It's Not Rocket Science

At the heart of science is not a tangle of abstruse equations and impenetrable jargon but some very simple ideas about the nature of reality. Ben Miller has captured the essence of these ideas succinctly in this witty, informative book. Ranging from the physics of the Hadron Collider , to evolution, the nature of the genome and inheritance, climate change and the future of space travel, he offers a marvellously engaging account of the basics of the greatest of scientific ideas. One comes away from this survey struck by the realisation that our greatest scientific geniuses such as Newton, Darwin and Einstein, were inspired men of creative as well as scientific. Darwin outlined the theory of evolution before the genetic mechanisms driving natural selection were known or understood. Einstein devised his theory of relativity with thought experiments on the tram to and from work. Newton devised his laws of motion centuries before NASA put them to the ultimate test by sending manned missions to the moon. But these are not ideas in the sense of flights of fancy. If we want to know why bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics then Darwin can tell us. Your global positioning system owes a debt to Einstein. We can send a probe to mars because we can calculate its trajectory with stunning precision using Newton's laws. Science's vindication is precisely in this ability to both explain and predict. This book is suitable for all those who want a quick refresher in the basics of science that they may have neglected or forgotten since leaving school. It's also suitable for those who were sent to sleep during science lessons at secondary school and then belatedly realised (as I did) that I was missing out on something marvellous. It clears up a lot of misconceptions along the way (like the correct way of understanding what survival of the fittest means in evolutionary terms). It doesn't just refresh what you might have once known from those long-forgotten lessons but also discusses issues of pressing contemporary relevance, like climate change, which is, to my mind, one of the best short expositions of the key issues that I have read anywhere. It's useful to come back to the book again if you want a refresher on any of the key principles of scientific thought and of course the book is frequently punctuated with great wit, as one would expect of Ben Miller. All in all a highly entertaining and informative read. Recommended.

I very rarely read non-fiction books but I was recommended this by a colleague and thought I'd give it a read as Miller is one of my favourite sketch comedians and a book which explains scientific concepts for entertainment was something which I thought sounded interesting. Miller certainly succeeded in being entertaining although I didn't find it to be that educational. Some parts I could barely understand and was baffled by and others were largely recapping things I knew about. I did find the chapters about alien life and evolution particularly fascinating and every chapter was certainly a joy to read. Every chapter that is except one about the science of food which was largely anecdotal. Miller does anecdotes brilliantly but it felt out of place compared to much of the rest of the book. This is an entertaining read and I whizzed through it quickly because it's informal style made me want to keep going. Great for anyone with a casual interest in science!

Entertaining and informative

This is an entertaining and highly readable whirlwind tour of everything you need to know about science to hold your own in a dinner party conversation about the state of the world or to pass yourself off as a scientist to the non-expert, and so perhaps improve your job prospects. I actually bought this for a teenager for whom it proved a bit of a stretch so I have had to read it instead. However I was then able to give dinner table lectures about the cosmos and the evidence for climate change so the learning has still happened! The only slight criticism is that the chapter on the Large Hedron Collider and the search for the Higgs-Boson is a lot to take in so quickly and that the chapter on evolution is a bit too light on cantering through the reasons for why it's now recognised as a scientific fact. However it's a superb book overall so highly recommended!

A gripping read that stimulates interest in so many directions. A vein of humour runs through the content which for the most part adds a human perspective to the tale.

There are loads of books now on "popular" science as various bods make their attempts to explain the cosmos and everything in it in terms that the layman will understand. Ben Miller makes as good a stab as any at it if maybe without the insouciance of Bill Bryson or the "been there, done it" badge worn by Brian Cox but to be fair he does have the chatty, man in the pub descriptive style of Bryson and he also has the physics background of Prof Cox, having a degree in the subject, so he fits nicely between the 2. To be honest if you are an aficionado of the "science book" there will not be much new here but for example he explains climate science as well as anyone I've read and for that alone this book is worth getting. Overall the book makes for an enjoyable and diverting read and is well recommended!

It's Not Rocket Science is an excellent book having a whip through the latest scientific thoughts and research of the day, written by sometime particle physicist and now comedian and actor, Ben Miller. I like Miller's light style and amusing allegorical comparisons. You may have to slow down a bit once in a while to grasp some of the concepts, but as Miller says no one has to understand all or even any of it and to just enjoy the ride, which I most certainly have. Even made sure that friends and family have a copy! I really hope Ben does a follow up of some sort. Great reading and an introduction to science itself.

I ignored this book while on the shelf for ages, but when going on holiday, I wanted some light reading, so the kindle purchase was made. it turned out to be a very interesting book, the author puts subjects over in such a way, you remember what was stated. The author covers many different subjects in a none tech way; the only down fall, slightly out dated on a few points, especially on the Higg's boson, unless scientist change their mind? Putting that aside, this a book worth getting and comes recommended.