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Why Sh*t Happens: The Science of a Really Bad Day
Have you ever fallen victim to Murphy’s law? Sometimes bad things just happen. In Why Sh*t Happens, esteemed British scientist Peter J. Bentley takes readers on an informative and amusing tour through the least lucky, most accident-prone day of their lives. From sleeping through the alarm clock and burning breakfast to getting caught in the rain and navigating a slippery r...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
March 3rd 2009
by Rodale Books
(first published March 1st 2009)
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Why Sh*t Happens: The Science Of a Really Bad Day
320 Pages
Peter J. Bentley
Non-Fiction
This book is about the science of a really bad day, as it says in the title. The author goes in depth about the explanation of why bad things happen in life, and what causes them, and how to prevent it from happening in your life. Each chapter starts out with a realistic description of a bad thing happening. For instance, over toasting the bagel, slipping on soap, and many other things. Then it goes into depth a...more
320 Pages
Peter J. Bentley
Non-Fiction
This book is about the science of a really bad day, as it says in the title. The author goes in depth about the explanation of why bad things happen in life, and what causes them, and how to prevent it from happening in your life. Each chapter starts out with a realistic description of a bad thing happening. For instance, over toasting the bagel, slipping on soap, and many other things. Then it goes into depth a...more
The title alone is enough to grab the attention of a passerby. It's not very often you see a book with such a unique cover. Once you start to read, all of your attention will be focused on what is next to come. The book is unlike any other I have read. It starts out with the author explaining how the book is written, and that this day that you start in the book will be the worst you have ever had (hypothetically speaking). Peter Bentley does a great job with his writing technique and the extra i...more
Why Sh*t Happens explains how a series of mundane mishaps happens. Bentley explains the physics, chemistry and biology behind life's everyday accidents, from stubbing a toe to putting diesel fuel in a gasoline powered car. The explanations aren't too detailed -- it's basic science for the scientifically curious lay reader. But the writing is lucid and the topics interesting.
Curiously, this book also made me ponder the limits of science. Bentley explains many of the wonders of modern science, suc...more
Curiously, this book also made me ponder the limits of science. Bentley explains many of the wonders of modern science, suc...more
I usually hate Ben Stiller comedies. Humor with the premise of terrible accidents occurring usually only arouses my empathy, but this book is genuinely funny. Perhaps because the bad day anecdotes are all well written in the second person, I imagine myself in the position and therefore am granted the distance of having imagined. However, I doubt it. The point of this book lies in scientific explanations for each of the unfortunate occurrences, which morphs them from wacky bad luck to perfectly l...more
May 17, 2011
rabbitprincess
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those interested in general science
Recommended to rabbitprincess by:
library catalogue
An excellent introduction to several different areas of science and technology using a most original teaching device: one terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day (to quote the picture book about Alexander). Each chapter is a separate incident in the bad day---for example, filling up the car with diesel instead of gasoline, being pooped on by a bird, spilling wine on the carpet---and the rest of the chapter discusses the science behind the mishap. The wine-spilling chapter, for instance, talks...more
The author has an interesting way of exploring the science of a really bad day - he basically takes you through one of the worst days possible where Murphy's Law reins supreme - everything that can possibly go wrong, goes wrong.
With each mishap, the author dives a little deeper into why things are that way. For instance, if you find glue stuck to your hair, what is glue? Why is it so sticky? And what's the best way of getting rid of it?
Another example is, after trying to microwave some pizza a...more
With each mishap, the author dives a little deeper into why things are that way. For instance, if you find glue stuck to your hair, what is glue? Why is it so sticky? And what's the best way of getting rid of it?
Another example is, after trying to microwave some pizza a...more
Not what I expected, but still a pleasant read. The author demonstrates all the misfortunes that can happen throughout your life, squeezes them into one poor soul's day, and gives a detailed explanation on the science behind the incidents. It is not an account on why these things happen to people, but demonstrates chemical processes. For example: "Why did my damn wine glass break, and the wine stain the carpet?" Not, "why am I an idiot who just dropped their wine glass?" He then launches into an...more
Why Sh*t Happens
Peter J. Bentley
320 pages
Informational
Period 8/9
Why Sh*t Happens is a book about the science behind the bad things that happen. For example, if you accidentally spill wine on your carpet, it tells you the science behind the stain. This book covers many areas of science, not only one.
Most people read this book (or avoid reading this book) because of the title. Really, the book is just like any other science book. However, I really liked this science book because it didn't talk a...more
Peter J. Bentley
320 pages
Informational
Period 8/9
Why Sh*t Happens is a book about the science behind the bad things that happen. For example, if you accidentally spill wine on your carpet, it tells you the science behind the stain. This book covers many areas of science, not only one.
Most people read this book (or avoid reading this book) because of the title. Really, the book is just like any other science book. However, I really liked this science book because it didn't talk a...more
view all 5 comments
I love the format of this book. It details one poor guy's very, very bad day. With each mishap this fellow encounters as he goes about his cursed day, we are given a detailed explanation of the science behind the maloccurrence . My big complaint with the book is its title. This would be a great book for young readers. It would be a great audiobook for a family car trip. However, as a librarian, I know how easily many parents are offended by curse words in books for teens. Why alienate a large po...more
Peter Bentley transforms his reader into the subject of a disastrous series of events accompanied by an extensive array of pertinent facts and related history. He presents a wide range of interesting science topics while using his captivating story-telling skills to guide the reader through the epitome of a "really bad day" scenario. The mishaps in all thirty-nine chapters are woven together to form a tapestry with which the author uses to embed the science behind the hapless victim's experience...more
My husband and I listened to the audiobook of this book on a road trip. This book was bizarre and funny and interesting at the same time. It walks you through one of the worst everything-going-wrong days that you could imagine and explains at each step of the way how/why what just happened happened. It may seem like terrible luck that your coffee exploded in your face or your toaster caught on fire, but he goes into the science of just how it could actually happen. It's interesting information t...more
Aug 07, 2009
Allisonperkel
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
science
Dr Bentley has crafted a light hearted, easy to read book that takes you through one of the worst days imaginable and then teaches you exactly what the science behind the event is. He details 39 bad events with great humor, which quickly draws you into the idea, and then he follows with a 5 to 10 page discourse on the science behind the event.
Our protagonist, a business man who should have really never left the bed in the morning, Goes through a sequence of events; none of them particularly hor...more
Our protagonist, a business man who should have really never left the bed in the morning, Goes through a sequence of events; none of them particularly hor...more
This would be a great book if you are just looking for a fun book that gives you some facts about some common mishaps. It has some interesting facts in it, but it does not delve very deep on the concepts it introduces. If you are really into science it is probably not the book you want.
It is a relatively interesting non-fiction book though and if non-fiction is not a genre you delve into frequently it may be a book to pick up.
It is a relatively interesting non-fiction book though and if non-fiction is not a genre you delve into frequently it may be a book to pick up.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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A great popular science book. Explains various science concepts through a story of a series of unfortunate events in one person's day. The explanations are simple and easy to understand for non scientists and go into just the right amount of detail (not blabbering on for too long). In general a great read!
The 'plot' of this book is little more than an excuse to teach you neat scientific facts, and that is fine. This wee, nifty text is nothing spectacular, but is full of tidbits ranging from "huh," to "well isn't that neat."
I'd been looking forward to reading this, but for whatever reason, it just wasn't what I expected. I'm still plodding through it bit by bit, but there's an awful lot of skimming taking place.
Bentley's heart is in the right place (writing down-to-earth explanations of the science behind everyday events) but his execution leaves a lot to be desired. Recommended for people with little to no understanding of science. If you took science classes in high-school or college, you won't learn anything new.
Fun and witty but not what I was hoping for. I thought the summary on the back was a bit misleading. It was too scientific for me. But it was still fun and easy to read.
Funniest science book you'll ever read. Your bad hair day gets scientifically analyzed; but in simple, easy to understand language.
Interesting look at the science of the things that make up a bad day. In this book, the author plays out the perfect sh*tty day and the explanations behind why disel can't be used in a gasoline engine, microwave oven misshaps and superglue.
What didn't I learn from this repository of knowledge and pub trivia!?
Watch out for people turning to wax.
Watch out for people turning to wax.
Not quite what I was expecting, but learned a few things nonetheless.
A fun educational read or listen.
The audiobook is excellent.
The audiobook is excellent.
Enlightening and humorous, unique and smart approach
Great book..."the science of a really bad day"
Fun, needs a couple of good illustrations. Also it was obvious that it was retitled for American release, and it was, the original ( UK ) title was ' The Undercover Scientist '
This was a great read!
audiobook
The science teacher in me lived the simple and concise explanations. The funny bits (a truly Murphy's Law day!) tickled me pink!
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