The Magic of Reality
How We Know What's Really True
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4,1 • 35 notes
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- 13,99 $
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- 13,99 $
Description de l’éditeur
Magic takes many forms. Supernatural magic is what our ancestors used in order to explain the world before they developed the scientific method. The ancient Egyptians explained the night by suggesting the goddess Nut swallowed the sun. The Vikings believed a rainbow was the gods’ bridge to earth. The Japanese used to explain earthquakes by conjuring a gigantic catfish that carried the world on its back—earthquakes occurred each time it flipped its tail. These are magical, extraordinary tales. But there is another kind of magic, and it lies in the exhilaration of discovering the real answers to these questions. It is the magic of reality—science.
Packed with clever thought experiments, dazzling illustrations and jaw-dropping facts, The Magic of Reality explains a stunningly wide range of natural phenomena. What is stuff made of? How old is the universe? Why do the continents look like disconnected pieces of a puzzle? What causes tsunamis? Why are there so many kinds of plants and animals? Who was the first man, or woman? This is a page-turning, graphic detective story that not only mines all the sciences for its clues but primes the reader to think like a scientist as well.
Richard Dawkins, the world’s most famous evolutionary biologist and one of science education’s most passionate advocates, has spent his career elucidating the wonders of science for adult readers. But now, in a dramatic departure, he has teamed up with acclaimed artist Dave McKean and used his unrivaled explanatory powers to share the magic of science with readers of all ages. This is a treasure trove for anyone who has ever wondered how the world works. Dawkins and McKean have created an illustrated guide to the secrets of our world—and the universe beyond—that will entertain and inform for years to come.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this outstanding "graphic science book," evolutionary biologist Dawkins (The Selfish Gene) teams up with illustrator Dave McKean (The Graveyard Book) to examine questions in everyday science, such as: why seasons occur; what things are made of; and whether there's life on other planets. They explain the answers from mythological and cultural points of view before diving into the chemistry, biology, and physics all in language that advanced middle school, or most high school, students can absorb. Rather than oversimplifying things, Dawkins's explanations demonstrate that life on earth is magical enough without tricks of the eye or supernatural theories. Appearing on every page, McKean's illustrations cover the gamut from prehistoric creatures along the evolutionary chain to a sequence showing how the immune system defends the body from a flu virus. This book may be exactly what's needed to increase science literacy for readers of all ages.
Avis des utilisateurs
Yes, it was written for childern
This book is amazing! Great way to get my kids to start learning about what the world around them hides and what kind of discoveries they can make for themselves. If you thought you had another amazing adult non-ficition book on your hands, well then sir I have to apologize for your lack of research into a book prior to purchase. Please do not disregard this book it is great for childern everywhere to begin their adventures into science.
Children need more authors like Dawkins- extending reality to children is a moral obligation.
I am proud that authors and illustrators who make their living in predominantly adult categories, are showing to be versatile in a way that can help children understand their world.
I commend the idea of making a book for children for many reasons. This particular book (I bought several copies, for gifts at parties etc) is extremely well written… lol. Not totally for a 'four year old' - But with the right environment, the book can prove useful for a single child over many years. Perhaps right up until that child is able to comprehend the books by wonderful authors like Dawkins, which are up in the big-kid section of my bookshelves.
Thank you, keep up the encouragement for others (like Dr Lawrence Krauss and Neil Tyson etc) to create projects that encourage kids to think rationally and critically BEFORE they're adults and need corrective learning.
Highly recommend this book, for your children or the children in your lives.
Outstanding
I loved this book. It gave a general, yet clear and consise, overview of basic science. All the while doing so in a layman’s way. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve read it, but I recall most of the chapters beginning with different creation myths from across world history. I felt it was very educational, and that it’s a useful resource when teaching EFL students about english and science.