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Can Reindeer Fly? The Science of Christmas
*Librarian's Note: This is an alternate cover edition - ISBN13 9780753813669
A lighted-hearted scientific look at the rituals and icons of Christmas. How does snow form? Why are we always depressed after Christmas? How does Santa manage to deliver all those presents in one night? (He has, in fact, little over two ten-thousandths of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) This new edition has been extensively updated and contains information on how drugs might make us see flying reindeer, how pollution is affecting the shape of Christmas trees and the intriguing correlation between the length of our Christmas card list and brain size. The author even subjected his body to prolonged drinking sessions in order to investigate what causes hangovers!
A lighted-hearted scientific look at the rituals and icons of Christmas. How does snow form? Why are we always depressed after Christmas? How does Santa manage to deliver all those presents in one night? (He has, in fact, little over two ten-thousandths of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) This new edition has been extensively updated and contains information on how drugs might make us see flying reindeer, how pollution is affecting the shape of Christmas trees and the intriguing correlation between the length of our Christmas card list and brain size. The author even subjected his body to prolonged drinking sessions in order to investigate what causes hangovers!
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
15 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Roger Highfield
29 books11 followersRoger Ronald Highfield (born 1958 in Griffithstown, Wales) is an author, science journalist, broadcaster and director of external affairs at the Science Museum Group.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It’s one of those books where I constantly found myself saying to my wife ‘Blimey; did you know that…’, which she bore with her usual good grace.
There seem to be three main criticisms of this book, based on other peoples’ reviews. I shall deal with them in turn:
1. The science isn’t as exacting as it should be, or, it’s not serious enough.
- OK, if the title and cover don’t clue you in to the fact that this book is supposed to be very tongue-in-cheek, you are failing to pick up on some very basic clues. Either that or you’re the sort of person who would pick the book up, read the title and just say ‘No, obviously not’ and put the book back down. I would suggest you lighten up a bit.
2. It’s not funny enough.
- Well, humour is very subjective, and whether you find something funny depends on your individual sense or humour (or lack thereof). Personally, I found myself chuckling throughout but horses for courses, as they say.
3. It pays too much lip service to religion/religious belief.
- While I get that religion and science aren’t always happy bedfellows, even I, a lifelong atheist, would feel a book that examines the many different aspects of Christmas, which is, after all, a religious festival, without dealing with the religious beliefs behind it, would be woefully incomplete. I certainly found the parts dealing with religion to be both respectful and questioning and I really don’t think you can say fairer than that.
Anyway, those points dealt with, I’ll finish by saying I found this both illuminating and funny. Your mileage, of course, may vary.
There seem to be three main criticisms of this book, based on other peoples’ reviews. I shall deal with them in turn:
1. The science isn’t as exacting as it should be, or, it’s not serious enough.
- OK, if the title and cover don’t clue you in to the fact that this book is supposed to be very tongue-in-cheek, you are failing to pick up on some very basic clues. Either that or you’re the sort of person who would pick the book up, read the title and just say ‘No, obviously not’ and put the book back down. I would suggest you lighten up a bit.
2. It’s not funny enough.
- Well, humour is very subjective, and whether you find something funny depends on your individual sense or humour (or lack thereof). Personally, I found myself chuckling throughout but horses for courses, as they say.
3. It pays too much lip service to religion/religious belief.
- While I get that religion and science aren’t always happy bedfellows, even I, a lifelong atheist, would feel a book that examines the many different aspects of Christmas, which is, after all, a religious festival, without dealing with the religious beliefs behind it, would be woefully incomplete. I certainly found the parts dealing with religion to be both respectful and questioning and I really don’t think you can say fairer than that.
Anyway, those points dealt with, I’ll finish by saying I found this both illuminating and funny. Your mileage, of course, may vary.
December 23, 2014
This has been on my to-read shelf for ages, but I wanted to wait until the festive season to begin it ... and I'm glad I did. A great start to the Christmas celebrations.
The author covers a wide range of topics and discusses the theoretical science behind them. For instance, how Santa has solved the quantum physics of high-speed transportation, how lasers could be used to cook the perfect turkey, how a bit of Christmas Spirit can be good for your mental health and how Mary could very well of been a virgin (although Jesus would have been a girl or Mary was a genetic hermaphrodite!). From the very first chapter, where the Bethlehem Star is compared to a comet or plant alignment, to the last, where a future Christmas with virtual reality get-togethers and genetically engineered sprouts, everything has interest and, more importantly, a fantastic sense of humour. I love the fact that serious scientists have, at one time or another, turned their minds to more 'theoretical' problems, and come up with some fun and fantastic conclusions.
For instance, reindeers can't pull Santa's sleigh across the sky ... they would burn up due to friction. So, they'd need a coat of some sort, such as the space shuttle 'wears' to protect them. Especially the antlers, which act as a way to manipulate airwaves, like Concorde did, in order to fly and steer. Simples!
Yes, on occasion, the science got away from me, but then I am a biologist, so my physics knowledge comes from Sci-Fi novels and Star Trek! But on the whole, the articles are written in nice, bite-size pieces that are easy to follow ... even if some of the Christmas metaphors are stretched unbelievably far!
But overall, I would recommend this book. It has definitely put me in the Christmas spirit!
The author covers a wide range of topics and discusses the theoretical science behind them. For instance, how Santa has solved the quantum physics of high-speed transportation, how lasers could be used to cook the perfect turkey, how a bit of Christmas Spirit can be good for your mental health and how Mary could very well of been a virgin (although Jesus would have been a girl or Mary was a genetic hermaphrodite!). From the very first chapter, where the Bethlehem Star is compared to a comet or plant alignment, to the last, where a future Christmas with virtual reality get-togethers and genetically engineered sprouts, everything has interest and, more importantly, a fantastic sense of humour. I love the fact that serious scientists have, at one time or another, turned their minds to more 'theoretical' problems, and come up with some fun and fantastic conclusions.
For instance, reindeers can't pull Santa's sleigh across the sky ... they would burn up due to friction. So, they'd need a coat of some sort, such as the space shuttle 'wears' to protect them. Especially the antlers, which act as a way to manipulate airwaves, like Concorde did, in order to fly and steer. Simples!
Yes, on occasion, the science got away from me, but then I am a biologist, so my physics knowledge comes from Sci-Fi novels and Star Trek! But on the whole, the articles are written in nice, bite-size pieces that are easy to follow ... even if some of the Christmas metaphors are stretched unbelievably far!
But overall, I would recommend this book. It has definitely put me in the Christmas spirit!
December 19, 2018
I am on the fence about this one.
In this book, Roger Highfield discussed the science behind many aspects of Christmas, from the virgin birth to the science of cooking a Turkey. The problem is that is it is... odd.
The first problem is that it is a bit dry. It is not as funny (if at all) as it is claimed to be, and feels far too heavy to be a coffee table read.
The second problem is its methodological inconsistency. One minute it assumes that somethings are nonsense, then assumes they are real, with no real statement as to why. This could be because much of the material in the book comes from Highfield's newspaper contributions, but surely the could have been rewritten to better fit a book format.
I also take umbrage against his pandering to religion. In the acknowledgements, he claimed to have sought feedback from a priest to ensure that the book isn't blasphemous. Science and religion are not compatible, and blasphemy should be something no scientist should fear if it is grounded in evidence-based proof. Why on earth Highfield is trying to be kind to religion at the expense of scientific common sense is beyond me.
It isn't all bad. The parts on mental health at Christmas and alcohol were genuinely interesting for me, but the buck stopped there.
I didn't really dig this read overall.
In this book, Roger Highfield discussed the science behind many aspects of Christmas, from the virgin birth to the science of cooking a Turkey. The problem is that is it is... odd.
The first problem is that it is a bit dry. It is not as funny (if at all) as it is claimed to be, and feels far too heavy to be a coffee table read.
The second problem is its methodological inconsistency. One minute it assumes that somethings are nonsense, then assumes they are real, with no real statement as to why. This could be because much of the material in the book comes from Highfield's newspaper contributions, but surely the could have been rewritten to better fit a book format.
I also take umbrage against his pandering to religion. In the acknowledgements, he claimed to have sought feedback from a priest to ensure that the book isn't blasphemous. Science and religion are not compatible, and blasphemy should be something no scientist should fear if it is grounded in evidence-based proof. Why on earth Highfield is trying to be kind to religion at the expense of scientific common sense is beyond me.
It isn't all bad. The parts on mental health at Christmas and alcohol were genuinely interesting for me, but the buck stopped there.
I didn't really dig this read overall.
January 3, 2022
I got this as a Christmas present in 1998 and reread it this year. Compendium of theoretical science and fantasy behind concepts such as to how snowflakes are formed, why children don't like sprouts, the sociological concepts behind Christmas gift giving and receiving, and crucially how physics can explain the idea of flying reindeer and the delivery of billions of packages by one overweight man down chimneys in a 24 hour period. Much of it is now dated, but the amusing piece is the final chapter that looks forward to Christmas in 2020. Some of the predictions are spot on - the use of family video conferences, flat screen TVs, and the prevalence of e-commerce. Some of it, notably advanced virtual reality and widespread use of domestic 3D printing is still science fiction. Amusing to re-read.
January 31, 2021
I found this book very tedious. It is advertised as a hilarious romp through Christmas but there is very little humour in it. The scientific investigations into subjects as such as how Father Christmas manages to deliver all his presents on time, and how his reindeer are able to fly were taken to ridiculous extremes thus devaluing any merit in the argument.
If the humour had been evident it may have been a fun book to read but as it stands it was very dry and dull, and in places the depth of scientific discussion into what is essentially a fairy tale was rather ludicrous.
If the humour had been evident it may have been a fun book to read but as it stands it was very dry and dull, and in places the depth of scientific discussion into what is essentially a fairy tale was rather ludicrous.
Read
April 8, 2009http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1283415.html[return][return]Collection of light-hearted scientific essays on Christmassy themes, mostly adapted from the author's columns for the Daily Telegraph. Would be a suitable Christmas present for a scientifically minded teenager.
February 13, 2022
A good book that passes plausible some solutions, and other more extreme solutions, to solve some of the questions people can have about the Christmas story. A fun read with a scientific basis that can get your brain in the spirit for Christmas.
December 12, 2020
I didn't expect I'd like the book as much as I did. Reading it was a great pleasure for me, a perfect light read for the Christmas season.
August 17, 2022
Deep science in many parts of this book. A fun look at explaining how Santa does it every year. Also, some insights into life, religion in particular, and how we benefit from our practices.
December 12, 2025
The physics, biology, chemistry, psychology and anthropology of Christmas, told in 12 chapters, one for each day of Xmas (although by 5th January we're all back at work rather than wassailing and watching mummers play Orsino and Viola) from the star maps of 1 BC to whether or not there could be a virgin birth (answer: yes but it would be a girl without the sperm to create a Y chromosome - which would no doubt upset the religious right). I preferred the history of Christmas icons: how we got to Santa from St Niklaus via Christkindl (Kriss Kringle in American) rather than the chapter on the cryogenic chemical make up of snow or whether Santa is diabetic or not.
The best chapter was the final one, imagining Christmas 2020 from the viewpoint of 1998. Yes, flat screen TVs are now rife, but people are watching entertainment on their phones or tablets. We're not receiving presents via 3D fax, but 3D printed presents are technically available. VR headsets are giftable, but most people don't have GM Christmas trees.
Obviously at actual Xmas 2020, we were all at home with masks watching the 2 hour BBC corona- update.
The best chapter was the final one, imagining Christmas 2020 from the viewpoint of 1998. Yes, flat screen TVs are now rife, but people are watching entertainment on their phones or tablets. We're not receiving presents via 3D fax, but 3D printed presents are technically available. VR headsets are giftable, but most people don't have GM Christmas trees.
Obviously at actual Xmas 2020, we were all at home with masks watching the 2 hour BBC corona- update.
December 28, 2019
Eh, it was generally fun to read despite it being quite outdated. Some of the science has been disproved now, and the final chapter set in "the future Christmas of the year 2020" should probably be pushed on another 15-50 years or so.
June 13, 2019
ok science book using christmas as a back drop
December 1, 2014
This was a book that was really good but could have been even better. It takes the various phenomena of Christmas chapter by chapter and looks at the history and science of each, including candidates for the Christmas Star, the reasons for Santa's longevity and obesity, the anthropology of gift giving and how Rudolph and the other reindeer fly and manage to get every child their present in time for Christmas morning. Very good but quite heavy going.
December 27, 2012
Quite enjoyable overall, as it covers a lot of different areas of history and science in a quirky and irreverent tone. I also appreciated the odd linguistic tidbit that could work as an icebreaker. My real gripe is that for me, the science is perhaps a bit basic in places (I'm a physics student :) ), and left me wanting more details. Perhaps if I'd read it two years ago when I actually got it I would rate it more highly. Still worth reading.
February 23, 2015
A collection of well-researched (though a bit outdated by now) pop-science essays. However, in most cases Christmas concepts serve only as premises to present completely unrelated stuff; for instance, given the observation that "Santa Claus is fat", the author writes several chapters about obesity and genetics. It's an okay book for those who like random interesting facts, but it does not have much to do with Christmas itself.
September 17, 2012
Okay as a history/science book, but not really too much to do with Christmas. It talks about genetics and time travel as well as some history.
January 18, 2013
i really enjoyed this book found it very interesting
would recommend it to others
would recommend it to others
December 14, 2014
A funny yet informative guide to Christmas traditions, from a scientific point of view. As an unashamed geek, this take on the season's festivities appealed to my scientific side.
February 27, 2015
The science is fascinating, sometimes beyond me!
May 16, 2019
One of the books in my daughter's Christmas collection.
3 Stars = I'm glad I read it.
3 Stars = I'm glad I read it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews