If you feel like laughing so hard that your abs begin to hurt, then this is the book for you! Randall Munroe seeks out the most ridiculous "what if" qIf you feel like laughing so hard that your abs begin to hurt, then this is the book for you! Randall Munroe seeks out the most ridiculous "what if" questions and then answers them according to the laws of science. Between the nuclear fallout of a baseball thrown at the speed of light to charred steaks falling from the sky, you will find that this book is not only a great workout for your abs, but also a really good read. ...more
The Emperor of All Maladies provides a pretty nice introduction to the history of cancer research. The book does a great job of detailing the disease The Emperor of All Maladies provides a pretty nice introduction to the history of cancer research. The book does a great job of detailing the disease and how we got to where we are today in understanding and treating it. For the most part, it's easy to understand, but it does get very technical at times. Though it is a long read, Siddhartha's writing will keep you engaged all the way through....more
Judging from other reviews, this book can be either a hit or miss. For me, it was an absolute hit!
What makes or breaks the book is the writing style.Judging from other reviews, this book can be either a hit or miss. For me, it was an absolute hit!
What makes or breaks the book is the writing style. The main character, Mark, who is stranded alone on Mars may come off to some as too whimsical for someone who is constantly facing death. For example, he loves to use words like "yay" or "boo" when describing situations. To me, that's what makes this character unique though. His way of handling fear is to brush it aside, and think his way out of whatever dire situation he is in. Whatever your opinion on the character may be, Weir keeps you on your toes throughout the entire novel. Just when you think everything is going fine, something else happens.
Another thing I enjoyed about this book is Weir's attention to detail. Every situation in the book is quite plausible. He certainly did his research on all the science behind it, and it shows.
Which brings me to readability. While Mark does go off on rants filled with technical terms every so often, the book is pretty easy to follow scientifically. Even when he goes off on these tangents, everything is spelled out for you anyway.
In summary, "The Martian" certainly belongs in my group of best books. A great introduction into science-fiction for those who may be scared of the whole "science" thing!...more
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