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.

The fasted 9 hours ever- wanted more

What did you love best about 13 Things That Don't Make Sense?

This book was fantastic. I think that the fact I listened to it instead of reading it made a big difference. It can be very technical in certain areas but Brooks delivers each of the 13 subjects ( which really stretches more to about 20 with the sub content) with clear and concise descriptions, enough for a complete laymen to comprehend and he brings out as much of the humor and the irony as can be brought about in a book related to mathematical formulas, cell structure and physics can possible offer. James Adams does a wonderful job narrating and kept me listening for hours on end. The worst part of this book was at the end, when it was over. I wish they cover another 13.

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

That valium is really a placebo, SHOCKING!

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

no

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

That valium is really a placebo, SHOCKING!

You'll keep saying "Huh, that's interesting."

This book talks about some of the fringes of scientific understanding. Specifically, it talks about 13 different instances of observed data that either contradict the predictions of currently accepted theories, or simply don't have solid theories to explain them yet. That description might make you think that this book is anti-science, or that it caters to fans of pseudoscience, but that isn't the case. The tone supports rigorous application of the scientific method to refine our understanding of the data in every instance.

This is definitely a book written for the average person. The author does a good job of explaining the concepts that he covers so that they are understandable. Since the fields he covers range from physics, to medicine, to neuroscience, that's a good thing; It would take an exceptional person to be well-versed in all of the fields that this book touches on.

Here's a simple way to tell if you'll like this book. If I say to you "the 'cold fusion' results that basically ruined Stanley Pons' and Martin Fleischmann's careers weren't necessarily all that crazy," do you want to know why? If you do, then this book is probably the kind of material you'll find interesting. (It will also elaborate on that particular statement in one of its chapters.)

Very interesting

Anyone broadly interested in science, it's history and, in particular, its limits in explaining certain aspects of the world around us, should read this book.

Although I find it hard to judge the importance of some of the questions discussed, every chapter had some cool tidbits of information that surprised me. Overall the book made me more curious about the world and its workings and the science that describes it all.

Terrific performance.

The tone and style of the writing was enhanced by the performance. An interesting listen.

Complex topics in an accent

Maybe I'm just not giving it the time and effort it's due, but I'm finding this hard to follow and boring even when I do understand.

Would be neat if I could pick from a variety of speech types for each "book". Maybe AI and deep fakes will get us there soon?

One word: Masterful

This may be the best, most consistently compelling science writing I've ever encountered. I'd hold this up as the standard for which every science writer should aspire.

I don't know what else to say. The only thing I'd have changed about this book would be to make it about 25 or possibly 100 or more things that don't make sense, as 13 was not nearly enough to leave me satisfied (which may be why I'm now listening to it for a second time).

Loved it

Have to say both my wife and I loved this book, and we approach from different perspectives - me being the science freak. It's quite well written and fascinating. Understand, not every one of the 13 is equally fascinating, but overall I give it 5 stars easily.

Engrossing book! Couldn't stop listening

I don't understand how other people (I'm looking at you, Audiofile) thought this was hard to follow. Granted, the first three quarters was more interesting for me than the final, but it is tremendously entertaining for people who are curious about the universe and the subtleties it presents. The material is meaty and does not talk down to the audience. Persons who write reviews on how some of the material presented is "quackery" probably didn't take away one of the central messages of the book: that looking at the questions in science with radically open viewpoints and a willingness to open doors from those questions are more important than the results themselves. It is how science truly progresses.

surprisingly gripping

I thought this would be a fairly interesting and "good for me" listen. However, I found this book really hard to put down. It is compelling and easy for the non-scientist to understand. the language is clear and while there are lots of scientific details and history and names and dates, they are presented as part of a story and don't feel like a list of useless facts.

I like the idea of this book, but...

I really liked the idea of this book, and it had great potential and some good parts. However, I don't understand why the editor ordered the sections in the way they did. Also, despite being a scientist myself, I had a really hard time following some things. The author tends to go on tangents (even worse than Dawkins who I love), and I had a hard time following the reasoning and staying entertained.