"Science types" will love it !
597959
Great documentary, well worth the time of any person who enjoys science. The subject is a bit obscure as much of physics can be, but very well explained. Curios how the world really works !
1160021
For children who love to know how things work, this book would be a fabulous gift.  I learned a great deal about a lot of things that I knew very little about, even things I use every day such as refrigerators, microwaves, and smart boards.  I had no idea that hover boards and tractor beams are on the verge of becoming reality.  Other topics covered in the book include surfing, roller coasters, escalators, submarines, and rockets.  The amount of knowledge in this book is staggering.  Each topic is covered in six page spreads that include a funny photograph with caption, intriguing questions, diagrams, explanations and fun facts.  Each section also includes a science experiment that the reader can perform that demonstrations a scientific principle associated with the topic being discussed.  A few scientist profiles are mixed in with the different sections.  This is a book that any scientific-minded reader could spend many hours happily engaged with.
3704830
More than any other author I can recall, Chris McManus brings the joy and the fun of scientific discovery to whomever will devote a little study and attention.  Like any worthwhile scientific pursuit, some discipline is required to reap rewards, but the tour Dr. McManus leads you on is DAZZLING!  I received "Right Hand Left Hand" as a Christmas gift from my brother, a physics professor, and felt some duty to read this odd looking volume.  Starting at the beginning was slow, so I skipped ahead to Chapter 9, "Ehud, son of Gera"...  From there it was an engaging, exciting, very informative read through the entire book!

Dr. McManus weaves a tapestry of self discovery from an amazing variety of scientific (and non-scientific too!) sources.  The common theme that I sensed wasn't so much human left or right handedness , though this topic receives comprehensive coverage, but the process of scientific inquiry and discovery.  Frequently, Dr. McManus relates the observation and recording of an oddity or unusual event where the discoverer did not have the least understanding of its significance.  Only after other minds have absorbed and shared the knowledge, does it begin to be synthesized into an elegant structure of self discovery and often of great usefulness.

Dr. McManus moves easily through many deep fields of knowledge, and offers footnoted pathways for curious readers to pursue.  His website, [...] expands on the footnotes and offers extra exploration opportunities.  Biology and evolution, astrophysics, art history, archeology, geology, molecular chemistry, and even literature and poetry are all part of the journey!

I'll give one example from Chapter 6 "The toad, ugly and venomous", which starts out quoting from Lewis Carroll's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Alice-Through-the-Looking-Glass/dp/0763628921/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Alice Through the Looking-Glass</a>...  I remember Carroll's book as a pleasant diversion, not as information to be mined for its scientific value!  Dr. McManus deftly relates Carroll's ideas to the arcane but vital concept of "chirality" in molecular chemistsry...

Right Hand Left Hand is an excellent book, and I highly recommend it!
1239336
Wonderfull source of interesting articles in all fields of science!
3292257
A friend gave us a copy of this book for Christmas.  We home school and are planning to use the book as the backbone for our science program this year (K & 2nd grader).  The kids LOVE animals, and I think this will be a terrific base from which to build some unit studies.
810033
There is something very unique in this book in my opinion, which is the nice mix between real world scenarios with science behind the explanation. Something that you will not find if the person that is writing don't have the real experience with a great academic background. Congrats guys, excellent book!
3995181
This book has lots of science experiments with good directions - - and lots of jokes also!  It includes ideas for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, the Planet Earth and the Human Body.  It attempts to teach scientific systems while exploring, and has some great ideas to work with.
459706
This beautifully illustrated, richly colorful book spans the breadth of science, giving the reader context so he or she can dive into areas of personal interest.  This is a fun read with playful, provocative writing that reveals the science underlying our choices in life:

"Science can help you answer those questions about your personal decisions.  We also think that science can help you make the best decisions for your local community, your country, and for the planet."

This is the thesis that grabbed me.  Although I find science intrinsically fascinating, I am deeply concerned that our civilization is ignorantly wielding its immense powers of science and technology.  This book invites us to think critically.

Those versed in science will probably learn something out of their area of expertise.  They will surely learn how to more engagingly explain that with which they are already familiar.  Those fresh to science could ask for no more pleasant or exciting a guide.

I am the Director of Education for the Foresight Nanotech Institute and the author of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Technology-Challenged-Understanding-Our-Creations-Choosing-Our-Future/dp/0976385805/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Technology Challenged: Understanding Our Creations & Choosing Our Future</a>
4127449
This book is fun to read and will get people excited about science! Dr. Ramirez is a wonderful story teller. You don't even notice that she is teaching you physics while you are reading. A must read for anyone interested in either science or football (or both)!
120243
All sorts of questions you never knew you had plus a few you probably did ask are answered in this book.
My family loves science in a casual way. We aren't scientists, but we have subscriptions to a few science magazines, we watch Nova, we download science podcasts and read books by Brian Greene. So this looked like a fun book for the whole family.
It really is that much fun. There are 162 questions ranging all over the place all answered concisely and understandably. It's the sort of book that you can leave around to read when the mood strikes you to read a few pages. Pick it up and open it anywhere to learn something new or one you can use as a springboard to dinner conversation with your family. Every night at dinner we go around the table discussing "What did you learn today?" and this book adds to those conversations.
It's science as light entertainment, not seriously going into depth on any one thing, just questions and answers that may spark more study and curiosity.
Highly recommended for parents or for people like my dad who always wants to know "Why".
3795930
My kids LOVE Guinness World Record books.  This one on science is so fun and with the new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) emphasis, the more info in exciting stimulating ways the better. Love the hands on  experiments.
735005
This is the third book in this STEM based series.  My ten year old son and I have read each one together.  We love them.  Although the series is recommended up to age 9, I believe older kids will enjoy these books too. There is so much going on throughout the book, I believe 10 year olds would remain engaged as my own son did.

In this book, there are really two plots- getting a new pet, and making a significant find that someone else tries to take the credit for- topics that young children may be dealing with in their own lives.  The author shows how important it is to research before making a big decision or purchase, the value of family and friends, how useful libraries can be, how people have different interests and we have to respect this, and that sometimes it's good to give others a second chance.

The author throws in STEM topics, such as how to conduct research using books and surveys, and how they pop up in everyday life. She also uses science vocabulary such as fossil, specimens, data, clavicle, and fractured and explains the meanings with examples that are easily remembered.  I love how the author is able to teach vocabulary and simple science topics while telling a story.  She is able to weave this learning into the story and shows that science is fun.  There is plenty to discuss with your child as you move through this book.

The characters are cute and children can relate to them.  There is humor in the book and even though there are teachings going on, the author keeps the story moving.  The characters travel from setting to setting- home, school, public library, riverbed, park, etc..., which keeps children engaged.  The chapters are different lengths, but all under ten pages.  There are cute illustrations that break up the text.  The font is a good size for early readers.  There are some difficult vocabulary words.  Therefore, this is a good book for a child to read with an adult.
3555774
If you are even a little interested in science in general, this is a fascinating look at the materials all around us that make up our world. The author's enthusiasm and love for the subject comes through. He also does a great job of weaving his own personal narrative into the science to make it a much more enjoyable read. It's not dry at all, as one might fear with a book of this nature.
3728965
We can't get enough of this new STEM-focused fiction series!

The only downside to finishing this third installment in the fabulous Zoey and Sassafras series is that now we have to (not-so-patiently) wait for the next one to come out in the fall!

These fun, science-focused books are easily some of our favorites to read together and just like the previous two books, book #3 inspired my daughter to conduct an investigation of her own right after we finished reading it.

I just love how this series draws her in and gets her excited about exploring scientific topics, even at such a young age -- and that it does it in such a natural way, as well!

In this third book, Zoey and Sassafras head to a nearby stream, only to make a terrible discovery. This situation only gets worse when they learn that not only are typical water creatures in danger, but the magical merhorses, as well!

Zoey and Sassafras (along with Pip, the frog) need to solve the mystery of the stream, but will they do it in time to save all the creatures?

You'll have to read the book yourself to find out, but along the way you'll encounter seamless scientific learning about environmental issues and plenty of Marion Lindsay's lively illustrations, just like in Dragons and Marshmallows and Monsters and Mold.

Like the other books, Merhorses and Bubbles contains a glossary explaining more about the main scientific concepts found within its pages.

I'm so happy this series exists and hope the author continues to write them!

I received a free copy of this product from Innovation Press in exchange for writing a review.  All opinions are my own.
1349220
It's totally fun, especially for science nerds who are proud enough to show it. And ... it starts in a planetarium! What could be better than that?
1249568
What a delightful book. It covers the topic of properties of metal in a refreshingly new way. It will be a great new addition to my science lessons. I hope there are more books in this series. I like the personification embedded with the science facts... Conductivity, malleability, and compounds vs. elements.
297797
This is a great book for kids who are interested in science. My son enjoys this book. It is great for provoking thoughts for kids and then we will research things further. we have had many conversations about some of the topics in this book over dinner. My son loves science and will say, "dad, I found this out today..."  My son really enjoyed so for any other kids who like science, I think they will enjoy it too.