Everyday Science Explained - Hardcover

Curt Suplee

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0792234103 ISBN 13: 9780792234104

Publisher: National Geographic, 1999

Synopsis

With hundreds of photographs, with specially commissioned illustrations, and with great good humor, Everyday Science Explained takes on the hows and whys of the science that shapes our daily lives. The first two chapters transform the often intimidating field of physics into a true joyride. Chapter three does the same for chemistry, while the final chapter explores the wonders of human biology and biochemistry. Throughout, in design as well as in content, this book is highly user-friendly. While it can be read cover to cover, it also lends itself readily to nonlinear browsing.

About this title

About the Author

Curt Suplee is a science writer and editor for the Washington Post.

Reviews

YA. "Living, breathing" science information that encourages readers to explore their everyday existence in new ways, to stretch their minds over wide-ranging topics from the many mysterious forces surrounding them in the wider universe to the marvelous inner structures of the human body. While browsing through cartoons and old movie scenes along with meticulous diagrams, YAs will proceed at a merry pace, encouraged to move through the kaleidoscope of chemistry, physics, and biology. Cross-references keep opening up possibilities to explore the wonders of life in an ever-widening spiral.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Suplee's reader-friendly picture book takes a cleverly lighthearted and unfailingly effective approach to science by explaining such diverse phenomena as gravity, halogens, evolution, cellular structure, and perception in terms of everyday life. The illustrations, drawn from every imaginable source, including old movie stills (a scene featuring Laurel and Hardy helps dramatize inclined planes), sports photography, cartoons, and aerial views as well as original diagrams and drawings, set the tone and dominate every lively page spread. Suplee, science writer and editor for the Washington Post, is also a creative and vivid teacher, organizing complex material topically rather than according to formal scientific categories and mixing technical language with conversational syntax. An introduction to laser technology, for instance, begins with the line: "Getting light waves to cooperate with each other can be harder than herding cats," a disarming approach that leads to easy comprehension and makes this volume both a fine cover-to-cover read and eminently fun to browse in. Donna Seaman

Edition details

• Publisher: National Geographic
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792234103
• ISBN 13: 9780792234104
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 227