gabe_reads's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

3.0

This book was carried by the fact that it’s easy to read, and each sub-chapter is incredibly short. It means I could easily get through the slightly less interesting bits. It has a lot of interesting information in there, and just the kind of things I often wonder about. Also corrected several misconceptions I had, which is really cool! I also appreciate that he was willing to admit when we don’t know about something, even if it’s annoying when that happens. I don’t think it had anything hugely stand-out though, and would have preferred it if it generally went into more detail I think. 

littlebluejay's review against another edition

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5.0

Who knew I could be so fascinated with smoke alarms? Who knew that Jaffa Cakes are actually biscuits? Who knew that pectin is the reason for a good crunchy apple (whoever likes mealy apples cannot be my friend)? Marty Jopson, Marty Jopson did and I am so glad he wrote all about weird mundane everyday things that I didn't realise I could be so interested in. I loved the style of writing and the way the author explained everything meant I understood what he was telling me and then I could communicate it effectively to others. I loved this book and it is one of my top 5 favourite books of all time. I always bring this with me on road trips and love telling people about smoke alarms, rainbows, Jaffa Cakes, and smoked salmon. I even found a series of six lectures given by Michael Faraday 'Chemical History of a Candle' (which I loved so thank you for introducing this to me!) which was mentioned in the book.

millie_mcd's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

2.5

pluto_kat's review against another edition

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funny informative medium-paced

4.0

shanaqui's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

A fairly standard assemblage of facts about everyday science. Jopson explains them well, and there were a few things I didn't know or where the explanation was illuminating -- I'm just a tough audience because I love my popular science books and have read much of this stuff elsewhere.

innmartinsm's review against another edition

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3.0

Porque é que a clara do ovo fica branca quando cozinhamos mas a gema não muda de cor? Porque é que os biscoitos amolecem e os bolos endurecem? Como é que acendemos uma vela sem tocar com o fósforo no pavio? Qual o melhor tecido para não encolher com lavagens? Deixar as janelas abertas é mais prejudicial ou benéfico para a saúde (e porquê)? Temos mais de cinco sentidos? Como é que um shampoo 2 em 1 funciona?

Uma das minhas maiores desilusões escolares foi sentir que os meus professores — pelo menos, os meus — não fizeram uma boa associação entre as bases teóricas (e fundamentais de aprender) da ciência (física, química, biologia) e os fenómenos do nosso quotidiano. Terminei o meu secundário com a sensação de que, embora compreendamos que a ciência é real, no quotidiano não a percecionamos como um fenómeno diário e que dá respostas a perguntas que nunca questionámos — mas que são interessantes de pensar!

The Science of Everyday Life é escrito por um cientista que aproxima fenómenos do quotidiano e ciência de uma forma muito acessível, bem humorada mas sem paternalismos ou conceitos demasiado simplificados. Algumas das questões — e outras — que partilhei acima já sabia, mas acho sempre interessante conhecer novas formas de explicar conceitos que, à partida, nunca nos ocorreram e que quando formulamos a pergunta pensamos ‘realmente... nunca tinha pensado nisso!’. A ciência está em todo o lado e é muito interessante — e didático — pensar nisso e olhar para o dia-a-dia com um olhar mais clínico.

É um livro curto e simples, dividido em várias categorias de perguntas e que surpreende nalgumas respostas e consolida outros conceitos que, provavelmente, já conhecem. Se têm uma mente tão curiosa quanto a minha, acho que é um livro que vos vai entreter bastante — e tornar-vos nas pessoas preferidas dos miúdos na idade dos ‘porquês’!

ivingbz's review against another edition

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4.0

I shouldn’t have listened to this as an audiobook. Like 50% of it flew over my head while I was busy thinking how come I have so much laundry and dishes to do.

Good stuff though, if I find this in any of my local bookstores I’ll definitely buy it to give it a proper read.

isering's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a delight - some chapters better than others

raetheraven's review against another edition

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4.0

This was both entertaining and informative.

danielmcfarlane's review against another edition

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4.0

Learned some new stuff, fell asleep in sections but but over all it's worth a read.