National Geographic Science Everything Things

National Geographic Science of Everything: How Things Work in Our World (Hardcover) Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program (What's this?) I'm not usually a big fan of wide-ranging books that survey a bunch of topics with a high-level introduction in a page or two each. I much prefer single-topic volumes that delve deeply into whatever the subject matter is, whether a specific aircraft, space mission, battle campaign or scientific field, such as quantum mechanics. In the past, I have never had any interest in "how it works" books or others of that ilk. However, for some reason National Geographic's "Science of Everything," subtitled "How Things Work in Our World," piqued my interest when it became available as a Vine selection, so I figured I'd give it a try.

Well, I must say it's not too bad. I figured it would be very superficial in its coverage of literally hundreds of everyday scientific subjects, and, of course, it is. It could hardly be otherwise, given that it is one self-contained volume rather than an encyclopedia. I didn't count the number of topics it covers, but typically each page contains at least one, and often two or three. So I figure "Science of Everything" describes more than 600 scientific subjects in its 400 thick, glossy, full-color pages. Brevity is thus mandatory, and superficiality inevitable.

But that doesn't mean the information is not interesting. I thought I knew a lot about general and specific science, but "Science of Everything" taught me something new on many topics I thought I understood. Masterfully aided by NatGeo's trademark exquisite photography and many vivid three-dimensional cutaway CGI renderings of everyday technology like microwave ovens, CD players and laser printers, "Science of Everything" brings its topics to life with rare clarity and lucidity. This book encourages readers to devour it from cover-to-cover rather than just reading selected topics.

I'm very pleased with "Science of Everything." It does an excellent job of surveying the science and technology landscape that is so vital in everyday life, and perhaps it will even encourage some readers to dig more deeply into topics that interest them. Dare one hope that it could even be a tool to help improve the dismal standard of scientific literacy in America? "Science of Everything" certainly makes modern science and technology approachable--the next step is for it to gain the widest possible readership, especially among students and young people (which is most likely its target audience anyway). It definitely won't appeal to scientific purists, but I think its a pretty good introduction for general audiences.


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