Boasting almost one hundred articles and book excerpts, The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing is a breathtaking celebration of the finest writi...
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Nov 16, 2008
David
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I saw this in a Zurich bookstore about two weeks ago. It took me about 10 seconds to conclude that "this is my kind of book". I was not disappointed -- Richard Dawkins has hit a real home run here.
This volume is chock-full of some of the most interesting, well-written and thought-provoking essays and articles you find find anywhere, written by some of the best minds of the 20th and early 21st century. There are articles by biologists, physicists, chemists, psychologists More...
This volume is chock-full of some of the most interesting, well-written and thought-provoking essays and articles you find find anywhere, written by some of the best minds of the 20th and early 21st century. There are articles by biologists, physicists, chemists, psychologists More...
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Jul 20, 2010
Palmyrah
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Richard Dawkins has a serious claim to be the world's greatest living science writer. This is a title for which there are presently more claimants today than at any other era in history; popular science writing, once a minor genre targeted mainly at nerdy schoolboys, has burgeoned into successful and prolific contemporary publishing industry.
Here, Dawkins picks the cherries from the current crop, but he also casts his net back a good deal further, all the way to the beginning of the More...
Here, Dawkins picks the cherries from the current crop, but he also casts his net back a good deal further, all the way to the beginning of the More...
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May 25, 2011
Roger Loran
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This is an anthology of essays edited by Richard Dawkins, one of the foremost promoters of the philosophical materialist view of the world currently writing. His choices and his short introductions to these essays continue his work. Despite the title which indicates a more general science approach this book does lean more toward the biological sciences and evolutionary biology in particular. Since biology is my area of formal training and since I do have a special interest in evolution that suit
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Aug 10, 2011
Kevin
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How do you pick the best science writing of the twentieth century? Really it all comes down to a matter of opinion, which almost always results in the complaint and special pleading for authors and works left on the cutting room floor (I mean no geology! Come on can’t we get just a little respect). Richard Dawkins never the less makes the noble and very worthwhile attempt to collect some of the very best that science has to offer from the scientist themselves.
The book itself is a col More...
The book itself is a col More...
Jan 17, 2011
Koen
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Dawkins's anthology of 20th-century science writing.
You get the impression some people were included just because Dawkins had some public disagreement with them, and now wants to show that there are no hard feelings, rather than because they had something interesting to say. If that's the case, I guess we should be happy he didn't include anything by Mary Midgley; but then, unlike Gould and Hoyle, she's (unfortunately) still alive.
I suppose the best way to approach an anthology like More...
You get the impression some people were included just because Dawkins had some public disagreement with them, and now wants to show that there are no hard feelings, rather than because they had something interesting to say. If that's the case, I guess we should be happy he didn't include anything by Mary Midgley; but then, unlike Gould and Hoyle, she's (unfortunately) still alive.
I suppose the best way to approach an anthology like More...
Apr 08, 2009
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1314389.html[return][return]I'm not a fan of Dawkins' views on religion, but as editor of this book he has done a fine job; it clearly makes a difference that he is writing about topics he knows and likes, and his introductory pieces to each extract are informative and often self-deprecating.[return][return]I was less sure that the book actually works as a concept. The selected pieces are necessarily extracts rather than complete works, and the result feels more lik
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Sep 20, 2010
Alex
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THE OXFORD BOOK OF MODERN SCIENCE WRITING EDITED BY RICHARD DAWKINS: Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene, The Ancestor’s Tale, and The God Delusion, needs no introduction having established himself as a reputable voice when discussing science in its many forms. His latest effort is The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing, in a hefty tome, where Dawkins attempts to present a concise view of science to the world in many short passages from many different scientists of the twentieth and
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Feb 14, 2011
Mirek
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A solid collection of science writing, though not without its flaws. I have two primary complaints: the collection is organized rather arbitrarily, and it's heavily weighted towards biology. A better title might have been 'The Oxford book of Richard Dawkins' favorite science writing'.
That said, none of the selections are excessively long, and most make for a good read. Dawkins' keeps his comments to a minimum - a paragraph or two with each selection - and on the whole these are both More...
That said, none of the selections are excessively long, and most make for a good read. Dawkins' keeps his comments to a minimum - a paragraph or two with each selection - and on the whole these are both More...
Oct 24, 2011
Madhumanti
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The collection of excerpts on different topics, from books authored by the very best and knowledgeable-makes this an interesting read. It is a true treasure that must be preserved for times to come; to enlighten the minds of those who are interested in learning and to perceive the existing environment around them from various perspectives.
Feb 04, 2010
Alexis
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The best extracts from numerous authors - puts life into perspective. Not reading too much at the moment, as life doesn't need to put into perspective at this time, but will return to this soon.
Jan 22, 2009
Michael
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Excellent compilation demonstrating how compellingly scientists can write. However, limited to the last century - and no geology!
Aug 01, 2011
Some of these stories are great some not so much either way its worth a read just beacuse of the range of subject matter.
Oct 31, 2009
Barry
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Since my undergrad education BSc in Biology and being a confirmed Darwinian .Dawkins has picked outstanding scientists to present their expert opinion They are not only good in expressing themselves but also world authors in their subject
Barry
Barry
Jul 31, 2011
Steve
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"A collection of extracts from various scientific papers and books selected by Richard Dawkins: what's not to love?
May 25, 2011
Batesharbuck
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Okay, some of this was over my head. No, probably a third of this was over my head, but the rest was interesting.
Oct 28, 2011
Doug
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Holy cow, that was a bit of a slog. Some pieces are much more readable than others, all written by scientists, some of which don't communicate ideas as well as others. Some pieces are brilliant, though from the authors you expect: Carl Sagan, Rachel Carson. Some was just plain dense and boring, though. Pick about 25% of the writing out and condense this tome, and you have a superb collection...as is, in my opinion, it's just too much for the general public.
Apr 25, 2011
Bihter
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Quantum mechanics finally led me to palaeontology, neo-Darwinian synthesis, bioastronomy and even taxonomy.
William Blake looks at a rose and sees sickness. Feynman looks at a rose and finds fascinating how the colors in the flower are evolved in order to attract insects to pollinate it because it means that insects can see colour. This book bestows on you the capacity to consider both viewpoints tremendously interesting, if you have the foundations for it.
William Blake looks at a rose and sees sickness. Feynman looks at a rose and finds fascinating how the colors in the flower are evolved in order to attract insects to pollinate it because it means that insects can see colour. This book bestows on you the capacity to consider both viewpoints tremendously interesting, if you have the foundations for it.
Sep 17, 2008
Zach
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Good collection of snippets of books and essays from various scientists. Not as boring as might think since each chapter has a brief opening paragraph from Dawkins, but also just as tedious as you might expect, since it's a collection of science essays. A good read, but some of the stuff got a little too specific for normal non-scientists like myself.
Mar 06, 2010
Jrobertus
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This is a compilation of essays by, and about science and scientists. I read it for a book group and it did provide the basis for a wide range of interesting discussions. It is not really a science book, but does related to the way scientists think, and what moves them. It has a spiritual sense about the grandeur of nature and the mind of man.
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Apr 10, 2010
June
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Reading several different authors kept the book interesting. Learned a lot about several different subjects. Lots of information, lots of different writing styles made it an enjoyable read.
Nov 25, 2011
Petter
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Hard to go below a five grade here. To be read again and again, and to find new sources to dig from. Lovely!
Nov 18, 2010
Glenn
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Great if only for compiling for me a new list of science books to devour.
Feb 11, 2012
