The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

By: Thomas S. Kuhn

Narrated by: Dennis Holland

A good book may have the power to change the way we see the world, but a great book actually becomes part of our daily consciousness, pervading our thinking to the point that we take it for granted, and we forget how provocative and challenging its ideas once were - and still are. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions is that kind of book. When it was first published in 1962, it was a landmark event in the history and philosophy of science. Fifty years later, it still has many lessons to teach.

With The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Kuhn challenged long-standing linear notions of scientific progress, arguing that transformative ideas don't arise from the day-to-day, gradual process of experimentation and data accumulation but that the revolutions in science, those breakthrough moments that disrupt accepted thinking and offer unanticipated ideas, occur outside of "normal science", as he called it. Though Kuhn was writing when physics ruled the sciences, his ideas on how scientific revolutions bring order to the anomalies that amass over time in research experiments are still instructive in our biotech age.

Note: This new edition of Kuhn's essential work in the history of science includes an insightful introduction by Ian Hacking, which clarifies terms popularized by Kuhn, including paradigm and incommensurability, and applies Kuhn's ideas to the science of today.

©1996 The University of Chicago (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A landmark in intellectual history which has attracted attention far beyond its own immediate field." ( Science)

"Perhaps the best explanation of [the] process of discovery." ( New York Times Book Review)

Unpleasant reading of a stellar book

What did you like best about The Structure of Scientific Revolutions? What did you like least?

The performance is lacking. The reading is much too slow and the intonation clumsy. I'm going to look for a better audio version of this world-changing book.

What didn’t you like about Dennis Holland’s performance?

Slow; clumsy intonation.

good book. poor narration

Good book. Wealth of ideas and prospective. I found the narrator to be fast paced.

Secrets of the Modern Science revolution.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Structure of Scientific Revolutions to be better than the print version?

This is where you learn where it all started. This is the basic to modern science theory. it is a great read and listening is even better.

Enlightening, but sometimes too detailed

This book changed my understanding not only of the process of producing new knowledge, but also the human psychological drama that provides both the energy to propel and resist progress. I would highly recommend this book anyone who intends to contribute to normal science as well as challenge science status quo and institutions.

Interesting for Anyone

This book was very engaging. Its combination of philosophy, history, and science is very interesting and at about just the right amount of depth.

I don’t think any prior training in these subjects is necessary to grasp Kuhn’s thesis and arguments. Furthermore, the book is often read more as a story and makes the history of science very interesting even to someone who generally finds science courses very boring such as I do.

For those who already have a sense of Kuhn’s “paradigms,” reading this book will still be worthwhile to gain a more concrete view on the structure of the sciences and paradigm shifts.

Lucid performance of a remarkable book

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

This book is a required read for anyone interested in the history and philosophy of science. Dennis Holland's excellent articulation makes this edition of SSR a great addition to your audio book library.

a classic about scientific thinking

and highly worth listening to.
certainly worthwhile to listen more than one time. Kuhn's concept is one of the basics of modern time scientific approaches.

A new paradigm in thinking

This monumental essay by Thomas Kuhn is the book that introduced us to the concept of paradigm shifts. Kuhn's writing and logic can be challenging. His sentences are not short and simple. However, the reader does a masterful job of reading, and he helps the content come through. I bought this to listen to while I followed along in the printed book. I read it years ago, but never understood it like I do now. This is a superbly read book about a difficult concept -- and worth every minute and Excedrin.

A Classic.

This is a must read for anyone interested in science, and in particular, the philosophy of science. This book is so well regarded that there is little I can say to add. Also, the reader was excellent. I would also suggest reading/listening to this before other works on the philosophy of science, as they will refer to this work often, and you are better off having it under your belt before investigating other works.

classic

Mandatory reading for all scientists who want to understand the context of their chosen career.