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The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2010 (Best American Science and Nature Writing)
Freeman Dyson, renowned physicist and public intellectual, edits this year’s volume of the finest science and nature writing.
Paperback, 373 pages
Published
October 5th 2010
by Mariner Books
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I read this one on the Kindle, something I think I will now refer to as the tablet. It would have been nice to be able to flip through the different articles. I find this series to be awesome, especially since there is a different editor every year that chooses what nominated magazine articles make it into the book. Good job with this one, not so much with Mary Roach (2011 edition). I'd better mention that Freeman Dyson authored another book titled The Scientist As Rebel, a compillation of his o...more
As with any collection of items, some of these were more up my alley than others. Specifically the ones focusing on astronomy and neuroscience, which were more "science" than "nature," but I also found most of the evolutionary biology items interesting.
As far as the articles on climate change, I favored the ones that offered nontraditional or surprising solutions to the emissions problem.
A few of the articles I found... well not necessarily boring but just not written in a way that I thought mer...more
As far as the articles on climate change, I favored the ones that offered nontraditional or surprising solutions to the emissions problem.
A few of the articles I found... well not necessarily boring but just not written in a way that I thought mer...more
I am not so sure about Freeman Dyson anymore!
I used to think "Dyson Sphere"!! But reading the intro made me kind of sad.
And then the last section of the book, "The Environment: Big Blessings"... totally made me cringe.
*sighs* well, I always love to read about science, and I will definitely continue with this series. But this is not a good one.
I used to think "Dyson Sphere"!! But reading the intro made me kind of sad.
And then the last section of the book, "The Environment: Big Blessings"... totally made me cringe.
*sighs* well, I always love to read about science, and I will definitely continue with this series. But this is not a good one.
Excellent articles on a number of scientific interest. I thought the articles on climate change and clean energy provided a current snap shot of efforts in place like China and India to address these issues.
Faves:
Tom Wolfe: "One Giant Leap to Nowhere"
Jim Carrier: "All You Can Eat"
Otherwise, solid writing, as always, but I wanted more science, less nature.
Tom Wolfe: "One Giant Leap to Nowhere"
Jim Carrier: "All You Can Eat"
Otherwise, solid writing, as always, but I wanted more science, less nature.
Not my favorite of the Best American Science and Nature books, but it was alright. I was never bored, and that's something. Guess I learned a bit, too.
Great as I've come to expect from this series. A great way way to find new authors and a large mix of ideas distilled through 2 gate keepers to get to "the best.".
I love to read a book that makes me go look up words.
fantastic. excellent grouping of vast array of topics...
Aug 11, 2011
Eva Petakovic
added it
This book made my life better. Period.
Freeman Dyson wouldn't steer you wrong
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I have read 2006, 2007, and 2008 in this series. I think Recipe for Disaster: The Formula That Killed Wall Street is the first time I ran across an article in one of them I had previously read. It is about the people behind the formulas which disguised the risk in mortgages from decision makers.
Most articles were "meh". Some were oddly contradictory?
It feels like there were not as many good stories in this edition.
Most articles were "meh". Some were oddly contradictory?
It feels like there were not as many good stories in this edition.
took way longer than previous volumes to finish ... some of the stories just didn't grab me, also heard some things about Freeman Dyson that made me wonder if our worldviews are compatible.
faves: The Monkey and the Fish - Philip Gourevitch, Hearth Surgery - Burkhard Bilger, Darwin's First Clues - David Quammen, All You Can Eat - Jim Carrier, The Sixth Extinction? - Elizabeth Kolbert
note: gift from Alice and Bennett, inscribed "to the ever-lovingest daughter in law we could ask for"
faves: The Monkey and the Fish - Philip Gourevitch, Hearth Surgery - Burkhard Bilger, Darwin's First Clues - David Quammen, All You Can Eat - Jim Carrier, The Sixth Extinction? - Elizabeth Kolbert
note: gift from Alice and Bennett, inscribed "to the ever-lovingest daughter in law we could ask for"
The first 1/2 of the book is great, then becomes o.k., and the last few articles are meh-so-so.
3.5/4
Too much nature, not enough science.
Too much nature, not enough science.
Gobbled up the essays on biodiversity: the purpose driven life and the monkey and the fish - nom, nom, nom. My environmental science students will be reading "All you can eat", even if it makes them never eat another shrimp. And I'll most likely cite from Quammen next time through evolution.
A great compilation of magazine writing, covering a wide range of science, technology and natural science topics. Very enjoyable, very insightful, very easy to read. I highly recommend it. You'll finish it a smarter person than you were when you started it.
I enjoyed many of the ideas and perspectives in this book - though it was a bit of a downer.
Finally got around to reading this and wish I would have read it sooner. If you like science, nature and excellent writing this is a must read.
If you think you know anything about anything, this series of books is a wonderful reminder that you don't.
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