Our latest reviews of popular science books, features and event listings http://www.popularscience.co.uk 2000-2011 Creativity Unleashed Limited Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:55:00 GMT Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:55:00 GMT Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:55:00 GMT Review - In essence a website on paper, this doesn't really work as a book. You can't read it end to end, nor is it a great reference. ** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev694.htm Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:10:00 GMT Review - A workmanlike introduction to quantum physics but not great at explaining to the general reader. Better for physics students than poets. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev693.htm Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:45:00 GMT Review - Descriptions of 17 wonderful equations and how they came to being. Good historical context but the maths gets too obscure for the general reader. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev692.htm Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:35:00 GMT Review - Some superb thoughts about the limitations of science and the ways that scientists take a blinkered view. Sadly, though, other elements of this book make it easy to ignore the powerful message. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev691.htm Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:35:00 GMT Review - An excellent course for an adult who had trouble with maths to get a good grounding in the basics, but not really popular maths. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev690.htm Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:25:00 GMT Review - A slim but packed book on the nature of air, aerodynamics, sound, weather and more. Lots of content, but not very approachable. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev689.htm Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:25:00 GMT Review - The history and science of levitation. Not just maglev trains (though they feature large), but the characters, inventions and patent wars, making an enjoyable read. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev688.htm Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:15:00 GMT Review - Good idea of having a collection of essays on the philosophy of mathematics, but some are more approachable than others. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev687.htm Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:15:00 GMT Review - A tantalising exploration of the physics of time travel and the different possibilities for making it happen, including the everyday time travel that special relativity already brings. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev686.htm Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:45:00 GMT Review - Quite entertaining about a group of far-out fringe physics, and informative on quantum entanglement - but the premise doesn't hold up. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev685.htm Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:50:00 GMT Review - An attempt at a popular science book that is really a watered-down text book on special relativity. Shame. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev684.htm Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:30:00 GMT Review - An introduction to physics through some of the essential constants of the universe. Nice enough concept, but the approach is too mathematical for the general reader. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev683.htm Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:25:00 GMT Review - Some impressive magic tricks driven only by maths, but the mathematics isn't very well explained and the book doesn't work as well as it should. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev682.htm Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:50:00 GMT Review - Chown's excellent Solar System app ported to book form. Not quite as good, but still has great images and easy to follow text. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev681.htm Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:40:00 GMT Review - A superb primer on quantum physics for anyone about to start a physics degree, but incredibly hard work for a general reader. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev680.htm Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:20:00 GMT Review - Good background on decision making with risk as a factor, but doesn't really explore risk and its positive aspects. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev679.htm Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:15:00 GMT Review - A self-published attempt to explain Einstein's theories to the general reader. Too plodding and too concerned with words rather than science. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev678.htm Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:50:00 GMT Review - Interesting and revealing on the life of one of the most famous living scientists, but not brilliant at explaining his science. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev677.htm Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:30:00 GMT Review - Great science-as-travel-writing, visiting the places where some of today's most exciting science is under way. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev676.htm Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:10:00 GMT Review - Heavily illustrated book on the nature of time and its measurements that has enough in to interest adults but is presented in a way that will appeal to older children too. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev675.htm Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:10:00 GMT Review - One of those 'great idea, didn't quite work' concepts - explaining cosmology in 140 character maximum 'tweets'. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev674.htm Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:35:00 GMT Review - Essential reading for anyone interested in really understanding QED, weak and strong forces and the Higgs boson - but has some issues. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev673.htm Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:00:00 GMT Review - The latest in New Scientist's reliable Last Word column originated books gets extra oomph by being based on reader's photos of odd things they've seen. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev672.htm Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:00:00 GMT Review - Fascinating and enlightening book on the way DNA goes beyond genes in controlling the body. Should have been five star if it wasn't for the overabundance of impenetrable names. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev671.htm Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:40:00 GMT Review - A collection of short stories, each illustrating a key moment in science, each with an explanatory essay. Worthy idea, but not great. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev670.htm Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:10:00 GMT Review - Interesting exploration of self-deception and how it helps us deceive others. Some parts great, other parts personal politics intrude. Overall worthwhile but could be better. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev669.htm Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:00:00 GMT Review - Interesting idea to take a personal tour of the applications of calculus. But the bits the worked best were about probability and the calculus was often a trifle dull. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev668.htm Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:45:00 GMT Review - In a fascinating book, Lynas examines the 'boundaries' where humans need to set limits to avoid ecological disasters, from climate change to toxic chemicals. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev667.htm Thu, 21 Sep 2011 12:50:00 GMT Review - Excellent look at the human brain's foibles and glitches, where it simply gets things wrong and where it's programmed for a prehistoric world. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev666.htm Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:40:00 GMT Review - Packed with high-detailed microscope pictures of parts of the body it is a visual feast, supported by a basic but fair text. Just a shame it's so heavy! **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev665.htm Sun, 04 Sep 2011 13:00:00 GMT Review - Very personal exploration of the personal genomics business, following the author as she takes gene tests and interviews scientists. Lots to like. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev664.htm Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:10:00 GMT Review - Interesting idea of exploring the future, well written, but let down by the lack of science and often rather dull topics that have to be covered but don't inspire. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev663.htm Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:10:00 GMT Review - Despite the format, some interesting writing shines through and excellent photos make this an interesting exploration of the Earth's development. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev662.htm Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:25:00 GMT Review - The origins and nature of spiders, everything you want to know about silk and webs and more in this study of the life and loves of the arachnids. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev661.htm Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 GMT Review - Fascinating theory of the origins of animals with a very different larval form (think caterpillar and butterfly) with lots of detail on the nature of metamorphosis. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev660.htm Sun, 07 Aug 2011 13:50:00 GMT Review - Not so much physics as metaphysics in this exploration of the interpretations of quantum theory and their implications (if any) for consciousness. Good if you're interested in quantum interpretations. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev659.htm Sun, 31 Jul 2011 10:40:00 GMT Review - Excellent exploration of how our understanding of fossils has developed over time and why science thinks the things it does about the development of animals on the Earth. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev657.htm Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:00:00 GMT Review - An eclectic mix of puzzles, brain teasers, slightly odd facts and straightforward mathematical proofs. Some good, some rather banal. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev658.htm Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:25:00 GMT Review - Humorous and fascinating exploration both of the 'alien' life in our bodies but also how human beings interact with the environment. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev656.htm Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:15:00 GMT Review - Really takes the reader into the experience of living through natural disasters with personal accounts, plus good exploration of the science behind them. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev655.htm Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:10:00 GMT Review - Disappointingly dull exploration of the history of the remarkable Bayes theorem in statistics, which fails to make it clear how the maths works. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev654.htm Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:45:00 GMT Review - Not really science, more a political polemic, but a wonderful exploration of why things are better than they used to be thanks to trade and the interaction of ideas - a great counter to doom mongers. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev653.htm Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:25:00 GMT Review - An unusual look behind the facade of cool, rational thinkers that scientists like to project to show the way some great science came from off-the-wall thinking and how scientists are all too human. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev652.htm Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:00:00 GMT Review - Interesting idea of 'morphic resonance' shaping everything from crystals to human beings, but rather dull reading and in the end not convincing. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev650.htm Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:00:00 GMT Review - Exploration of the increasing use of maths in biology. A brilliant introduction to biology, and some of the maths is interesting but some a bit abstruse. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev649.htm Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:30:00 GMT Review - Challenges the validity of our approach to science from a philosophical standpoint. Makes some interesting points, but rather impenetrable writing style. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev648.htm Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:30:00 GMT Review - Introduction to relativity that takes the form of a workbook plus FAQs - works surprisingly well if you like the approach (probably not best as a first book to read on relativity though). **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev647.htm Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:20:00 GMT Review - Uses the Turing test, comparing human and computer conversation, to discover what this teaches us about being human and about computer capabilities. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev646.htm Thu, 16 Jun 2011 07:35:00 GMT Review - Despite the childish title and an irritating format because it's lifted from a TV documentary, a very interesting concept on how a group of dinosaurs behaved. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev645.htm Tue, 14 Jun 2011 07:35:00 GMT Review - Excellent biography of William Herschel and his sister Caroline with just the right balance of their lives and their remarkable scientific achievements. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev644.htm Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:30:00 GMT Review - Pocket introduction to the nature of numbers. A mixed bag - some bits interesting, some rather dull. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev643.htm Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:20:00 GMT Review - Some really interesting material on pendulums, but hard to get through because of the impenetrable writing. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev642.htm Mon, 23 May 2011 09:45:00 GMT Interview - find out more about the author of Pleasure and his exploration of the neuroscience behind our pleasurable experiences. http://www.popularscience.co.uk/features/feat63.htm Mon, 23 May 2011 09:45:00 GMT Review - Good, readable exploration of the nature of pleasure in its impact on the brain, plus vice and addiction, but is just occasionally a bit slow when dealing with the detailed workings. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev641.htm Tue, 17 May 2011 15:25:00 GMT Review - Interesting set of short articles on the development of medical science, but format limits its accessibility as popular science. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev640.htm Tue, 17 May 2011 15:25:00 GMT Review - You might expect this to be a physics book, but it's much more about the subjective nature of time and how it influences human thought. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev639.htm Mon, 16 May 2011 09:50:00 GMT Review - Not a lot of science and technology but a fascinating and often hilarious at what the experience of space travel is like for real astronauts. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev638.htm Mon, 16 May 2011 09:50:00 GMT Review - On the surface a biography of Richard Feynman, the book is much more an explanation of his science. Some intriguing stuff, but could have been better explained. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev637.htm Thu, 05 May 2011 09:50:00 GMT Review - An informative collection of short of histories of strange, unexpected and unlikely developments in the history of science and technology. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev636.htm Sun, 01 May 2011 14:45:00 GMT Review - Entertaining attempt at making some aspects of medical science more accessible by putting it into a fictional format, let down by poorly edited text. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev635.htm Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:15:00 GMT Review - Useful if slightly dated guide to the science of time travel for writers with lots of examples from science fiction. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev634.htm Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:15:00 GMT Review - Easily pocketed guide to evolution with all the basics and some useful excursions into altruism etc. Not outstanding but solid. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev633.htm Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:20:00 GMT Review - Further thoughts on alignments of some newly discovered prehistoric structures in Egypt, plus a theory on the nature of the ancient Egyptians - but much less readable than the Egypt Code. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev632.htm Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:00:00 GMT Review - 100 short pieces on things that might increase or decrease your brainpower. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev631.htm Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:30:00 GMT Review - Beautifully written introduction to evolution and the history of Earth and its inhabitants, plus not quite as good aspects on climate change/pollution and potential solutions. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev630.htm Sat, 16 Apr 2011 13:05:00 GMT New section of the Popular Science site giving readers the opportunity to discuss popular science books and give us feedback http://popularscience.freeforums.org Fri, 14 Apr 2011 14:30:00 GMT Review - Gives a unique perspective on global warming by taking the long view, both historically and far into the future. Absolutely fascinating. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev629.htm Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:30:00 GMT Review - A unique look at the importance of imagination and beauty in physical theories, exploring the difference between fact and representation. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev628.htm Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:00:00 GMT Review - Despite the limitations of the compact pocket format, this proves a surprisingly readable and informative summary of the planets and their moons. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev627.htm Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:40:00 GMT Review - A celebration of the wonder of powered flight that covers the science of flying but is mostly about the science observed through the aircraft window. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev626.htm Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:15:00 GMT Review - Uninspiring chronological collection of little articles on maths fundamentals. ** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev625.htm Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:40:00 GMT Review - A pocket book on the nature of genius - frustrating because it's such a subjective concept. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev624.htm Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:05:00 GMT Review - Hugely readable exploration of the way our brains handle sensory input and make decisions, showing how (relatively) little influence the conscious mind has. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev623.htm Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:00:00 GMT Review - A fun collection of 100 articles on subjects on the fringes of science from good but unlikely science to downright lunacy. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev622.htm Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:30:00 GMT Review - Interesting extension to evolution, adding cooperation to mutation and selection as shaping 'forces' - not the best written book, but some good points. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev621.htm Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:25:00 GMT Review - The remarkable story of how Russian mathematician Gregory Perelman solved one of the biggest problems in maths, then withdrew from everything, ignoring his accolades. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev620.htm Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:55:00 GMT Review - Lots of exercises, tips and techniques to get your mental arithmetic operating at maximum power. Not a great read, but fun in you like this kind of thing. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev619.htm Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:30:00 GMT Review - Fun idea of small two page spreads with an amazing factoid illustrated by a cartoon on one side and explanation on the other. But rather limited range and odd layout. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev618.htm Thu, 03 Mar 2011 10:50:00 GMT Review - Really clever idea of exploring astronomy through 10 'what if' variants on the Earth - but use of fiction poor and gets a bit samey. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev617.htm Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:50:00 GMT Review - Compact book on Einstein's life and work - a good introduction, but quite short. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev616.htm Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:50:00 GMT Review - Nine different options of parallel universes explored with Greene's usual elan and plenty of background science. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev615.htm Mon, 28 Feb 2011 9:45:00 GMT Review - An interesting topic, but too technical and detailed for the average reader - more for the astronomy enthusiast or undergrad. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev614.htm Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:30:00 GMT Interview - find out more about the author of Geek Nation and her quest to undercover the Indian scientific revolution. http://www.popularscience.co.uk/features/feat62.htm Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:30:00 GMT Interview - The author of From Eternity to Here on science, time and the meaning of life. http://www.popularscience.co.uk/features/feat61.htm Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:00:00 GMT Review - Interesting idea of paralleling the way physics has models working at both quantum and macro levels in biology, but ruined by New Age feel. ** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev613.htm Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:45:00 GMT Review - Very chatty, friendly format for a quick overview of science (particularly physics) around us. A bit too 'wow, gee whiz' and vague for us, but will appeal to some. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev612.htm Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:45:00 GMT Review - Though by no means an easy read with many physics concept taken as read, this book is a valuable exploration of the nature of energy and our increasing knowledge of it. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev611.htm Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:45:00 GMT Review - Engaging exploration of the new burst of science and technology in India in the form of a personal visit to interview many of those involved. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev610.htm Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:45:00 GMT Review - The book A Brief History of Time should have been - really does explore time and the significance of entropy to cosmology. Excellent book. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev609.htm Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:40:00 GMT Review - Good summary of the background and importance of zero, but much more of the book is on infinity, black holes, relativity and wormholes. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev608.htm Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:45:00 GMT Review - Lessons from nature, and primates in particular, into the reasons for the existence of empathy and its value. Touching and based on de Waal's work. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev607.htm Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:30:00 GMT Review - Interweaves the historical true crime story of the French Ripper and an account of the parallel development of forensic science. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev606.htm Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:30:00 GMT Review - 1960s 'aliens have been here' blockbuster. Okay, it's tosh - but the premise isn't as ridiculous as you might think, it's just the reasoning that falls down. ** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev605.htm Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:55:00 GMT Review - A useful and detailed history of the discovery of the existence of dark matter and dark energy, which make up 96 percent of the universe. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev588.htm Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:02:00 GMT Interview - The author of Periodic Tales talks about chemistry (and why it shouldn't be boring) and much more. http://www.popularscience.co.uk/features/feat60.htm Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:00:00 GMT Review - Entertaining exploration of the elements with lots of stories about their use and discovery, plus the author's personal experience of accumulating elements. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev604.htm Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:00:00 GMT Review - Subtitled a crash course in smart thinking, this book takes a look at how numbers should best be used. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev603.htm Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:40:00 GMT Review - Interesting attempt to apply scientific thinking to the great questions of existence - specifically the beginnings and endings of everything. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev602.htm Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:50:00 GMT Review - One of those 'all of science' books squeezed into a 'funky questions' format. Doesn't quite work. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev601.htm Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:02:00 GMT Interview - The author of The Disappearing Spoon talks about discovering science, genetics, astrobiology and more. http://www.popularscience.co.uk/features/feat59.htm Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:50:00 GMT Review - An accessible exploration of biodiversity and conservation. Thompson argues we should concentrate on preserving ecosystems rather than individual species. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev600.htm Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:40:00 GMT Review - Powerful message about the dangers of losing more and more ice as global warming continues, with an assessment of its impact on the environment. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev599.htm Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:10:00 GMT Review - Instead of plodding through the periodic table this delightful book on elements has random but highly entertaining excursions into the people and events that are associated with the elements. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev598.htm Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:50:00 GMT Review - Detailed and technically excellent book on dinosaurs and their skeletons, but hard to see quite who it is aimed at. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev597.htm Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:50:00 GMT Review - Fat book of Einstein quotes. He certainly was quotable - but it's hard to see what this book is for. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev596.htm Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:30:00 GMT Review - A childish approach and a number of errors make this summary of cosmology less than ideal. ** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev595.htm Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT Review - Delightful collection of essays on the origins and meanings of a series of words from science and technology. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/rev594.htm