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bradluen's review against another edition
Not really enough interest in the science for my taste. In a footnote, he says "X-rays are produced by the changing energy states of electrons around an atomic nucleus, while gamma rays are emitted by the nucleus itself. (No, that doesn't mean anything to me either.)" I don't know if that's right or not, but that seems... pretty easy to understand? Still, I have to tip my hat to a fellow writer who delivers jokes in such a deadpan way that you're not sure if he knows if they're good or bad (actually they're almost all bad, but that hardly matters.)
jameskeates's review against another edition
3.0
A book all about waves from water to electro-magnetic. Full of interesting facts, but lacked structure as it jumped around a bit, and felt at times like a series of wave-related asides. At its best where Pretor-Pinney lets his passion loose and expresses the romance of waves, but there isn't enough of this. Too often, the tone is consciously light-hearted, constantly trying to remind you it's not a "serious science book", which distracts from the most interesting bits for me.
callieisreading's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this! Not too mathy, but mathy enough, with lots of good science in there as well. I'll check out more from this author.
brendak's review against another edition
4.0
Written in a way that easy for anyone to understand but fully lacking all the information. I found myself reaching for my iPhone continuously to search google for more information on the terms thrown into the paragraphs with no further information. Trochoidal, as an example.
In the beginning, Gavin Pretor-Pinney's way of moving quickly from one topic to another was slightly bothersome, but as I read further on I became adjusted to his multiple off takes and found the book rather interesting with its multitude of "waves types". I was initially a little disappointed with the lack of depth given to water waves, but given his style of description of these types of waves which I didn't find to be comprehensive or easy to understand, I was glad that he ventured into other types of "waves" which he described rather well and in an enjoyable manner. I loved the chapter on surfing waves and his humble way of recounting his experiences, and had he written a whole book on surfing waves around the world I think it would be a fantastic book to read.
In the beginning, Gavin Pretor-Pinney's way of moving quickly from one topic to another was slightly bothersome, but as I read further on I became adjusted to his multiple off takes and found the book rather interesting with its multitude of "waves types". I was initially a little disappointed with the lack of depth given to water waves, but given his style of description of these types of waves which I didn't find to be comprehensive or easy to understand, I was glad that he ventured into other types of "waves" which he described rather well and in an enjoyable manner. I loved the chapter on surfing waves and his humble way of recounting his experiences, and had he written a whole book on surfing waves around the world I think it would be a fantastic book to read.
roba's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't this guy's book about clouds – which I seem to remember being really big – because I'd hate to have my brain go "That's a columbo dentata" every single time I look at the sky, but I saw this wave one in Oxfam and thought it would be safe because I don't live in the sea. I regret that decision because Gavin – Gavin – is one of those pop science writers who feels there has to be a 'joke' every other sentence or the reader will I don't know just drop the book on the floor and wander off in front of a car. There are a few interesting stretches, and halfway through I was thinking, "At least he hasn't used the word 'boffin'," but then on the very next page... There are CBeebies factual programmes that are less pandering that this.