A strange mixture of music- memories- science from a music journalist. When it hits it's great,but there were a few misses for me.A strange mixture of music- memories- science from a music journalist. When it hits it's great,but there were a few misses for me....more
Very good pieces of journalism. We need Ben and others to check stuff because there is so much questionable information sloshing about. We are going tVery good pieces of journalism. We need Ben and others to check stuff because there is so much questionable information sloshing about. We are going to need them more as real journalism is dying and we'll just be left with press releases if we're not careful. All power to his elbow....more
This book speaks to me. In that when the author talks about the skylarks and lapwings I can remember them. He is a real zealot with respect to the joyThis book speaks to me. In that when the author talks about the skylarks and lapwings I can remember them. He is a real zealot with respect to the joy nature brought to him and brings to us. He straddles the pessimism over what has been/is being lost with the fantastic things that are all around us, so the is hope, but that tunnel seems to be getting longer....more
A great book challenging basic ideas about conservationism and the role of alien species. How do we know if alien species really damage the environmenA great book challenging basic ideas about conservationism and the role of alien species. How do we know if alien species really damage the environment? Should we try and keep the environment as it is? Where are the places with the greatest diversity? Should we be optimistic about the future? He tries to untangle fact from myth and outlines simple but quite revolutionary solutions. It is surprising how much of this I have internalised without really knowing anything much. What do you know about Japanese knotwood( If you live in Swansea, probbaly a lot) or wild mink in the UK?...more
Like a kindly sage Clegg dispenses clear insightful logical explanations, ranging from the simple to the more complex ideas about the sub-atomic levelLike a kindly sage Clegg dispenses clear insightful logical explanations, ranging from the simple to the more complex ideas about the sub-atomic level. I wasn't sure how he ended up with free will in the final chapter. Still, it was his choice I suppose....more
A story cleverly told. The sparkiness of the writing meant I read it in a couple of sittings. The poet from Hull, Phillip Larkin is quoted as saying tA story cleverly told. The sparkiness of the writing meant I read it in a couple of sittings. The poet from Hull, Phillip Larkin is quoted as saying that parents "mess" you up. Well here they do it in spades. The great skill in the writing is to sneak in loads of facts and examples about the treatment of animals, which in a non-fiction book might sound a bit preachy, where they add to the story and take you somewhere else entirely....more
A cleverly written possible past based on an extension of the apollo missions and the cold war. This story flicks through the past and present of a moA cleverly written possible past based on an extension of the apollo missions and the cold war. This story flicks through the past and present of a moon-base commander and tries to keep to the science in an unromanticized tale....more
I was like little red riding hood strolling through a nice book, whem whoosh. I was ambushed by maths. The author lulls you into a false sense of secuI was like little red riding hood strolling through a nice book, whem whoosh. I was ambushed by maths. The author lulls you into a false sense of security ( 1, 2, 3, 4 ...) and then blam, you are off in a dark forest completely lost. Some great tales here concerning the personalities involved in the development of infinity and similar numbery things....more
A book that is full of questions and helps to break down some of the entrenched ideas about science many people were brought up with. Ignorance, askinA book that is full of questions and helps to break down some of the entrenched ideas about science many people were brought up with. Ignorance, asking simple obvious questions, questioning what the evidence points to, plus all the ramifications. This guy makes you believe that you too can join the scientific fraternity. Not an easy thing to do....more
An excellent book that really brings the debate and the science alive. It follows the story of the development of theory surrounding the quantum by foAn excellent book that really brings the debate and the science alive. It follows the story of the development of theory surrounding the quantum by focussing on all the main players, giving you their history and how they came up with their theory. Without all the human interest I doubt I would have been able to absorb all the abstact information and concepts. There is also a good timeline and glossary to help the reader....more
An important book in the current climate. I think the writer is correct in alerting people to the possible use /misuse of the vast amount of data accuAn important book in the current climate. I think the writer is correct in alerting people to the possible use /misuse of the vast amount of data accumulated via online searches, social media, buying patterns online, of which this review will become part. I believe there are important moral and ethical issues which need to be thought through and I agree with hime that online tranparency is the way forward. I am less sure about his assertion that the me-centredness of the Internet will somehow prevent accidental learningor insulate us from larger more worldly important issues. After all, we interact with family and friends in the offline world and can be exposed or interested in all kinds of things....more
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