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beths_books03's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
nicolamichelle's review against another edition
5.0
Robin has such a way with words that made this an utter joy to read. I saw so much of my own early experiences in his (and no doubt, what many others will have found too) with the loss of a spark in secondary school science classes. Where all of a sudden all the bright colours of science are turned drab and grey and you can’t wait for the bell to ring to be out of that physics classroom!!
But it’s so important to keep a curiosity when it comes to science. It is everywhere whether we like it or not. In our lives, in what we do, in what we are. It can be an amazing thing when that spark for science is relighted and something I’m very grateful to the Infinite Monkey Cage podcasts for, which Robin Ince also hosts (would recommend!).
I found my love for science through curiosity and I’m now a scientist so, guess anyone can overcome their preconceived high school dislike of science.
Many people think science is for ‘others’. For people with an Einstein level IQ and those who were born with a quantum physics book in their hand. But science is everyone’s. Robin really goes a long way to show that and this book is beyond perfect to rekindle a curiosity in science. It can enrich your life and how you think, and can be nothing but a benefit to those who retain their curiosity about the world and the universe through science.
It really is greatly written and I love Robin’s style of writing. So easy going, entertaining, a pleasure to read and easy to sink into. Non fiction can be something that people struggle to read but not so with this one.
Whether it’s about conspiracy theories and questioning our information, on the topics of science and religion, the vastness of the universe, aliens or about our place in the universe, there’s definitely something in here for everyone to get your brain firing and your curiosity peaked. The chapter about life and death was so beautifully written and so well done.
The book also includes talks to many eminent researchers in their field, astronauts who have had a very unique perspective of earth and those who have had their own stories to tell when it comes to scientific curiosity. With that and Robin’s own thoughts and experiences, it made for very informative and great reading. A very worthwhile read! I loved it.
A massive thank you to the author and publishers via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in return for my honest thoughts and review.
But it’s so important to keep a curiosity when it comes to science. It is everywhere whether we like it or not. In our lives, in what we do, in what we are. It can be an amazing thing when that spark for science is relighted and something I’m very grateful to the Infinite Monkey Cage podcasts for, which Robin Ince also hosts (would recommend!).
I found my love for science through curiosity and I’m now a scientist so, guess anyone can overcome their preconceived high school dislike of science.
Many people think science is for ‘others’. For people with an Einstein level IQ and those who were born with a quantum physics book in their hand. But science is everyone’s. Robin really goes a long way to show that and this book is beyond perfect to rekindle a curiosity in science. It can enrich your life and how you think, and can be nothing but a benefit to those who retain their curiosity about the world and the universe through science.
It really is greatly written and I love Robin’s style of writing. So easy going, entertaining, a pleasure to read and easy to sink into. Non fiction can be something that people struggle to read but not so with this one.
Whether it’s about conspiracy theories and questioning our information, on the topics of science and religion, the vastness of the universe, aliens or about our place in the universe, there’s definitely something in here for everyone to get your brain firing and your curiosity peaked. The chapter about life and death was so beautifully written and so well done.
The book also includes talks to many eminent researchers in their field, astronauts who have had a very unique perspective of earth and those who have had their own stories to tell when it comes to scientific curiosity. With that and Robin’s own thoughts and experiences, it made for very informative and great reading. A very worthwhile read! I loved it.
A massive thank you to the author and publishers via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in return for my honest thoughts and review.
maartje_volder's review against another edition
3.0
It's alright, needed something to get by. I'm in a bit of a reading slump so I decided to not be picky and just go with the flow. This was good to keep my mind busy.
gillijp's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite what I was expecting but I didn’t find it very interesting. A subject I’d rather listen to on the podcast though.
randomdawdler's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading this book - its certainly very thought provoking and likely to make you imagine many wondrous, space related/cosmology related things. Its a thoughtful read and its mostly a fairly easy read, at least I found it pretty accessible to start with but I admit I was in a bit of a rush to finish it and towards the end, it felt a bit more of a slog to read. Some subjects of course are more interesting than others I guess and certainly at the end, thinking too much about the ultimate death of the universe may feel a bit cold and depressing, so you may well want to be in the right frame of mind to read some of this but for the most part, this is a good read, with contributions from numerous scientists and some celebrities. I liked the quotes and the images provided alongside the text.
I enjoy reading Robin's books - his previous book called 'I'm A Joke and So Are You?' was one I really liked, when I read it a few years ago. I've seen some of his live stream shows via his Cosmic Shambles organisation online and I see myself in his anxiousness. Reading the book, his anxiety becomes quite clear but for me its good in that I can relate and understand his perspective on things. One mild down point would be that sometimes I felt a little confused about when it was him as the main author talking to the reader and when it was the previous interviewee. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention but I can't deny I got something out of this book - for me, overall, it was a re-assuring read and I like that there are pages of notes at the back, including some URLs and in the main text itself are references to authors and books that may interest the reader, if their curious about what's being discussed.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone with a curious mind, especially anyone with a if basic interest in philosophy and science. Thank you for reading my review, I hope you found it useful.
I enjoy reading Robin's books - his previous book called 'I'm A Joke and So Are You?' was one I really liked, when I read it a few years ago. I've seen some of his live stream shows via his Cosmic Shambles organisation online and I see myself in his anxiousness. Reading the book, his anxiety becomes quite clear but for me its good in that I can relate and understand his perspective on things. One mild down point would be that sometimes I felt a little confused about when it was him as the main author talking to the reader and when it was the previous interviewee. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention but I can't deny I got something out of this book - for me, overall, it was a re-assuring read and I like that there are pages of notes at the back, including some URLs and in the main text itself are references to authors and books that may interest the reader, if their curious about what's being discussed.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone with a curious mind, especially anyone with a if basic interest in philosophy and science. Thank you for reading my review, I hope you found it useful.