Tag Archives: Science
On the Origin of Species Review: One Long Argument That Still Holds
Darwin's case for natural selection remains a model of patient scientific argument, though its Victorian [...]
Thinking in Systems Review: The Clearest Primer on Feedback Loops
The best short introduction to systems thinking, clear and humane, though dated examples and no [...]
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Review: Paradigms Explained
Kuhn's short, influential book changed how we think about scientific progress, but its slippery key [...]
Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! Review: Curiosity as a Way of Life
Feynman's anecdotes make curiosity contagious and teach real lessons about honest thinking, though the self-mythologizing [...]
Silent Spring Review: The Book That Launched Modern Environmentalism
Carson's indictment of reckless pesticide use is beautifully written and largely vindicated, though its cancer [...]
The Selfish Gene Review: Evolution From the Gene’s Point of View
Dawkins's gene's-eye view of evolution remains brilliantly clear, but its selfish metaphor is easy to [...]
A Brief History of Time Review: Big Questions, Hard Middle Chapters
Hawking's classic makes cosmology's biggest questions feel within reach, but its dense middle chapters lose [...]
A Short History of Nearly Everything Review: Science as Great Stories
Bryson makes the history of science funny and gripping, but he favors anecdotes over explanations, [...]
Why We Sleep Review: A Vital Message, Overstated Science
Walker makes a compelling case that sleep matters for nearly everything, but critics have shown [...]
The Double Helix Review: A Vivid Memoir With a Franklin Problem
A candid, fast-moving account of how DNA's structure was found, badly marred by its belittling [...]
The Gene: An Intimate History Review: Science, Family and Ethics
Mukherjee weaves the history of genetics with his family's experience of mental illness to moving [...]
Cosmos Review: Carl Sagan’s Poetic Tour of the Universe
Sagan's Cosmos is science writing at its most inspiring, mixing astronomy, history and wonder, though [...]