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)

Good for Age 15 to 20 or So

Would you try another book from Richard Dawkins and/or Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward ?

Anything by Richard Dawkins is a good bet. I especially enjoy his voice and the presentation works well when he teams up with Lalla Ward as he did here and on other audiobooks. I also enjoy listening to an audiobook that is narrated by the author of the work. It's more likely that the word emphasis is what was intended.

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

Richard Dawkins' perspective on the science vs religion/myth issue underlies the content of this work as it does many of his other books. However, this book appears to be intended for late teens... maybe early twenties... rather than a more mature audience.

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

Listening to the tone of the presentation, it is immediately apparent that this book doesn't assume much prior knowledge of the topics. I felt I was being read a bedtime story, partly because of the content but mostly because of the tone. It is pleasant to listen to but I started to wonder which of my kids to share it with.

Was The Magic of Reality worth the listening time?

In spite of it being somewhat remedial, I did learn a few things from this book but I think it would be most effective for a younger reader (listener).

A breath of fresh air for a scientist.

Another stellar product in a rich history of books form Dr. Dawkins.

At the outset, it is a bit rudimentary, but overall an excellent read. I hope to introduce it to my grand-kids.

Kudos "again" to Richard Dawkins.

Simple Explanations of How Our Complex World Works For All Ages

Initially I was hesitant on purchasing this book as I am 38 years old and look it up. To be book for kids. nevertheless, I went to head and bought it as I seen another review were say that anyone not pull it

in complex sciences Can benefit from Mr. Dawkins excellent work.

Interesting work

Richard Dawkins challenges us to think clearly, keep open minds and be flexible in our thinking.

Interesting but untimely disappointing.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would. This is not my favorite book by Richard Dawkins but it is with out a doubt worth reading.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was not that kind of book.

Which character – as performed by Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward – was your favorite?

Not applicable

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

No

Any additional comments?

Apparently Richard Dawkins view of reality only including what has been definitively proved not what may be possible.

Dawkins Does Not Disappoint, But...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to a friend if that friend does not keep up with science that well but was suddenly interested in a starting point. If you watch a lot of science documentaries or read science books regularly there is a good deal of overlap that is rehashed in this book. That being said, if you like Richard Dawkins, this is a worthwhile read even if you know most of the information because you also get the myths and the book is short enough that it can be quickly eaten up like candy.

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

This book is almost identical to Science Matters, which is also on Audible, except it adds the Mythical stories and Science Matters is more detailed. It is also very similar to all of Richard Dawkins' other books because he tends to reuse information from book to book.

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

I have listened to The Selfish Gene, The God Delusion, and some of The Greatest Show On Earth and The Magic of Reality covers a much greater range of topics that touch on all the ideas presented in his previous books.

A great listen

I've listened to a few of Richard Dawkins books and this has been my favourite. its good, straight forward sciencentific explanations with great analogies that really make the topics easy to follow. I also liked having two narrators, as i found it kept my mind from wandering too far

Classic Dawkins

I love the way Dawkins can pull together many streams of thought to synthesize a holos at the end of the winding path. This series takes a strong existentialist look at what we take as real. The alternate male/female narrative style lends to balance and continued interest in the topic. What Dawkins teaches in this series is nothing short of looking oneself straight in the mirror without delusion interfering in the process. This is science, but it is so much more than that too.

I hated the atheist under-current.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The only thing that would deter me from recommending it is its atheist ideology, which for me is unfathomable, since all the facts stated in the book actually solidify the belief in the existence of God.

What did you like best about this story?

Its eye-opening scientific facts.

Do you think The Magic of Reality needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

no

A book for all who want to live in reality

Richard Dawkins is a genius. He is targeting one of the greatest problems in "modern" society. That is peoples continued love of mythology. Some of which may make great bedtime stories, but are lousy guidelines to live your life by. Which is in fact what hundreds of millions of people do.