A Little History of Science (Little Histories) by [William Bynum]
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William F. Bynum
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A Little History of Science (Little Histories) Kindle Edition
by William Bynum (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 153 ratings
Part of: Little Histories (9 Books)
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Print length
271 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Yale University Press
Publication date
October 15, 2012
A spirited volume on the great adventures of science throughout history, for curious readers of all ages
“In Mr. Bynum’s telling, a little history goes a long way.”—Alan Hirshfeld, Wall Street Journal
For readers of all ages, this inviting book tells a great adventure story: the history of science. It takes readers to the stars through the telescope, as the sun replaces the earth at the center of our universe. It digs beneath the surface of the planet, charts the evolution of chemistry's periodic table, introduces the physics that explain electricity, gravity, and the structure of atoms. It recounts the scientific quest that revealed the DNA molecule and opened unimagined new vistas for exploration.
Focusing on the stories of scientists from Hippocrates and Galen to Marie Curie and Einstein, A Little History of Science traces the march of science through the centuries. William Bynum opens a window on the exciting and unpredictable nature of scientific activity and describes the uproar that may ensue when scientific findings challenge established ideas.
With delightful illustr
“In Mr. Bynum’s telling, a little history goes a long way.”—Alan Hirshfeld, Wall Street Journal
For readers of all ages, this inviting book tells a great adventure story: the history of science. It takes readers to the stars through the telescope, as the sun replaces the earth at the center of our universe. It digs beneath the surface of the planet, charts the evolution of chemistry's periodic table, introduces the physics that explain electricity, gravity, and the structure of atoms. It recounts the scientific quest that revealed the DNA molecule and opened unimagined new vistas for exploration.
Focusing on the stories of scientists from Hippocrates and Galen to Marie Curie and Einstein, A Little History of Science traces the march of science through the centuries. William Bynum opens a window on the exciting and unpredictable nature of scientific activity and describes the uproar that may ensue when scientific findings challenge established ideas.
With delightful illustr
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Following A Little History of the World, by E. H. Gombrich (2005), which was a translation of a 1935 German original, Yale has replicated that book’s approach in titles about language, philosophy, and now, science. In 40 short chapters adorned with whimsical illustrations in woodcut style, Bynum proceeds from counting to cosmology. A professor of medicine, Bynum provides numerous glimpses into the advancement of human health through précis of particular theories and discoveries associated with famous names, starting with Hippocrates and Galen, including such others as Paracelsus and William Harvey, and finishing with Louis Pasteur and modern antibiotic pharaceuticals. Noting biographical details of the scientists mentioned, such as the solitary personality of Isaac Newton, Bynum connects their characters to whatever scientific mystery piqued their curiosity. In the process, he often approaches a topic by extrapolating from a common experience, as from bird-watching to dinosaurs. A super-accessible introduction to science. --Gilbert Taylor --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Author
A Conversation with William Bynum
Q: Why did you write this book?
A: I was charmed by Gombrich's Little History of the World and thought I would like to do something like it for my grandchildren Alex and Peter. I used to teach the history of science and thought what a wonderful story it could make, to start at the beginning with the stargazers in Babylon and come up to the computer age of today. People from time immemorial, in all cultures, have thought about such things as why the sun rises and sets, how a hen's egg develops into a new chick, and why we fall ill and might be made well.
Q: What are the great turning points—for you—in the history of science?
A: The invention of the telescope and the microscope, which allowed people to do science on things that you couldn't even see with your naked eye.
Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, which changed the way we see the living world and offered us the chance to delve into the secrets of life. Einstein's theories of relativity, which opened up the universe to new interpretations.
The coming of the modern computer, which enabled scientists to tackle questions in fields as diverse as the human genome and climate change that would have been impossible a couple of generations ago.
Q: What are the major themes of your book?
A: My book has only one theme: science as a human endeavor to understand the world. The history of science is a journey through time, illuminated on the way by great thinkers, adept experimenters, and people of enlarged curiosity. Understanding that journey tells us something about who we are as human beings. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Bynum's lively narrative . . . certainly delivers on his opening line: 'Science is special.'" ---Kirkus Starred Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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About the Author
William F. Bynum is the author or coauthor of several published works, including Science and the Practice of Medicine in the Nineteenth Century, Great Discoveries in Medicine, and The History of Medicine: A Very Short Introduction.
Jonathan Cowley is a British voice actor who calls Los Angeles home. He has received AudioFile Earphones Awards for his narration of The Science of Evil by Simon Baron-Cohen, The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart, and The Angry Chef's Guide to Spotting Bullsh*t in the World of Food by Anthony Warner. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Product details
ASIN : B009JBPXU8
Publisher : Yale University Press (October 15, 2012)
Publication date : October 15, 2012
Language : English
File size : 1051 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 271 pages
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Customer Reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars 153 ratings
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Top reviews from the United States
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Susan schroeder
5.0 out of 5 stars Refresher from school days
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2019
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I recently retired. For the past 40 years I’ve been busy raising kids, working, etc. This book was a great refresher for things I learned or should have learned durning my school years, plus updates of more modern times. It was technical but easy enough to read and understand for the layman.
Really enjoyed it. Thirsty for more learning now!
2 people found this helpful
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The Bookworm Sailor
5.0 out of 5 stars How did he do it?
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2017
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It is amazing how well this massive topic is covered on 40 chapters of 6 pages each. Very accessible language, presented in a way that I think the non-scientist will find comprehensible and interesting. Although this is presumably intended as bait to pique interest in a young non-specialist, I enjoyed every bit of it (I have tertiary arts and sciences background) and I'm sure an intelligent and inquisitive 12-year old would love it too.
3 people found this helpful
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OreofeOluwakiitan
4.0 out of 5 stars A Little History of Science, a big beautiful further education for me
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2019
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Ha! What a book, an eye opener. Lots of things I didn't know about numbers, medicine, astronomy, etc. This is a book I picked up in solidarity with our son to encourage him in a particular course and it turned out to be a very illuminating and educating material for me in particular. I find myself going back to this book again and again. I have even cited it in my new book released April 2019. Thank you.
2 people found this helpful
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Dilettante
5.0 out of 5 stars How the world works? Find out in this very easily readable book
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2017
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With a degree in physics many decades ago. This was a wonderful review – putting everything together. It is interesting that through the ages people tried to make sense of the world around us. From observing the stars with primitive instruments to discovering that there are different gases in the atmosphere etc.
2 people found this helpful
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Globe
5.0 out of 5 stars 13 year old loves it
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2019
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Son is a huge history geek and loved little history of the world and US. Wasn't sure how he'd like this one, but he's enjoyed it quite a bit.
One person found this helpful
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Javier Sierra
1.0 out of 5 stars Muy Malo
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2018
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Muy poca profundidad en los temas tratados y demasiado cortos, más de lo esperado. El título podría ser: A very short history of science.
2 people found this helpful
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Ursula
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2017
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Excellent review of science!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Seller
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2016
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The book is as good as it does, even better than I expected. So Pleased with this great book. Thank guys.
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Mike
2.0 out of 5 stars Too simplistic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2021
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This book is way too simplistic. As a scientist myself, I was expecting a neat recap of much of what I already knew. Instead, it is written for a young audience with very little existing knowledge base. If you are older than 10 this book is really not for you.
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ED Quinton
5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect gift for young teenagers.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2015
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Very easy to read and interesting for a non scientific layman but above all excellent and entertaining reading for young people. It's written as a parallel to Gombrich's 'A Little History of the World' which is also very well worth reading.
2 people found this helpful
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