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)

Excellent book.

Typical Richard Dawkins .... Hard core logic, entertaining, and very informative. I just wish I had half of his intellect. He is an amazing scientist and author. 5 Stars.

A basic primer for science

Did you pass your high school science classes without too much trouble? Okay, then save you money. This is nothing more than a refresher course for stuff you probably still remember. Then again, I'm kind of a nerd, and the only thing I learned was about various myths from different cultures through out the world and time. Otherwise, pass this by. The God Delusion was more educational.

Magic is in the Truth.

A magical book and magical story that is a must read / listen for all. Science is truly magical.

A good re-cap of early history and life.

a Good book for young and old people .words words words words. words words words

Dawkins fails to disappoint, again, Outstanding!

Read it with my children, great book, there's more beauty in the real world because is real, the myths are beautiful but only if you live in a place called Olympus which only existed in the minds of people that didn't have telescopes or microscopes.

Awesome book for all ages past 10-12.

Although the book is intended for kids I am pretty sure much of the content scape many adults. Definitely worth reading it 👏

A light Dawkins book,for the masses

good enough book. but was underwheming for anyone in the sciences or those familiar with Dawkins side of the evolution/creation argument.
anyone wanting an interesting introduction or deeply entrenched in faith but willing to hear the other side might start here.

nice

A sort of high school science fresher. One sad mistake. Glass is not a liquid and it does not flow slowly over hundreds of years.

I do enjoy Dawkins so much. He is so smart and so good at explaining his subjects. But he is never condescending.

I am hooked.

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

I feel so much like I am having a conversation with Mr. Dawkins and Ms. Ward. It is so wonderfull to be awestruck by the concepts he opens with logical arguments.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Charles Darwin

What does Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A personal touch. I feel as though they are explaing these things to me over a cup of coffee or most likley tea.

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

It made me sit back in awe at the sight of a rainbow.

Any additional comments?

A great book for a science minded teen.

Good primer for thinking about science

Moves along at a good pace. The content is accessible to the laymen and should/could inspire a deeper dive elsewhere. If you are well versed in the scientific methods you probably won't find any new or earth-shattering information here but you might learn how to explain things in a way that people will understand. Recommended