Synopsis
Humorously explores the science of Ptolemy, Pliny, Galen, Newton, Mendel, and Volta, including failed constructions, accidental discoveries, and early medicine
Reviews
Grade 4-6?A conglomeration of anecdotes from the annals of failed-science history written in a colloquial style and illustrated with full-color cartoons. Each double-page spread relates to its lighthearted title; thus, "Hole in the Head" contains quick recaps of historical fallacies of healing such as head drilling and blood letting, while "Monsterous People" relates tales of mythical beasts and mysterious creatures. Other sections deal with early attempts at flight ("Flapping and Falling"), automobile construction ("False Starts"), and mapmaking. Given that the average entry is less than 100 words, readers will not be using Shocking Science for research. It could possibly provide stumped students with ideas for interesting report topics to research further. Aside from the brevity of the entries, readers may be put off by the use of metric measurements instead of the American "foot and inch" system.?Anita Palladino, Finkelstein Memorial Library, Spring Valley, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"Scientists mess up occasionally, like everyone else." Offering ample proof for this statement, this diverting volume spotlights a random selection of "blunders, hoaxes, unlucky accidents, and bizarre beliefs" that have emerged over the centuries. Parker's breezy, occasionally glib text and Kelly's (The Robot Zoo) amusingly hyperbolic cartoon art expose unconventional theories of how the world began, outlandish tenets about the shape of the earth and the motion of the planets, misguided medical hypotheses, early attempts at flying (with and without planes), disasters at sea and wacky inventions (e.g., Thomas Edison's sound-powered sewing machine, which required continuous shouting to activate). Copious illustrations and brief blocks of type make this not just a trove for trivia buffs but a prime pick for reluctant readers. All ages.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Quirky, humorous, frequently gross anecdotes about science, scientists, inventions, and discoveries fill this book, subtitled ``5,000 Years of Mishaps and Misunderstandings'' and profusely illustrated with busy, weird cartoons in a magazine-like layout. Readers who relished The Robot Zoo and Everyday Machines will enjoy this effort even if they are not familiar with the great names of science: Pliny, Ptolemy, Alhazen, Galen, Newton, Mendel, and Volta (women are all but invisible--Marie Curie gets a mention as do the sirens of Greek myth, but that's about it). The topics include theories about the age and origin of the world, information on plagues of pesky animals, the search for life on other planets, early medicine, a history of flight, experiments with electricity, accidental discoveries, failed constructions, etc. This is a browsing book: There are no sources given, no chronologies, and no biographical information on any of the people, whose ideas are not presented in the context of their times. Although both a table of contents and an index are provided, they are not always useful: Many of the pages do not include folios, making some flipping back and forth for information inevitable. (Nonfiction. 12-14) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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