!

Buy it for your Dad!!!

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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas questions answered, 21 Sep 2005
By Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
(#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
Was Jesus born in a stable? Was the Bethlehem star really a star or could it have been a comet or another planet? When was Jesus born? Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th each year? What about the Virgin Mary? Who was the original Santa? Where is Santa's grotto? Why is Santa fat? Why does Santa come down a chimney? Why does Santa say Ho-ho-ho? How did reindeer, holly, ivy, mistletoe, trees, candles, gifts, logs and stockings come into the Christmas festivities? Can reindeer fly? How is snow formed? Why does ice float on water instead of sinking beneath it? Why is ice so slippery? Why do so many people eat turkeys at Christmas? Why do most children dislike the taste of sprouts? Why do most people cheer up at Christmas? Why do a minority of people always feel miserable at Christmas? This book seeks to answer these and other questions in a way that is sometimes hilarious, sometimes serious, sometimes controversial but always entertaining. Some questions cannot be answered and in these cases possible explanations are offered.

The book begins with the controversial issues of the Bethlehem star, the birth of Jesus and the imposition of Christmas on the traditional post-winter solstice festivals. The Catholic Church wanted to do away with all the pagan festivities and replace them with religious worship but that's not how things worked out. The rest of the book (most of it) focuses on the festivities. I found the evolution of Santa particularly interesting. I'd heard vaguely about St Nicholas but here you can find out who he was, what he did and how he inspired others. When it comes to reindeer, the author is unable to explain why they became so important to Christmas but some of the funniest parts of the book are about reindeer, perhaps because it is so difficult to take their role seriously.

One aspect of Christmas ignored by the book is music, which (in my edition) gets just two brief mentions relating to musical Christmas cards and supermarket background music. This seems fair enough, since Christmas music merely reflects other aspects of Christmas, be they religious or festive. Apart from music, every other aspect of Christmas seems to be well covered.

So this book provides a highly entertaining insight into Christmas and how it became what it is today. If you are in any way curious about the history, the mystery and the science of Christmas, you'll surely find this book amusing while answering many of those questions that you wondered about.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars For Christmas lovers and parents of questioning small children!
I LOVE this book and read it every year. It is amusing yet informative. Perfect for answering all those pesky questions about how presents are delivered in 24 hours, how the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Antigone

5.0 out of 5 stars Silly seasonal
If you've ever wondered how Santa manages to deliver all the world's presents in one night (clue: it's quantum), how to cook a perfect turkey or how the Star of Bethlehem knew... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2007 by S. Bailey

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing
This is the worst book I've ever read. Pseudo-scientific. Has nothing much to do with a Believer's Christmas at all. Offensive really to a true Christian.
Published on 13 Nov 2006 by Critical reader

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for the Christmas Scientist
This is a rather eclectic collection of short science articles covering - amongst others - genetics, physics, psychology and engineering. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2005

3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat disappointing
Being a scientist and also in a festive mood, I one day found myself purchasing this book. I was looking for something serious, yet light to read next to the fire over Christmas... Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2004 by J. Cronin

5.0 out of 5 stars Can Reindeer Fly?
I've always been a huge fan of Christmas (as has my Mum), & with that in mind, my Mum got me this book for Christmas a couple of years back. Read more
Published on 24 May 2003 by mabontitania

3.0 out of 5 stars Quirky and curious but a bit disjointed.
This is an oddity in that the contents are well thought out and are interesting, but the narrative linking them is so dry in took me a long time to read through. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2003 by Martin Ohara

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