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13 Things That Don't Make Sense: The Most Intriguing Scientific Mysteries of Our Time Paperback – 5 Feb. 2009

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Michael Brooks (Author)
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Michael Brooks (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 267 ratings
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  1. Print length
    265 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Profile Books
  4. Publication date
    5 Feb. 2009
  5. Dimensions
    13.5 x 1.9 x 21.6 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1861978170
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1861978172
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

This entertaining and often provocative book examines such mysteries as dark matter and dark energy, the prospect of life on Mars, sex and death, free will and the placebo effect, among other head-scratchers...The book is at its best when Brooks throws himself into the action. He undergoes transcranial magnetic stimulation to test the assumption that he has free will, and subjects himself to electric shocks for a placebo-response test...This elegantly written, meticulously researched and thought-provoking book provides a window into how science actually works, and is sure to spur intense debate. ― New Scientist Published On: 2008-10-22

Entertaining... engagingly written... a worthwhile read for budding explorers of new worlds -- Jon Turney ― Independent Published On: 2009-02-11

Odd data clusters are crime scenes, over which Brooks combs with the reassuring casualness of an expert... to provide riveting cliffhangers of scientific detection... admirable -- Steven Poole ― Guardian Published On: 2009-02-14

Fascinating, bang-up-to-date... Like all the best science popularisers, Brooks reawakens us to the astonishing fact of our mere existence, the strangeness of the world around us, and the astonishing amount that science has yet to discover -- Christopher Hart ― Sunday Times Published On: 2009-02-15

Buy yourself a copy, and prepare yourself to be entertained and challenged in equal measure -- Robert Matthews ― BBC Focus Published On: 2009-02-02

Brooks expertly works his way through... hotly debated quandaries in a smooth, engaging writing style reminiscent of Carl Sagan or Stephen Jay Gould. At times, as I was deeply engrossed in parts of this book, I found myself as captivated and wide-eyed as I was decades ago when I picked up my first science books and found my calling. Mr Brooks has the ability to make his readers forget their surroundings - in my case a hectic newsroom - and train their minds' eyes on images as foreign as a vast Martian landscape or as distant as a roiling, infant universe. Every mystery is brought to life in vivid detail, and wit and humor are sprinkled throughout -- Anahad O'Connor, author of NEVER SHOWER IN A THUNDERSTORM ― New York Times Science Times

WOW! is one of the things that Michael Brooks includes here - it is the signal from space that may have come from an alien civilization - but it's also the way I feel about this book's magical mystery tour. You will be amazed and astonished you when you learn that science has been unable to come up with a working definition of life, why death should happen at all, why sex is necessary, or whether cold fusion is a hoax or one of the greatest breakthroughs of all time. Strap yourself in and prepare for a WOW! of an experience -- Richard Ellis, author of THE EMPTY OCEAN and TUNA: A Love Story Story

Excellent... Brooks is breezy and fun - always readable and never dull... each chapter is a little vessel of delights... Deserves to be up there as one of the best popular science books of 2008/9. Recommended ― popularscience.co.uk Published On: 2009-02-18

Sensational... pitch-perfect... The ideas in his book are dizzying -- Simon Ings ― Sunday Telegraph Published On: 2009-02-22

Brooks is an exemplary science writer. His explanations have the sort of clarity you often yearn for when you about science, but rarely find. I'm relatively ignorant when it comes to science. But now I feel I can discuss complex things... This is the sort of science book one always hopes for. Learned, but easy to read. Packed with detail, but clear. Reading it will make you feel clever -- William Leith ― Daily Telegraph Published On: 2009-03-28

Like Indiana Jones in a lab coat, Brooks throws himself energetically into the search and comes back with first-hand news from the wild frontiers of weird science -- Iain Finlayson ― Saga Published On: 2009-03-01

Sparklingly written... Brooks' enthusiasm is infectious ― Times Higher Education

A fascinating read... This clear-eyed book is a refreshing insight ― Big Issue

Whether we believe we're stardust or nuclear waste, this book keeps us hooked... Brooks grapples with no less than what he perceives as the most intriguing scientific mysteries of our times -- Anita Sethi ― Independent on Sunday Published On: 2009-12-13

Book Description

Will we ever find the ninety-six percent of the universe that is missing? Will tomorrow bring an answer to the scientific mysteries of today? While taking readers on an entertaining tour d'horizon of today's strangest scientific findings, Michael Brooks argues that the things we don't understand are the key to what we are about to discover.
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Profile Books; Main edition (5 Feb. 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 265 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1861978170
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1861978172
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.5 x 1.9 x 21.6 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 267 ratings

About the author

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Michael Brooks

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I hold a PhD in quantum physics, but work as an author, journalist and broadcaster, a consultant at New Scientist magazine, co-host (with Rick Edwards) of the Science(ish) podcast and the author of numerous books, including the bestselling non-fiction title 13 Things That Don't Make Sense. Fun fact: I was the first person to be tasered in the UK

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
267 global ratings
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4 star
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

paul barker
1.0 out of 5 stars pure snake oil
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 June 2018
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Andy
4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting read for science fans
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2016
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Mr. C. Whitehead
5.0 out of 5 stars A good think as well as a good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 October 2017
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C. Tipping
5.0 out of 5 stars Not understanding isn't the same as being stupid.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2018
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malcolm1948
5.0 out of 5 stars Great author. Journalist and PhD combined. Explains everything so well.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading for those who enjoy science journalism of the ...
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5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
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