Review: The Canon

I just finished The Canon last night, and ... whoa. Great book.



The premise of The Canon is simple: most people have very limited knowledge or interest in science. That frightens and saddens me (and the author, Natalie Angier). To solve it, she has written a book to provide the basics of science and scientific thought. It's not anything that you wouldn't get from a decent high school or college education in the sciences, but many people don't have even that. However, her explanations are phenomenal -- she helped me understand a few concepts that I never did get throughout university. I'm certain that specialists in the various fields my quibble at her "simplifications", but it's a good basic grounding in the current knowledge in a wide variety of fields.



The book is divided into nine chapters:

• Thinking scientifically - one of my personal pet peeves. Too many people can't seem to do this, and fall prey to pseudoscience and quackery.
  
• Probabilities - I've met so many people, including some of the smartest people I've met that can't grasp randomness and odds. I guess that's one of the reasons lotteries and casinos do so well.
  
• Calibration
  
• Physics
  
• Chemistry
• Evolutionary Biology - my biggest pet peeve, covered much more lightly (and approachably) than The Ancestor's Tale
  
• Molecular Biology
• Geology
• Astronomy

The writing. Oh, the writing. I have heard the term "effervescent" used to describe writing in the past, but never really understood it. Until now. The writing in this book dances - it makes me feel like I should never sully paper or phosphors with my drek ever again. Ms. Angier covers complex topics with light, love and beautiful prose. (Although I have to admit a few times I felt it did reach the "overly precious" level)



As far as I'm concerned, this book should be required reading for all university and/or high school students. And their parents.

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