Scan barcode
astrilde's review against another edition
3.0
All of the books in this series can be very heavy in the science chapters, with some of the discussion being very high level. Certainly not pitched at children or those who have not studied science at higher levels.
But even with that, the Discworld chapters are well worth it by themselves if you enjoy the wizards mucking about with the universe and dropping little pieces of paper whilst doing it.
But even with that, the Discworld chapters are well worth it by themselves if you enjoy the wizards mucking about with the universe and dropping little pieces of paper whilst doing it.
crivens's review against another edition
5.0
This series is without doubt among the best pop science books ever written. So entertaining, so witty and so straightforward in their descriptions and and examples. Rather than write an individual review for each of this series I'm making an omnibus one for all. These books tread much the same ground as Bryson's a short history of Nearly everything, Harraria's Sapiens, Dawkins Blind watchmaker and Mt improbable and many, many more.
In a way I wish they were titled differently, much as with their ongoing jibe at Darwin's 'Decent of man' the title 'The Science of' turns off more readers than it attracts which is to my mind at least, a tragedy.
Reread as part of a complete reread started in September 2020.
In a way I wish they were titled differently, much as with their ongoing jibe at Darwin's 'Decent of man' the title 'The Science of' turns off more readers than it attracts which is to my mind at least, a tragedy.
Reread as part of a complete reread started in September 2020.
kavinay's review against another edition
5.0
A better text on the philosophy of science than anything I read in university. Paley's watchmaker isn't dismissed or treated with derision but rather an essential ingredient for understanding any theoretical breakthrough: context (with jokes!).
jfield351's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a really good book. It was very intensely packed with physics, chemistry, philosophy, biology and psychology terminology and knowledge so it made it a little hard to read (especially considering i don’t do physics and i am quite jetlagged as i read this). however, it is so interesting, and so memorable. Very interesting book, I have read nothing like it. I would say it’s two thirds non fiction and one third fiction.
molokov's review against another edition
3.0
Once again on this read through, we only covered the Discworld and not the Science chapters. In this next book, the wizards have to make sure that Charles Darwin writes The Origin of Species instead of Theology of Species. Unfortunately it treads a lot of the same ground as SoD2, with a different subject and different antagonist. And where SoD2 borrowed heavily from Lords and Ladies, this one borrows heavily from The Last Continent and Thief of Time - and the fact that ideas from other Discworld novels are recycled makes the story here fall a little flat. It's not as good as its predecessors and sometimes you get the feeling that Terry's heart just isn't in writing these stories for Science of Discworld, but Ian & Jack have a lot to say on the Science side of things. Still, as with the previous ones, it's good to get a bit more of the UU Wizards, especially as Rincewind plays a larger part in the proceedings, and he's always a good foil to Ridcully and Ponder Stibbons.
djotaku's review against another edition
4.0
The Wizards are yet again called upon to fix something that's gone wrong in Roundworld. This time the focus is on Darwin and whether or not he writes Origin of the Species and what effect that has on the timeline.
These Science of Discworld books have misleading titles, because they're really about science in our world interspersed with a frame story that takes place on Discworld and involves the Wizards of the Unseen University.
I've enjoyed all these books, including this one. The biggest difference is that the science gets a little heavier here. There were some sections where I just glossed over and I'm a huge science geek. The only other disappointment was that for a book about Darwin, there wasn't nearly as much on evolution as I'd hoped there'd be. There were other interesting topics like time travel and infinity (the latter going a little to deep in the weeds for me), but I'd have preferred to have had a lot more on evolution.
It can be a bit hard to find in the states, you usually have to buy it used off of someone on the Amazon "other options".
These Science of Discworld books have misleading titles, because they're really about science in our world interspersed with a frame story that takes place on Discworld and involves the Wizards of the Unseen University.
I've enjoyed all these books, including this one. The biggest difference is that the science gets a little heavier here. There were some sections where I just glossed over and I'm a huge science geek. The only other disappointment was that for a book about Darwin, there wasn't nearly as much on evolution as I'd hoped there'd be. There were other interesting topics like time travel and infinity (the latter going a little to deep in the weeds for me), but I'd have preferred to have had a lot more on evolution.
It can be a bit hard to find in the states, you usually have to buy it used off of someone on the Amazon "other options".