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Almost Everyone's Guide to Science: The Universe, Life and Everything
John Gribbin is one of the few science writers who is equally comfortable writing about biology as about physics, and this beginner's guide will take the reader through the basics and the fundamental issues of the crucial areas of modern science, from the birth of the universe through to the evolution of our own species, the nature of human behaviour and the workings of our minds. Crucially, the book will not only provide an overview of the central areas in a single volume, but also explain how the areas link up, what evolutionary theory has to say bout how we think, how sub-atomic particles came into being in the big bang, and atoms in stars.
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First published August 10, 1998
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559 people want to read
About the author
John Gribbin
386 books854 followersJohn R. Gribbin is a British science writer, an astrophysicist, and a visiting fellow in astronomy at the University of Sussex. His writings include quantum physics, human evolution, climate change, global warming, the origins of the universe, and biographies of famous scientists. He also writes science fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 28, 2021
After years of slowly recovering from what academia, mental illness, and unresolved grief did to my intellectual curiosity and energy, I finally got around to reading this one: a gift from my PhD supervisor upon my successful defense in 2017. I realize it's a bit outdated, but I believe my supervisor was given the same book when he graduated and he saw passing it on as a fond form of heredity. In any case, it was still a great read, and a timely reminder of the broader scientific universe in which my own (now established and blossoming) career sits.
The read renewed my longstanding layman's fascination with quantum physics, refreshed my decade-old memories of chemistry and biology, and taught me some stuff I didn't know about the history of scientific discovery. I even appreciated the candour with which Gribbin glossed over my own place in the scale between subatomic particles and galaxies: at the scale of complex human systems, there are simply too many interacting parts (and a noted proliferation of TYPES of parts) to make sense of with the kinds of physical laws that describe the very small and the very large. I feel like some parts of the journey definitely could have been improved with diagrams; several sentences to describe the physical arrangement of molecules in a complex organic chemical would have been handled more succinctly and clearly with a single image, for example. Overall, however, it was a very engaging little romp through all of science. Thanks Randy!
The read renewed my longstanding layman's fascination with quantum physics, refreshed my decade-old memories of chemistry and biology, and taught me some stuff I didn't know about the history of scientific discovery. I even appreciated the candour with which Gribbin glossed over my own place in the scale between subatomic particles and galaxies: at the scale of complex human systems, there are simply too many interacting parts (and a noted proliferation of TYPES of parts) to make sense of with the kinds of physical laws that describe the very small and the very large. I feel like some parts of the journey definitely could have been improved with diagrams; several sentences to describe the physical arrangement of molecules in a complex organic chemical would have been handled more succinctly and clearly with a single image, for example. Overall, however, it was a very engaging little romp through all of science. Thanks Randy!
August 4, 2011
The book gives a historical and conceptual scaffolding to basic physics and chemistry, with a touch of biology (no geology though). The stage for this organization is the scientific method and the idea that if a scientific model doesn't match experiment, then it is wrong.
This book was a lot shorter than I expected. I was also very dense, meaning that the information was packed in without any wasteful repetition. It often uses technical words with nothing more that a quick contextual definition. Because of that, if you listen to the audiobook (as I did), unless you already have a pretty good handle on science, you might need to listen to it a few times.
Recommended to "Almost Everyone" who really wants to know and understand science, the casual reader with only a passing interest in science might do better to try "A Short History of Nearly Everything." For those who already know a log about science, it's a great way to review, and pick up a few interesting tidbits as well.
This book was a lot shorter than I expected. I was also very dense, meaning that the information was packed in without any wasteful repetition. It often uses technical words with nothing more that a quick contextual definition. Because of that, if you listen to the audiobook (as I did), unless you already have a pretty good handle on science, you might need to listen to it a few times.
Recommended to "Almost Everyone" who really wants to know and understand science, the casual reader with only a passing interest in science might do better to try "A Short History of Nearly Everything." For those who already know a log about science, it's a great way to review, and pick up a few interesting tidbits as well.
June 13, 2011
A daughter of a friend of mine has an interest in science and I was trying to find something that would be accessible and easy to understand (she is 14) but would still be engaging and easy to follow. So I read this (can't recommend a book I haven't read) and think this will fit her perfectly. It was exactly what I was looking for.
December 14, 2017
Very short and therefore not very deep.
May 27, 2020
Gribben has long been one of my favorite science writers. He has a way of presenting science that feels like a mixture of a series of really good lectures and an invitation to the Q&A afterward. In this book he covers it all: chemistry, biology, physics (both particle and astro-). If a well-written update on the state of science at the beginning of the 21st century sounds intriguing, grab this one. It's a keeper.
December 20, 2025
國民科學須知。瑪麗‧葛瑞賓、約翰‧葛瑞賓著。蔡信行譯。
與實驗不一致，就是錯的
檢驗一下自己平淡的生活，科學占據了多大比例呢？答案是少之又少。我想，許多人的處境與我相同。那麼，這一本《國民科學須知》的必要性就有待思考了。
其實不只是這本書，我老早就想問，我們在學校學的一卡車的東西，到底多少是有用的呢？不只數學等自然科學多半無用，就連人文的、社會科學的也多半無用。不要說學人文的是這樣，就連搞科學的也是這樣。如果我們的生活實際上用不到那麼多知識(真正用到的卻常是學校沒教的)，誰能告訴我，我們學那麼多東西要幹什麼呢？
看來，我們的教育竟像是一場謊言。一方面，只是為了配合辛苦賺錢養家，沒時間與子女共處的父母。把子女關在學校，看來是最簡便的教養方式。另一方面，學那麼多東西，似乎只是為了放任我們到社會上廝殺(競爭)時，有一個簡便的評判工具而已。事實上我們都知道，工作能力與這些知識都毫不相關。
我的看法大概與古典社會學家韋伯類似，我想，科學知識(及其他知識)是一種除魅的工具，除魅就是去除迷信和神秘的想法，讓我們的生活多點理性。而唯有理性才能增加社會的穩定性，才能建立起可靠的文明。當然，獨裁政體也可以讓社會穩定，但獨裁是剝削的、不平等的、沒有自由的、不尊重人權的，這種政體無法長久存在。
所以，如果真的需要一本國民科學須知，那麼它的主要目的，應該是教授我們生活上實用的科學知識，以及，最重要的，教我們如何理性思考。從這個角度看，我覺得這本書還是太厚了。太厚不是指它的頁數多，畢竟它也才三百來頁。太厚是指它記載的知識太多，為求通俗，應該可以再刪除一半的內容。但頁數不必減少，只要在表達上更淺白，更加強論理以及思考邏輯就好。
事實上，我是很歡迎這種書的，這大概是對在學時的荒廢的一種補償心理。除了序以外，這本書共十一章，前三章屬物理；第四章及第五章前半屬化學；第五章後半及第六章屬生物學；第七、八章屬地球科學；第九、十、十一章或可統歸在宇宙學下。
若由我自己來寫，我會由宇宙的誔生開始，然後到太陽、地球，然後到生命的誕生、演化，然後再到今日物質文明中基本的、常見的物理化學知識。裡面可能會包括：一、宇宙學：宇宙誕生於“量子起伏”；暴漲理論；大霹靂理論；宇宙主要的能量是暗能量，主要的物質是暗物質等等。二、太陽系簡介，太陽與地球的關係等。三、地球科學：地球的結構、氣候、溫室效應等。四、演化論；基因科技；動物行為與人性、人的生理等。五、從日常食衣住行中去帶出若干物理化學知識，例如原子論、熱力學、力學等等。當然，最重要的是知識建立過程中那種理性、邏輯的思考方式，偶而穿插一些可以激勵人心的科學家故事。
這本書的缺點是不夠生活化，而我覺得把知識與生活結合是很重要，也比較吸引人的。這本書雖然沒有用到公式，但內容上還是較像教科書的濃縮版，沒想到與生活做關聯。科學精神和態度也講的太少，沒注意到發揚理性這一點。不過，〈序〉是重要的。他引了費曼的話說：“通常我們用下列的程序來尋找新的定律。首先我們用猜的，然後假設所猜的定律是正確的，便開始計算猜想的結果。接著我們利用實驗或是經驗來比較計算的結果是否與自然一樣，或是直接與觀測的結果比較。如果與實驗不一致，那就是錯的。”與實驗不一致，就是錯的。讀了這本書，至少我們該記得這一點。
與實驗不一致，就是錯的
檢驗一下自己平淡的生活，科學占據了多大比例呢？答案是少之又少。我想，許多人的處境與我相同。那麼，這一本《國民科學須知》的必要性就有待思考了。
其實不只是這本書，我老早就想問，我們在學校學的一卡車的東西，到底多少是有用的呢？不只數學等自然科學多半無用，就連人文的、社會科學的也多半無用。不要說學人文的是這樣，就連搞科學的也是這樣。如果我們的生活實際上用不到那麼多知識(真正用到的卻常是學校沒教的)，誰能告訴我，我們學那麼多東西要幹什麼呢？
看來，我們的教育竟像是一場謊言。一方面，只是為了配合辛苦賺錢養家，沒時間與子女共處的父母。把子女關在學校，看來是最簡便的教養方式。另一方面，學那麼多東西，似乎只是為了放任我們到社會上廝殺(競爭)時，有一個簡便的評判工具而已。事實上我們都知道，工作能力與這些知識都毫不相關。
我的看法大概與古典社會學家韋伯類似，我想，科學知識(及其他知識)是一種除魅的工具，除魅就是去除迷信和神秘的想法，讓我們的生活多點理性。而唯有理性才能增加社會的穩定性，才能建立起可靠的文明。當然，獨裁政體也可以讓社會穩定，但獨裁是剝削的、不平等的、沒有自由的、不尊重人權的，這種政體無法長久存在。
所以，如果真的需要一本國民科學須知，那麼它的主要目的，應該是教授我們生活上實用的科學知識，以及，最重要的，教我們如何理性思考。從這個角度看，我覺得這本書還是太厚了。太厚不是指它的頁數多，畢竟它也才三百來頁。太厚是指它記載的知識太多，為求通俗，應該可以再刪除一半的內容。但頁數不必減少，只要在表達上更淺白，更加強論理以及思考邏輯就好。
事實上，我是很歡迎這種書的，這大概是對在學時的荒廢的一種補償心理。除了序以外，這本書共十一章，前三章屬物理；第四章及第五章前半屬化學；第五章後半及第六章屬生物學；第七、八章屬地球科學；第九、十、十一章或可統歸在宇宙學下。
若由我自己來寫，我會由宇宙的誔生開始，然後到太陽、地球，然後到生命的誕生、演化，然後再到今日物質文明中基本的、常見的物理化學知識。裡面可能會包括：一、宇宙學：宇宙誕生於“量子起伏”；暴漲理論；大霹靂理論；宇宙主要的能量是暗能量，主要的物質是暗物質等等。二、太陽系簡介，太陽與地球的關係等。三、地球科學：地球的結構、氣候、溫室效應等。四、演化論；基因科技；動物行為與人性、人的生理等。五、從日常食衣住行中去帶出若干物理化學知識，例如原子論、熱力學、力學等等。當然，最重要的是知識建立過程中那種理性、邏輯的思考方式，偶而穿插一些可以激勵人心的科學家故事。
這本書的缺點是不夠生活化，而我覺得把知識與生活結合是很重要，也比較吸引人的。這本書雖然沒有用到公式，但內容上還是較像教科書的濃縮版，沒想到與生活做關聯。科學精神和態度也講的太少，沒注意到發揚理性這一點。不過，〈序〉是重要的。他引了費曼的話說：“通常我們用下列的程序來尋找新的定律。首先我們用猜的，然後假設所猜的定律是正確的，便開始計算猜想的結果。接著我們利用實驗或是經驗來比較計算的結果是否與自然一樣，或是直接與觀測的結果比較。如果與實驗不一致，那就是錯的。”與實驗不一致，就是錯的。讀了這本書，至少我們該記得這一點。
September 29, 2023
An exciting and rewarding read
I would rate this as the best science book I have read. I have been a student of science over fifty years back but have been away from much of science except genetics since then. John Gribbin's book has given me such a gripping panoramic view of the science behind all existence that I found it difficult to put down the book until I finished reading it. Surely it is a unique work and I consider myself fortunate to have come across it. A great service by the author to science and all those seeking to develop their understanding of the sciences ! I am sure I will be rereading this book many times.
I feel some background in science in the reader will greatly facilitate good understanding of the contents of this book. But even those who have had no introduction to the sciences but are driven by curiosity to get to know about the fantastic progress made during the past 3 to 4 centuries in this field will find this book truly enriching.
I would rate this as the best science book I have read. I have been a student of science over fifty years back but have been away from much of science except genetics since then. John Gribbin's book has given me such a gripping panoramic view of the science behind all existence that I found it difficult to put down the book until I finished reading it. Surely it is a unique work and I consider myself fortunate to have come across it. A great service by the author to science and all those seeking to develop their understanding of the sciences ! I am sure I will be rereading this book many times.
I feel some background in science in the reader will greatly facilitate good understanding of the contents of this book. But even those who have had no introduction to the sciences but are driven by curiosity to get to know about the fantastic progress made during the past 3 to 4 centuries in this field will find this book truly enriching.
December 24, 2024
A useful manual for recalling basic theories and knowledge in the field of natural sciences. The first part is significantly better and contains more illustrative examples for those of us who are not natural scientists.
April 4, 2019
the Best
Read
June 4, 2019If the data does not match the model, the model is wrong.
July 15, 2020
Short and informative. No time wasted bullshitting.
August 30, 2019
I admit I had great time reading this book although I faced some difficulties with some scientific concepts, but that's on me. Science in general is tough and still hard subject to learn. So after many research in Goodreads, I thought this was the right book to start with before reading any science book in the near future.
Starting on the way John Gribbin writes, I found it not that bad. He didn't express his own personal views. He eloquently explained the facts scientifically. In general, I only couldn't follow with his explanations in just two chapters. The rest of the chapters were fine.
The book is really a journey. It takes you from the very tiny small particles of the atoms and then up and up to the stars. Finally there, the big bang and the ultimate expanding universe, or should I say the indefinite small! Gribbin explained most of the chemistry, physics, geology, cosmology and some biology stuff. I am so happy that I learned something about the quarks, the geological time scale and evolution.
It's worth mentioning the two downsides that took away the two stars. I think these two shouldn't be in any science book. First, the book isn't illustrated and doesn't contain any figures. Second and lastly, the whole book was published in 1998, meaning it isn't updated. Perhaps there is now a lot more to the science than in 1998.
Thank you John Gribbin. I am looking forward to reading your other books.
Starting on the way John Gribbin writes, I found it not that bad. He didn't express his own personal views. He eloquently explained the facts scientifically. In general, I only couldn't follow with his explanations in just two chapters. The rest of the chapters were fine.
The book is really a journey. It takes you from the very tiny small particles of the atoms and then up and up to the stars. Finally there, the big bang and the ultimate expanding universe, or should I say the indefinite small! Gribbin explained most of the chemistry, physics, geology, cosmology and some biology stuff. I am so happy that I learned something about the quarks, the geological time scale and evolution.
It's worth mentioning the two downsides that took away the two stars. I think these two shouldn't be in any science book. First, the book isn't illustrated and doesn't contain any figures. Second and lastly, the whole book was published in 1998, meaning it isn't updated. Perhaps there is now a lot more to the science than in 1998.
Thank you John Gribbin. I am looking forward to reading your other books.
January 8, 2013
Lo he leído en castellano.
La organización del libro es amena e interesante porque en lugar de empezar por el principio del Universo o por las estructuras más grandes, empieza por las estructuras más pequeñas y hace el camino en el orden inverso a lo que es habitual en estos libros. Además, se agradece que introduzca conceptos de otras disciplinas que no sean la astronomía (química, biología, geología, etc.) mostrando la gran relación que existe entre todos estos campos.
Como aspectos negativos, mencionar que a veces las descripciones se hacen densas y difíciles de seguir. Además, otras veces se utiliza el recurso de personalizar las reglas de la física: "antes de que el universo se dé cuenta y dicho paquete tenga que desaparecer".
Lo recomiendo al que le guste la divulgación científica porque a pesar de explicar temas que ya están contados en muchos otros sitios, lo hace de una manera amena y resaltando relaciones que en otros libros no mencionan.
La organización del libro es amena e interesante porque en lugar de empezar por el principio del Universo o por las estructuras más grandes, empieza por las estructuras más pequeñas y hace el camino en el orden inverso a lo que es habitual en estos libros. Además, se agradece que introduzca conceptos de otras disciplinas que no sean la astronomía (química, biología, geología, etc.) mostrando la gran relación que existe entre todos estos campos.
Como aspectos negativos, mencionar que a veces las descripciones se hacen densas y difíciles de seguir. Además, otras veces se utiliza el recurso de personalizar las reglas de la física: "antes de que el universo se dé cuenta y dicho paquete tenga que desaparecer".
Lo recomiendo al que le guste la divulgación científica porque a pesar de explicar temas que ya están contados en muchos otros sitios, lo hace de una manera amena y resaltando relaciones que en otros libros no mencionan.
January 15, 2016
The book brought back some memories of my high school science classes. There were some fundamental things I had forgotten in physics and chemistry and this book reminded me of those. Other than that, Gribbins has tried hard, yet failed mildly though, to write a book that could explain science to laymen.
Maybe, that's why the book is called, "Almost Everyone's Guide to Science". :)
Having said, it's a really good attempt; because I wouldn't be able to dream up of a way to explain quantum physics, molecular structure and reactions and the composition of amino acids and DNA molecules in really simple terms. Some things, just require a little acumen for true understanding, I guess!
Maybe, that's why the book is called, "Almost Everyone's Guide to Science". :)
Having said, it's a really good attempt; because I wouldn't be able to dream up of a way to explain quantum physics, molecular structure and reactions and the composition of amino acids and DNA molecules in really simple terms. Some things, just require a little acumen for true understanding, I guess!
July 19, 2010
For some reason, maybe sheer curiosity or perhaps a yearning to return to middle school science class (no, that's not it, it has to be the first one), I picked up this book. Gribbin tells the story of science from the inside of the atom to the farthest expanses of the universe. It is a nice, educational read for the person who has forgotten the science they learned in school and simply wants to remember some of it. Maybe this sounds a bit juvenile, but the only thing I would add would be some diagrams/charts/pictures which would enhance an already good book.
September 29, 2015
Description: The book is for anyone who is vaguely aware that science is important, and might even be interesting, but is scared off by the technical detail.
A fun recap or a lovely starter for budding scientists.
A fun recap or a lovely starter for budding scientists.
July 13, 2022
I read this book when I was in College. Well written and made to be interesting and even funny at some points. It radically changed my view of the world and the origin of all existence. In hind-sight, it seeded a world view that is totally devoid of meaning. The answer to the big questions are not to be found in science alone read with a grain of salt.
October 2, 2014
Almost Everyone's Guide to Science is basically a quick re-cap of everything you were supposed to have learned in your junior high school chemistry and physics classes … and about as interesting.
June 11, 2015
Another great science book that should be included in High School curriculum. This was my first Gribbin book on popular science, but not my last... I enjoyed his style and look forward to reading more of his many works.
September 10, 2009
I had fun with this book.
March 6, 2010
This is a small beautiful book written in 1998. Maybe this should be on the reading list for school children. It could increase their interests in chemistry and other sciences.
January 26, 2016
Really good introduction to the basics of just about every branch of science--chemistry, physics, biology, and more--in terms that are actually quite easy to understand.
November 25, 2010
Really good introduction to the basics of just about every branch of science--chemistry, physics, biology, and more--in terms that are actually quite easy to understand.
March 12, 2012
This book is focused on the Bohr model that's taught to children in high school. I had expected that this book would cover wider topics.
June 25, 2012
The principles are explained quite lucidly. Still there are portions where the reader can get stuck. It was a good read though. Does enable us to learn a few things we didn't know about earlier...
Read
April 29, 2014brilliant history of science
January 24, 2016
short and precise, nice read
June 9, 2021
I enjoyed some chapters of this but to be completely honest it gave me a bit of a headache! I'm trying to understand science a bit more but I think this book isn't the one for me.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews