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Science Matters  By  cover art

Science Matters

By: Robert M. Hazen, James Trefil
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
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Publisher's summary

A science book for the general reader that is informative enough to be a popular textbook and yet well-written enough to appeal to general listeners. “Hazen and Trefil [are] unpretentious—good, down-to-earth, we-can-explain-anything science teachers, the kind you wish you had but never did.”—The New York Times Book Review

Knowledge of the basic ideas and principles of science is fundamental to cultural literacy. But most books on science are often too obscure or too specialized to do the general listener much good.

Science Matters is a rare exception—a science book that is informative enough for introductory courses in high school and college, and yet lucid enough for listeners uncomfortable with scientific jargon and complicated mathematics. And now, revised and expanded, it is up-to-date, so that listeners can enjoy Hazen and Trefil's refreshingly accessible explanations of the most recent developments in science, from particle physics to biotechnology.

©2009 James Trefil and Robert M. Hazen (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

“Lucid and lively. Hazen and Trefil have a particular genius for picturing even formidably abstract ideas in concrete images. . . . Science Matters is as good as they get” ––The Washington Post Book World

“Hazen and Trefil [are] unpretentious––good, down-to-earth, we-can-explain-anything science teachers, the kind you wish you had but never did.” ––The New York Times

“A book that even scientifically literate readers can consult . . . if they find their recollection of relativity or quantum mechanics getting shaky.” ––New Scientist

What listeners say about Science Matters

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Everything I thought I knew, brilliantly told.

When I graduated MIT in 1984 with a degree in Biology, mine was the first class to be offered a laboratory course in genetic engineering. The rest, as they say, is history. This is the best, most fascinating intro and review of the highlights of all branchs of modern sciences since Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. Compared to that wonderful book, this one has less history and more theory - and is more current and succinct, but never dry. This is the book for the curious mind, whether or not you've every studied the laws of thermodynamics or plate tectonics. As the authors point out, even professional scientists rarely know the latest theories that are outside their own narrow field of study. Here's the chance for layman and scientist to get up to speed. C'mon, now, its the 21st century, and with this book there's no excuse not to be up-to-date.

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39 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!

You won't believe how interesting science is until you're introduced to it by the likes of Trefil and Hazen! If you want to inspire someone in the area of the sciences, or even of the great potential and value of learning and education, convince them to just give this a try! You'll be doing them a real favor.

I've given away 4-5 copies of the book and everyone has been surprised by how much they like it. I have both the audio and paperback for myself.

The narration fits the book perfectly.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Science For Everyone 101

A great book! I read lots of non-fiction and several science/nature magazines regularly. While I was listening to Science Matters, the topics presented kept coming up in book after book and article after article. It was almost uncanny. Further, even though I felt I was literate on most of the topics I found that the authors added depth and clarity to my understanding. So whether you are a total novice or a well read person I recommend this book. It is more than worth the time to listen to it.

Next, the book is well written. It is easy to follow and easy to understand.

Lastly, the narration was very good.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent clarity

This is a great book to refresh some concepts that I thought I knew, but had gotten a little fuzzy on. I'm recommending this for everyone who considers themselves "scientifically literate" or would like to be.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A useful and intersting skim over important info

There are three kinds of knowledge: what we know; what we know that we don't know; and, what we don't know that we don't know. It's the last kind that will bite you where it hurts. Science Matters is an extremely useful tool for finding out what we don't know about the massively complex world we live in. It's well written, easy to understand, and covers a broad array of subjects just deeply enough to give us a plausible shot at coming to sound conclusions about where we are and where we are headed, ready or not...

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Easy listening, good leanings!

I wish I had a physics teacher like the ones in the book! My university and later professional life would have been much easier; I really enjoyed listening things that I already know explained in such an easy and clear way.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

dry, dry, dry

The authors obviously know their stuff and the concepts are written clearly but it's much like reading a textbook. I think this would be a good book to have as a reference on your shelf but as far as something to listen to while driving, you better make sure you have a strong cup of coffee on hand or you may wake up in the hospital.

I started this one in September and, two moths later, I'm still listening in small chunks. With about 30% still to go, I'll finish it eventually but I've heard enough to make my opinion

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Required Reading

I have read so many books recently in the realm of physics. And all the books I have read have there highlights. Usually those highlights come in the form of an explaination of something that I previously read and even found fascinating but couldn't grasp which finally becomes something I can wrap my head around. Well that said, I believe this book "Science Matters" does that very thing for me more than many other books!
The section I found most educational is the chemistry. Fasinating how you can still see correlations between atomic shapes and macro-affects. So much in here to enjoy! The segways from section to section are smooth making everything seem just as important as the next.
I greatly appreciate what these two fellows have done here. I am sure many others are responsible for such a great work, but I would like to thank James Trefil and Robert M. Hazen for there contribution to the furtherance of mankind. It all starts with education.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Detailed survey science book

This probably shouldn't be your introductory survey science book ("The History of Nearly Everything" would be a better intro). If you had read other science books recently and want to know more of the fundamentals, this would be a good intro to give you a good foundation. Some sections are hard to follow if it is the first time in years you've come across that bit of science.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great place to start

I found this book to be a great starting place for anyone who is interested in both getting up to date with current understandings and for those of use who have strugled with more specific scientific explinations. This book provides a great foundation for almost any branch of science interest.

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2 people found this helpful