Overview

The history of science is often seen as a story of advancement but nothing could be further from the truth. Science, it is true, has progressed, but rarely in the direction intended and seldom for the reasons given. This has a lot to do with the people responsible. Meet Thales, credited as 'the father of science', whose only real claim to fame is that he often fell into ditches, discover how Archimedes never said Eureka and hated baths anyway and how the most lucrative ancient Greek invention was not democracy but the slot machine. Justin Pollard also fills us in on Issac Newton who liked to disguise himself and lurk in London's less salubrious pubs, how eleven people claimed to have invented the steam engine and why the first website was twelve foot across and made of wood.

Full Product Details

9781848542013

Table of Contents

Reviews

'An illuminating read' -- Financial Times 'This approachable and often funny compendium of tales about scientists and their discoveries is also making an important argument: that science is not the stately, dispassionate progress from evidence to theory that some of its self-appointed defenders think' -- Guardian 'Addictive' -- Independent

Praise for Secret Britain -- --- Amusingly and energetically told...his best. Pollard has the QI knack of knowing what's funny or interesting -- Spectator The parts of our past they didn't teach in school -- Express 'Ideal for history buffs and fact lovers' -- Scottish Sunday Post Gems you won't have heard about at school -- Daily Mail Scotland

Author Information

Justin Pollard read Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge. He is a historical writer and consultant in film and TV. His credits include Elizabeth and Atonement and the BBC TV drama The Tudors, as well as more than twenty-five documentary series such as Channel 4's Time Team. He is a writer and researcher for QI and the author of seven books including The Interesting Bits, Charge! and Secret Britain.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available