The Magic of Reality

How We Know What's Really True

By: Richard Dawkins

Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward

Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Richard Dawkins, the world’s most famous evolutionary biologist, presents a gorgeously lucid, science book examining some of the nature’s most fundamental questions both from a mythical and scientific perspective.

Science is our most precise and powerful tool for making sense of the world. Before we developed the scientific method, we created rich mythologies to explain the unknown. The pressing questions that primitive men and women asked are the same ones we ask as children. Who was the first person? What is the sun? Why is there night and day? The myths that address these questions are beautiful, but in every case their beauty is exceeded by the scientific truth.

With characteristic clarity and verve, Dawkins answers these big questions. Looking first at some of the myths that arose to answer the question, he then, dazzles us with the facts. He looks at the building blocks of matter, the first humans, the sun - explaining the life and death of stars; why there’s a night and a day - ranging from our solar system to the inner workings of our planet; what a rainbow really is—going from the rainbow in your backyard to the age of the universe; and finally, he poses a question that still baffles scientists: When did everything begin?

©2011 Richard Dawkins, Ltd. (P)2011 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"I wanted to write this book but I wasn't clever enough. Now I've read it, I am." (Ricky Gervais)

“Exhilarating. The clearest and most beautifully written introduction to science I've ever read. Again and again I found myself saying 'Oh! So that's how genes work!' (or stars, or tectonic plates, or all the other things he explains). Explanations I thought I knew were clarified; things I never understood were made clear for the first time. My favourite adjective of praise has always been "clear", and this book has clarity all the way through.” (Philip Pullman, author of The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ and the His Dark Materials trilogy)

I am often asked to recommend good books on science for young people. From now on, I will not have to hesitate. The Magic of Reality provides a beautiful, accessible and wide ranging volume that addresses the questions that all of us have about the universe, separating often too-little known facts from too-frequently believed fictions. For this reason it should be a powerful resource for people of all ages, written with the masterful and eloquently literate style of perhaps the best popular expositor of science, Richard Dawkins, and delightfully illustrated by Dave McKean. What more could anyone ask for?” (Lawrence Krauss is Foundation Professor and Director of the Origins Project at Arizona State University and the author most recently of Quantum Man, and A Universe from Nothing)

Introduction to the power of science, for doubters

I would recommend the book to teenagers or people not sure of whether to believe science or the supernatural. Introductory level.

Another great book by Dawkins

This is a great book which is also very easy to listen to. You will learn a lot about many different topics from biology to astrophysics. Narration couldn't be better.

Excellent book

This is an excellent book that takes you back to basics of logic, reason and multiple sciences. Makes a great comparison of common myths versus scientific facts and research. Highly Recommended!

Audio version is superb for us grown-ups

If you could sum up The Magic of Reality in three words, what would they be?

eye-opening mesmerizing bravo

What other book might you compare The Magic of Reality to and why?

In a class of its own; a master and beloved teacher who is well known for his searing intellect and scorn for those who discount the collective intelligence of evidential science in favor of subjective and ancient woo, disarms himself in order to speak with gentle, unblinking clarity. Ostensibly he does this to honor his own commitment to spare youth from propaganda and unfair use of rhetorical flourish. But that technique is tremendously alluring for us grown-ups too. Here Richard Dawkins plays the wise uncle, mentoring our species to grow up and see the real world for what it really is: amazing

What about Richard Dawkins, and Lalla Ward’s performance did you like?

Their narration is more professional and alluring than that of most of the professionally narrated books I have listened to via Audible. I also loved the refreshing pattern of male and female voices taking turns.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

If any book could give me hope that our species might actually make it through the necessary transitions, it is this one -- provided it is widely read and listened to. I first read the hardcover, gorgeously illustrated, but was surprised I loved it far more as an author-read audiobook by which I create the pictures in my own mind while dear Uncle Richard and Aunt Lalla are reading to me!

Awesome, " read me , read me " !!!

When you read this book you will know general knowledge about Universe, Earth, etc.., how things work ,why Rainbow is full of color, I thing that every human in 21st century regarding of background, religion and education level should read this book , and then perhaps we would have same platform on one we could build our future . !! Read it you won’t be disappointed .

This Christian thought it was a good

Dont be fooled by other reviews. This book is most definitely for adult listeners. While I liked this book for its science theories and evolutionary views I also noticed a great deal of mockery and sarcasim towards biblical stories and other close held befliefs of the Christian world. Many children wont be able to distinguish the two views and how both God and science can be true if they read this book.

An about everything kinda book, with a slight bias

This one is ok, presented well, and I liked the presentation and the author, and narration of the team. Breaks it up from having one speaker the entire book. Appreciated the effort of gathering the knowledge presented, and when to say "I don't understand."

Now this tells you about the DNA, Universe, religion, myths.... type thing. Giving the science side of the house. All valid stuff and good. So if you've never listened to one of these "everything about everything" volumes then I recommend it, and learned a few more things. The slight bias is to describe how the science point of view is correct, and once you get past the stories, myths, and non-logic of the other beliefs, the science presented is "what's really true." But that is what their theme is, so its on path with the sub-title. So, between the vast amount of science info, intermixed with the stated bias, its a lot of info and an interesting listen. I follow the science side of the house myself, but I also know that, 'what you believe is what's true for you and how you perceive the universe,' so... there's that. Enjoy, I recommend it.

Nothing new

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I love Dawkins in general but this is pretty much just a rehashing of previous work.

Any additional comments?

Great for a "first Dawkins book" reader.

Science literacy for the 21st centery

What made the experience of listening to The Magic of Reality the most enjoyable?

What about Dinosaurs & Stars we can't eat them, smell them, hear them... wait science is natural observation, a verb and Dawkins generates a scientific definition of reality. Dawkins accent makes him sound smart, even backing up his accent with facts, concepts, illustrations of method of thought in the prism of science. Listen to this book to refresh everything you ever needed to know about everything you needed to know of everything. He may not have time to get to everything, he won't get to talk about it in this book, no one understands quantum mechanics.

Who was your favorite character and why?

bucky balls & tubes

Have you listened to any of Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This rules.

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

Atom means the smallest cut, we are all made of space! Maybe we are all expanding with the universe!

Any additional comments?

SCIENCE NINJA /n/

Good story but he dismisses other views

I enjoyed the many myths in the book -- very entertaining. Dawkins uses very good illustrations of distances or time when discussing very small or very large "things." He totally dismisses other ways of viewing reality (through consciousness and thought), so his book is good as a scientific discourse but it may miss the "big picture" (which, granted, is very unknowable with any certainty -- or with any scientific proof). I wish he would have at least tried to delve a bit into this way of looking at reality.