Tulpesh Patel - Banbury, The United Kingdom (102 books)

Tulpesh Patel gave

to:

Galileo's Finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Science
by P.W. Atkins

read in February, 2012

My rating:

Galileo’s Finger is based around 10 great ideas of science that have emerged since the time of Galileo and covers evolutionary theory, genetics chemistry, quantum theory, cosmology and mathematics. Prof Atkins distils these grand, far-reaching ideas ...moreGalileo’s Finger is based around 10 great ideas of science that have emerged since the time of Galileo and covers evolutionary theory, genetics chemistry, quantum theory, cosmology and mathematics. Prof Atkins distils these grand, far-reaching ideas into three or four potent words (something which I found an admirable feat in itself) and then proceeds to unpack beauty of the scientific thinking and discovery behind it.

I have stated my admiration for Prof Peter Atkin’s way with words before http://www.ahsstudents.org.uk/news/2011/... having being mesmerised during his talk on the Limitless Power of Science. Because the British Humanist Association are so darned great, they’ve put his whole talk up online http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxaIju98n... Watch and learn. I wrote my report that Galileo’s Finger was a must read, and having recently just re-read it (a lot of my non-fiction/pop. science books will remain in boxes in my parent’s attic until they visit Norway at Easter, and I need my regular science fix), I thought I would write up a review and hopefully encourage a few more people enjoy it too.

Whilst there has been a trend for pop science books to adopt a conversational tone (and occasionally becoming a little too ‘chatty’), Galileo’s Finger reads more like 10 excellent undergraduate primer lectures delivered with wonderful poetical prose. (The quote heading this blog comes from this very book.) Prof Atkins moves from the more tangible aspects of science, biology and chemistry, towards concepts which become more and more abstract and theoretical, ending with that most abstract concept of all, mathematics, all the while weaving together the underlying beauty, interconnectedness and sheer majesty of the universe (or maybe universes?) we inhabit. There is a lot crammed into what is a surprisingly slim book, so for those looking for a little detail I would recommend reading Prof Steve Jones’ fantastic Almost Like a Whale http://www.amazon.co.uk/Almost-Like-Whal... for an updated version of Darwin’s Origin of Species; Profs Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw’s Why Does e=mc2 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Does-mc2-Sho... for one of those conversational pop science takes on physic; and Alex Bellos’ Alex’s Adventures in Numberland http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexs-Adventures... a fun look at the history and beauty of mathematics.

The Galileo’s finger is peppered with witty asides, including references to beans causing flatulence, but on the whole the writing is serious and dense. What really elevates this book above others of the same ilk is that that Prof Atkins shows a great deal of patience, and some ingenious metaphor and analogy, in talking the reader through not just one but many concepts which are baffling even our greatest scientific minds. These are 10 great lectures that leave you at no point feeling lectured; it’s one of those books that I think really can be savoured by all because only curiosity, not scientific literacy, is assumed.(less)

Tulpesh Patel gave

to:

How We Are Hungry
by Dave Eggers

read in January, 2012

My rating:

The fact that Dave Eggers is a celebrated literary figure and writer is no secret but reading his work, especially How We Are Hungry, always feels like a very private act.

The sparse, punchy prose drive to the heart of what people hunger for: love, a...more

Tulpesh Patel gave

to:

Tv Go Home
by Charlie Brooker

My rating:

Tulpesh Patel gave

to:

What the Hell Are You Doing? by David Shrigley

What the Hell Are You Doing?: The Essential David Shrigley
by David Shrigley

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Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read:

Meanwhile
by Jason Shiga

My rating:

Tulpesh Patel is on page 216 of 290 of Black Holes, Wormholes and Time Machines

Black Holes, Wormholes and Time Machines
by Jim Al-Khalili

progress:

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Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read:

101 Philosophy Problems
by Martin Cohen

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Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read:

Trick or Treatment?: Alternative Medicine on Trial
by Simon Singh

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Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read:

Robin Ince's Book Club: One Man's Quest To Uncover The Books That Time Forgot
by Robin Ince

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Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read:

Satanic Verses
by Salman Rushdie

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Tulpesh Patel gave to: Galileo's Finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Science by P.W. Atkins read in February, 2012	My rating:
Galileo’s Finger is based around 10 great ideas of science that have emerged since the time of Galileo and covers evolutionary theory, genetics chemistry, quantum theory, cosmology and mathematics. Prof Atkins distils these grand, far-reaching ideas ...more
Feb 05, 2012 01:38am · see review
Tulpesh Patel gave to: How We Are Hungry by Dave Eggers read in January, 2012	My rating:
The fact that Dave Eggers is a celebrated literary figure and writer is no secret but reading his work, especially How We Are Hungry, always feels like a very private act. The sparse, punchy prose drive to the heart of what people hunger for: love, a...more
Jan 29, 2012 10:45am · see review
Tulpesh Patel gave to: Tv Go Home by Charlie Brooker	My rating:
Jan 15, 2011 07:15am
Tulpesh Patel gave to: What the Hell Are You Doing?: The Essential David Shrigley by David Shrigley	My rating:
Jan 15, 2011 07:15am
Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read: Meanwhile by Jason Shiga	My rating:
Jan 15, 2011 07:12am
Tulpesh Patel is on page 216 of 290 of Black Holes, Wormholes and Time Machines Black Holes, Wormholes and Time Machines by Jim Al-Khalili progress:	My rating:
Jan 15, 2011 07:11am · like · see status
Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read: 101 Philosophy Problems by Martin Cohen	My rating:
Jan 15, 2011 07:11am
Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read: Trick or Treatment?: Alternative Medicine on Trial by Simon Singh	My rating:
Jan 15, 2011 07:10am
Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read: Robin Ince's Book Club: One Man's Quest To Uncover The Books That Time Forgot by Robin Ince	My rating:
Jan 15, 2011 07:10am
Tulpesh Patel marked as to-read: Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie	My rating:
Jan 15, 2011 07:10am

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