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Review - Fatal Forces - Nick Arnold

I was all set to give this one four stars. It's lively and gets across lots of good things about forces. There's an excellent mix of historical goodies and practical science, with a classic "horrible science" component of splats, falls and disasters. BUT...

... unfortunately, for page after page Nick Arnold keeps telling us about centrifugal force, something that simply doesn't exist. Okay, on one page he says "Centrifugal force ISN'T a real force it just feels like one..." but then he spoils this disclaimer by going on to make fun of it, saying "it doesn't officially exist" (i.e. it does really, but those spoil-sport scientists say it doesn't.) This just isn't enough to counter the page after page where he talks about centrifugal force - and that really isn't acceptable these days. It's like doing a book about fire and talking about phlogiston, with just a quick disclaimer that it's not real (silly old scientists). There was a great opportunity here to put this dead duck firmly to rest - but Arnold simply avoided the chance.

There are a couple of smaller flaws. He says that scientists measure mass in slugs, without ever pointing out that in fact no one really uses this unit because it's not a metric one, and science is quite happy with kilogrammes, thanks very much. And occasionally he could say a bit more. For instance he says that a "perpetual motion" clock driven by air pressure changes has kept going a very long time, but won't go for ever because of the second law of thermodynamics, without ever explaining how the second law will result in the clock stopping. It's just there as a given. (Oh, and I still hate those upside down answers to questions.)

These points are minor, though. If you set aside the centrifugal force business, it's a very good book on a fundamental aspect of physics that is present in many ways in our everyday lives. Unfortunately, though, you can't ignore the disastrous damage done (I'm falling into Horrible Science speak), and sadly this book cannot be recommended.

Only in paperback

Reviewed by Martin O'Brien

Review by Nick, year 6 (age 11):

I really enjoyed Fatal Forces because of the funny illustrations and the facts about all the different aspects of science in such a way. I really like the way the author tried to educate you in science, but in a comedy type way and it's really good the way the author doesn't exaggerate in the writing and pictures.

Also, Fatal Forces hasn't just got science in it, it has some history in it as well about scientists of different subjects such as Isaac Newton who discovered gravity! The reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is because it did not cover all the subjects of science, for example I realised it had nothing about magnetism in it which is also a force.

Moreover some of the illustrations confused me a bit because I didn't find them as clear as they could have been.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I certainly recommend it to anyone. If you are interested in learning about science but enjoy a bit of a giggle too, then this is the book for you.

* Our age range recommendation is an estimated guide, but individual readers outside the range could still enjoy the book!

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