13 Things That Don't Make Sense

The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time

By: Michael Brooks

Narrated by: James Adams

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Science starts to get interesting when things don't make sense.

Science's best-kept secret is that there are experimental results and reliable data that the most brilliant scientists can neither explain nor dismiss. In the past, similar "anomalies" have revolutionized our world, as in the 16th century, when a set of celestial anomalies led Copernicus to realize that the Earth revolves around the Sun and not the reverse, and in the 1770s, when two chemists discovered oxygen because of experimental results that defied the theories of the day. If history is any precedent, we should look to today's inexplicable results to forecast the future of science.

In 13 Things That Don't Make Sense, Michael Brooks heads to the scientific frontier to meet 13 modern-day anomalies and discover tomorrow's breakthroughs.

©2008 Michael Brooks (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Some good, some not so good

I thought the chapter on matter/energy/universe was good (to me). The chapter on placebos was gave some interesting examples, but would have been much better if the author would have clarified (instead of one sentence partway through), that while the placebo affect works well on some pain, and improving some conditions, it doesn't work on a lot conditions. Just ask Steve Jobs how well his mind cured his cancer. The chapter on homeopathy was really disappointing. He starts out by saying how it doesn't makes sense. Then compares it to placebo a little. Then jumps to why it needs to be studied scientifically. But never is there any evidence, other than occasional anecdotes, that homeopathy has any greater affect than placebo and the hands-on effect of a caring doctor. Without that, why bother to study it?

Another really disappointing chapter was on the search for intelligent life. He gave one example of why the "wow" signal could have been nothing other than extraterrestrial intelligent life. Which only made me think of all the other things we didn't understand and attributed to god or something... until we learned more and figured out what it really was. But that aside, the real problem I have with that chapter is that he promotes that we should be putting government funding to searching for EM signals. To what end? He says how long it is (I forget as I write this review), to send a signal to or from earth and it is centuries? millennia? So, suppose there is intelligent life out there, far, far away. Suppose we get a signal from them. Then what. It's not like we can communicate back and forth with them if it takes 27,000 years between messages. If they've overcome physics to communicate (or travel) faster than that, then they don't need our signals, and they can just arrive and show themselves.

I give kudos to the narrator, though. As an American, I can't vouch for the British pronunciation, but this is one of the very few science audiobooks where the narrator didn't botch several key words.

excellent and fun for lay-people

Would you listen to 13 Things That Don't Make Sense again? Why?

possibly, but i am generally too bust to read pleasure books twice. if i wanted the technical info, then i might. but it is written very well for lay-people. you dont need to be a scientist to enjoy the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of 13 Things That Don't Make Sense?

the overall theme that we cannot figure everything out.

Have you listened to any of James Adams’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

n/a

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no emotional responses

Any additional comments?

just a fun book and helps me understand the overall position of science in the early 21st century.

A rehash of stuff I'd already heard numerous times

The title pretty much says it all for me. I kept reading to the end, hoping for something interesting to come up, but it never happened. None of the topics covered in this book is anything new. If you've been keeping up with the latest science at all, you will not hear anything here you haven't heard many times.

Good look into various sciences.

Would you listen to 13 Things That Don't Make Sense again? Why?

Yes. It gives a wide view of different problems and as it says "don't make sense" issues. You don't need too much of a science backround but at least a well rounded curiosity about the sciences I think is recommended.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I like the widely varied topics because it has opened a door or two i really had no previous interest in.

Which character – as performed by James Adams – was your favorite?

No characters involved but I love his reading style. He is probably the best reader I have listened to.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very interesting to me but probably not for everyone.

Any additional comments?

I like how the author leads the ongoing topic into the next narrative. This mostly occurs near the end of the chapter.

Excellent!

You won't want to put it down.

Stop at Half Time

I found the 1st 1/2 of this book to be entertaining, and it definitely held my interest. The 2nd 1/2 was terrible.

The 1st 1/2 was "not too technical", but it was also not "dumbed-down" to a simpleton level either.

I think any science enthusiast will enjoy the 1st 1/2 regardless of your level of science knowledge.

The 2nd 1/2 of the book was a total drag for me.

If you like thinking about how science might apply to topics like Ouija Boards, Free Will, Placebo Effect, and Homeopathy, you may find it interesting, but I don't, and I didn't!

What boring subjects to begin with, and Brooks total fails at his attempt to links scientific thought to these topics.

Overall I'd give it a 2.5 since it was only 1/2 good, but the reader does a good job, so I'll round up to a 3-star rating :)

Love it, give me more!

Each topic is drawn together really well. It provides a base of scientific principles that are repeatedly dismantled, rebuilt and still up in the air. The way it is presented did not leave me feeling abandoned in unanswered questions, instead I was fascinated by the course of events that got us here and the possibilities that remain.

The book shows science at its best and its worst. There is a mingling of history, dynamics of the scientific community, defeats, successes, pride and humiliation. But these elements do not cloud the presentation of the science. There is a healthy dose of technical science but a dash of drama and a pinch of dry humor keeps it from feeling like a heap of equations.

It is clear there is a lot we do not know, and the book does a good job of putting us firmly in our place. It portrays a scientific community of human beings that are collectively a little neurotic. But in spite of it all science has answered many unanswerable questions, and the unanswerable questions will continue to drive scientists forward.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand the concepts in this book but it will be a lot easier if you have an interest in science and have already done some reading of popular scientific topics like relativity, quantum mechanics, particle accelerators, big bang, evolution, DNA, etc.

The narrator, James Adams is perfect for this book.

Excellent book.

This book will apeal to all. The chapter on cold fusion opened my eyes. Myself Being somewhat skeptical I have spent many hours online researching different parts of the book. I've since been able to verify nearly everything.
i highly recommend!

Engaging and balanced, not overwhelming.

The author does an excellent job of making extremely esoteric/complicated scientific theories accessible to the average reader/listener. I finally have a grasp on what dark energy/matter is believed to be (no small feat). And he provides a good balance between stating the cases both for and against for many of the unknowns.

Don't be afraid to hit the "go back and listen to that bit again" button if something slips by you. I had to do that a few times to sort things out.

The narrator sometimes sounds a bit pedantic/pretentious, but that could also be the subject matter. The technobabble glides off of his tongue smoothly (no small feat!) and he also projects an earnestness.

Definitely a good listen.

I likes this book

Would you listen to 13 Things That Don't Make Sense again? Why?

The author reviews several anomalous scientific theories. His review is for the most part unbiased and thorough.

What did you like best about this story?

It was unpretentious and interesting.

Have you listened to any of James Adams’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first time I have listed to James Adam's performance. I will listen to more of his performances.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I found the contention between Newtonian physics and Quantum physics interesting.

Any additional comments?

none