Title : THE SCIENCE BOOK:
Author : Marshall Brain
Publisher : National Geographic Society
Pages : 512
ISBN : 13: 9781426203374
Price : $ 23.10
There are countless science references available today. With the Internet readily accessible and most people looking to “digital” sources for information, it is a difficult feat to produce a useful, up to date, and engaging science reference book. The National Geographic Society however has continued its wonderful tradition of producing books unlike any others. The Science Book is no exception. This masterwork presents current theories, understandings and historical perspectives of multiple science disciplines authored by experts in each field. A delight for the casual reader, yet so complete and wide-ranging that science buffs and students will welcome it, The Science Book encapsulates centuries of scientific thought in one richly illustrated volume. Natural phenomena, revolutionary inventions, and the most up-to-date investigations are explained in detailed text, and 2,000 vivid illustrations—including 3-D graphics and pictograms—make the information even more accessible and amazing to discover.
The Science Book offers both a general overview of topics for the browsing reader and more specific information for those seeking deeper insight into a particular subject. Six major sections, ranging from the universe and planet Earth to biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, encompass everything from microscopic life to nuclear power—with particular attention given to subjects in the news today, like climate change and genetic engineering. The innovative organization allows for quick reference, while numerous fact boxes and cross-references emphasize the many links among modern scientific fields. Visual elements make even the most involved discussions easy to understand. The successes of National Geographic’s Visual History of the World and The Knowledge Book underscore the market for accessible resources such as this. Attractively priced for gift-giving and loaded with essential information, The Science Book will shine as an indispensable family reference.
In a passionate forward by Professor Marshall Brain, the founder of the website “How Stuff Works,” Mr. Brain expresses his love of science and how it touches each and every one of us in our daily lives. As someone who is absolutely passionate about science, I found Mr. Brain’s comments to be fun and motivating. In the 21st century science is all around us, in everything we touch and is deeply embedded in our culture, as evidenced by the number of people inseparably attached to their iPods, cell phones , GPS navigators, and laptops. Where did all this technology come from? What are the origins of the world we live in and universe we inhabit? What is on the horizon of science? If you have ever wondered about any of these questions, The Science Book is the perfect solution.
Of particular note is the exceptional organization of the information. Immediately into the book the reader is presented with a “how to use this book” guide. The individual sections are color coded for quick identification. The layouts of the pages are reminiscent of a web page with colored tabs, title bars, page introductions, and informational boxes. These boxes included milestone boxes outlining personalities and scientists related to the topic; basic boxes list key topic facts; in focus boxes provide more in depth facts about themes and subjects that enhance the main topic; issues to solve boxes identify issues and problems related to the topic that challenge science and society; and practice boxes give practical application examples. All of this information is beautifully illustrated and emphasized with amazing photos and graphics for which National Geographic is famous.
The book contains six general sections written by topic specialists on the universe, earth, biology, chemistry, physics and technology , and mathematics. Each section is replete with diagrams and photographs that command about as much space as the text. Colorful fold-out pages depicting concepts in evolution and human anatomy are included. Today, if students are seeking information on just about any topic, they can download it from the Internet. But it’s good to know that the traditional tried-and-true manual search method involving paging through a reference volume is more alive than ever with “The Science Book.” Simply flipping through it will have you stopping frequently to discover new vistas of knowledge. Besides, “The Science Book” addresses information-search technology - just access “The Google Algorithm” in the “Mathematics” section. It will be a wonderful addition to the shelves of a personal library, school classroom or library, and particularly the hands of any child with an interest in science
The author Marshall Brain is the founder of the award-winning website HowStuffWorks.com. A graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he earned his master's in computer science from North Carolina State University, where he later taught. Named one of the Carolina's top entrepreneurs by Ernst & Young, Brain is also a distinguished speaker and author of more than a dozen books, in which he masterfully simplifies complex subject matter into a digestible format for people of all ages and experience levels.
Review Text Courtesy: http://stargazersfield.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com
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