Overview

This book, by a practicing and successful scientist, explores why questions arise in science and looks at how questions are tackled, what constitutes a valid answer, and why. The author does not bog down the reader in technical details or lists of facts to memorize. Instead, he places the questions in their historical and cultural context, ranging from the earliest intimations that the earth had a long history to current controversies, even describing the origins, challenges, and promises of modern molecular biology. Addressing issues as complex as radiocarbon dating and how we know that DNA is a double helix, he uses examples, illustrations, and descriptions that all students should be able to grasp ( Were there kangaroos in Noah's Ark? ; Molecular Biology Ain't Rocket Science ). He gives the reader a sense of why a scientist feels always like the child called to the stage to watch the magician do his trick. The author's thesis is that scientific logic is an extension of the common human logic used by everyone on a daily basis, and that it can and should be understood by everyone. The book should provide an antidote for students who have suffered through science for non-scientists courses that were long lists of names to memorize; and it should prove enlightening for any citizen who has been perplexed by the meaning, relevance, and moral or political implications of scientific headlines or commercial efforts, or anyone who has cast or will cast a vote influenced by a scientific presumption.

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9789048113583

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Reviews

<p>From the reviews: <p> The Joy of Science is an illustrated guide to critical thinking based on the principles of scientific inquiry. This book is written primarily for the non-scientist, but scientists and teachers will be interested in the clever analogies, fascinating facts and classic stories. It provides an outstanding guide for teachers and students to understand the origins and value of scientific reasoning. J. Marie Hardwick, Johns Hopkins University, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA<p> The Joy of Science is a book that might change your understanding of Science and View of Life in a substantial way. Richard Lockshin makes complex elements easy to grasp and more importantly, he is teaching the right way to approach biology and its influence in modern thinking. There are no specific prerequisites to reading and understanding this book. The Joy of Science is one of the most rewarding books on scientific methodology and evolution. It should

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