Wow, readable, relateable science!
579953
This book is fantastic. It explained why we have enlightenment experiences from a brain scan understanding. It also has practical helps for how to promote enlightenment as it leads to unity and peace.
3423824
In The Violinist's Thumb, Sam Kean has done an extraordinary job of taking a complex subject and presenting it in an engaging, witty and conversational style without a lot of scientific jargon. It is filled with interesting stories and anecdotes written for the layman.

The book is structured so that each chapter is inclusive and covers one topic. Skimming a chapter or moving along to the next one does not compromise understanding the material. I confess, I skimmed through some of the information on recombinant DNA and was none the worse for it. Yes, there is `science' in here but there won't be a test. This is science to be enjoyed!

I had no trouble understanding the material and it's been many years since I had taken a biology class. I was struck by how much new information had been discovered in the past 20 years. This is fascinating stuff, and easy to comprehend. I realize I'm gushing about a science book, but it's not all facts and figures; nothing text-book-like at all. One doesn't even have to understand the science of genetics and DNA to enjoy this book. There are many fascinating stories and real-life examples that keep the pages turning.

The title of the book comes from the story of violinist Niccolo Paganini. He could play a thousand notes a minute due to a genetic disorder that gave his fingers extraordinary strength and dexterity. Unfortunately that ability came with a price as the disorder also caused a host of other health problems and a shortened lifespan. This is just one of the many anecdotes.

  -Did you know that a prominent DNA researcher and pioneer in the field was a Dominican Nun? And that she was the inventor of Preparation H? I didn't.
  -Modern cryptology has its roots in genetics as a former genetics researcher built on the statistical skills he gained in genetics as a code breaker for the US government.
  -Due to a DNA mutation in polar bears, we never want to dine on polar bear liver. Not much of a problem for most of us but arctic explorers found this out the hard way.
  -8% of our genome is not human. It's viral and there's a good reason why that happened.
  -Learn about a fascinating theory on the cause of animal hording and the story of a couple that once owned 689 house cats.

I could go on and on but if you are still reading, you get the picture. This is a book that's accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
2217631
Absolutely accessible. This book should be able to make sense and remain enjoyable throughout for everyone interested in the subject and capable of reading English (I would hereby like to make an open offer to do the Dutch translation when needed). There are reflections and exercises and the end of each chapter, making the book more suited to read in bits and pieces, rather than one sitting. For some of these reflections take time to do or to settle.

There are plenty of real-world examples from the New Science of Stress course madam McGonigal teaches at Stanford. She also refers to personal anecdotes and mentions her own pains and fears. By the time you finish the book, you feel like youve gotten to know her a little bit as a curious, enthusiastic, warm-hearted teacher who is at times as insecure, stressed out and gets as much in her own way as the rest of us. In between all these easily readable and relatable stories of humans and stress, there is more than enough scientific backing. The book provides clear explanations on how measurements show effects and shares results found shedding a different light on our common idea of Stress. The body of research ranges from philosophy and sociology to experimental psychology and biology, all to test the hypothesis of the title; that there is an upside to being stressed.

To me the new distinction of Mind-set-research and the hormone-testing-experiments were most interesting. I was gratified to find the Brooks experiment mentioned, as this work is the inspiration for my Game Prompt experiment (paper forthcoming) and it feels so nice to have this book reflect the same enthusiasm I felt when reading the Brooks paper. The Upside of Stress has changed my perspective of feeling stressed  which was already along these lines, I feel this book has taken me further down the path of discovery I was on. I now have more points of interpretation to choose from. I can be more articulate and more evidence-based. For me, it fits right in with my own theory of research and strengthens me that I am not alone as a researcher, that the effects are out there and a change is going to come. Exciting, isn't it?

TL;DR: There is an Upside to Stress, this book has the science to prove it and will give you a useful different perspective of stress along the way.
2992368
As a scientist, it's hard for me to rate this book as simply a layperson. However, I found that this book had a very easily understandable scientific background, with interesting family and medical stories tied in. The author did do a great job of keeping the scientist in me intrigued, though, talking about genetic discoveries, medical issues, and current research in the afterword.
526347
Mr Emmons clearly loves his subject, and sharing it.  The book is high science, yet accessible and enjoyable , even to this recently retired layman.  I think its readership should extend beyond the classroom, to those who simply want  to better understand and appreciate their surroundings.

One of the two 1 star ratings is inappropriate (book not yet received), and the book does need an update.  I'll recommend this one in the meantime.
2849417
I have a B.S. in Biology and found this book to be in-depth science told in an easily readable way. If you are a layman who is keenly interested in everything science, than this book will seamlessly bridge that gap.

You will learn about the gene for lactose tolerance, why and when it came about, and what it means about homo sapiens history. Best of all, it will be conveyed in a gripping manner that feels more like entertainment than learning, which aids tremendously in retention.

As a whole, what you will get is the story of Homo sapiens rise over the last 200,000 years. As our amazing journey from quaint beginnings to global hegemony unfolds you'll learn how and why we know what we know about our history.
1118775
That Professor Randall can explain the physics behind the latest discoveries regarding the Higgs boson in a clear and lucid way almost goes without saying. She excels at making the almost incomprehensible understandable. But what I particularly like about her writing here (and in her other books) is the engaging and personal tone, a very friendly one-on-one sort of approach, as if she is talking to you. She is also really funny, and frequently; she knows how to find the humor in this all-too-often intimidating field of hers and how to share it.
What's also wonderful is how much insight she gives us about the people behind these discoveries. She takes you to the talks and to the meetings and to the after-meeting drinks, and just generally allows us to gain a rather personal feeling for the physicists involved as well as for the physics. I find this kind of perspective really makes the science come alive.
3325570
For a science based novel it is surprisingly easy to navigate through the pages. The humour that is sprinkled without adds to the entertainment and allows for easy recall of the information provided. A must read for people who are interested in how our amazing mind really works with studies to back up the findings. Highly recommended.
3887394
The authors have treated TWO interesting and related topics, magic and its neurobiological underpinnings, in an excellent, readable format. There is just the right balance of magic (with appropriate spoiler alerts) and insight into how this magic illuminates how our brains really work.  There is LOTS to think about here: turns out that our "consciousness" is actually synthesised on the go by our brains, which is why it is hackable by magicians. Really great, insightful stuff presented in an approachable entertaining manner. You really should read this one.
1263249
Side kick to "Johny English", hero in the "Worst week of my Life", solving murders in "Death in Paradise", oh and particle physics. Ben Miller writes in a language that is very accessible to the average person with an interest in science. From diet advise... simply count calories, to the sequencing of the Genome. Cooking is chemistry, black holes, evolution... You won't know everything by the end of the book, but I think you will enjoy the journey. Ben gives analogies that  lead to "I GET IT!", and many laughs along the way. I will be rereading this book anticipating more from Ben in future. I love this book, a very fun science read!

UPDATE:I couldn't resist the audiobook! Just starting to listen, but I love that it is read by Ben Miller "himself". Now the laughs are even bigger. The dead pan, stiff-upper-lip British humor is a real treat to listen to.
3991482
This was a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable read!  It's very well written; engaging without being overly technical - wonderfully balanced between layman and scientist.  The author's joy of discovery and his love of not only science, but of his dogs, shines through on every page.  I had a hard time putting it down!
1613052
This is an amazing book.  I opened John Vacca's The World's 20 Greatest Unsolved Problems  and I smiled.  Instantly in a state of inquiry, I wondered why I was smiling.  As a psychiatrist in an urban church program, I spend my days with many of the community's painfully unsolved personal and social problems.  Yet, there was something strangely comforting about this science book written for the general public (with some background in science).

Of course, at first consideration there was my own joy in learning something new.  A 600+ page volume full of cutting-edge facts, figures, theories, research date, spanning an incredible range of subjects was in front of me.  I immediately plunged into pondering the wonders of "dark matter".  I look forward to reflecting on each chapter's unsolved problem, sometimes reading and re-reading a sentence until I grasp the newest concept in this vast range of human thought.

Even more than this anticipation, what pleased me about the book was that the author could span this scope of science with such depth, clarity and focus--and then encourage others to do so as well.  It is a book that teaches and informs with an honest, caring, affirmative and often humorous tone.  It is a book that assumes from the onset that the reader (that means you)  is capable of both learning and critical thinking, and thereby, in  his or her own way, participates in our collective discovery and understanding of the mysteries of life.  The practical format of sidebars, notes, and summaries serves as a helpful guide to digesting the more weighty scientific information making the material even more accessible to a wide readership.  This book is a reminder that along with our survival instincts, human beings are both equipped and driven to seek knowledge and understanding.

I smiled because these chapters, coverning some of the most complex and even urgent scientific problems, are woven together with wisdom and hope.  As John Vacca concludes his chapter on Consciousness:  "The hard problem is a hard problem, but there is no reason to believe that it will remain permanently unsolved".

  Susan Nettleton, M.D.

  Albuquerque, NM
976718
Of course I was already a fan of Dr. Krauss before reading the book; however, I will not allow that to jade my impressions regarding it. I think it was well written and detailed oriented for the layman as well a student interested in the field. He provided a fair amount of historical introductions to various theories, scientific breakthroughs, obstacles as well as the starts and stops of science. The book is not overly academic and very accessible and never dry and mundane, which is similar to his lecture style. Some of the information took a while to digest and comprehend, however, Quantum Physics and Mechanics is totally new to me, thus I have no shame in freely admitting, therefore someone with a stronger based in the subject would likely find the material easier to wrestle with. Fortunately, as I completed this book, I feel more empowered and knowledgeable in the subject, than when I started. I had previously read String Theory for Dummies, and this work actually tied in the loose ends that the former left remaining, no pun intended.

Dr. Krauss does indeed take the reader through a cosmic ride of why there is something rather than nothing and how something can come from nothing, within the Laws of Physics through scientific data and explanations. He not only pontificates his theory with his own observations, however, he calls on other highly respected colleagues in the field. As with any reading material and knowledge one is encouraged to keep an open mind and verify and research it on their own, before drawing conclusions, which the author advocates vehemently. I am certainly glad I read this book, for it was not only joyful and entertaining, but mind blowing and enlightening, for I was not disappointed.
2146102
I cant remember the last time I finished a book and wanted to go back and reread it immediately! Stuff Matters is FULL of fascinating information that makes me see the myriad materials that make up my life, from bone china to chocolate to dental crowns to airplanes, in a very different light.
The writing is highly entertaining, making me laugh and exclaim and wonder, but it is also highly educational, and it strikes a perfect balance (at least to my taste) , giving me excellent science without going into so much excruciating detail that my eyes glazed over.
I listened to the Audible version as I read the Kindle  edition. The narrator has a British accent, which I sometimes find a little hard to understand, but he was very intelligible and did  an excellent job of narrating; I felt the author was talking to me.
1340861
Fascinating and easy to read personal account. Full of marvelous information.  The author is knowledgable in a variery of scientific subjects.  He can be funny, too. I look forward to reading this book again.  Highly recommended to anyone who wants to know how our natural world works.
4163543
The author conveys the actual experience of astronauts and applies it to our own task of developing inner and outer reality.  The science is fun, approachable, and will appeal to right-brainers as well as to the more scientifically minded among us.  And young and old will find the nine insights great guidelines for living decently, with much to discuss!  The pictures and layout are truly extraordinary.  Text and illustrations demonstrate that "real"  books (rather than something electronically experienced) can have much value.
3061564
New Leaf Publishing Group sent us Taking Back Astronomy and "Wow", is all I can say.  This book is for high school aged students, or gifted middle scholars who have an interest in astronomy.  The book is an "introduction only- a starting point to a biblical view of the universe...", but it is 128 pages of scientific information, amazing full color photos, scripture, and "facts that challenge secular theories" such as naturalism or the Big Bang.  I found this book is enthralling as well as insightful!  I am no astrophysicist, but this book really makes me want to be one.  The pictures alone are mesmerizing, but the content of the book is amazing.  Some of the chapters include: The universe confirms the Bible, The age of the universe, The Bible and modern astronomy....this is really good stuff!  There are also very interesting sections on the uniqueness of the Earth, aliens, and biblical world view.  I appreciated the glossary at the end, in addition, there is an endnote and index section.  The topics are a little complex in places, but very enjoyable and educational overall.  This book will be a staple in our homeschool curriculum, and I can't wait for my kids to be old enough to enjoy it!