 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | A delight for the casual reader, yet so complete and wide-ranging that science buffs and students will welcome it, The Science Book encapsulates centuries of scientific thought in one richly illustrated volume. Natural phenomena, revolutionary inventions, and the most up-to-date investigations are explained in detailed text, and 2,000 vivid illustrationsincluding 3-D graphics and pictogramsmake the information even more accessible and amazing to discover.
The Science Book offers both a general overview of topics for the browsing reader and more specific information for those seeking deeper insight into a particular subject. Six major sections, ranging from the universe and planet Earth to biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, encompass everything from microscopic life to nuclear powerwith particular attention given to subjects in the news today, like climate change and genetic engineering. The innovative organization allows for quick reference, while numerous fact boxes and cross-references emphasize the many links among modern scientific fields. Visual elements make even the most involved discussions easy to understand. The successes of National Geographic’s Visual History of the World and The Knowledge Book underscore the market for accessible resources such as this. Attractively priced for gift-giving and loaded with essential information, The Science Book will shine as an indispensable family reference. |
Average Customer Rating:   National GeographicA fairly decent Sciencebook A decent synopsis of many aspects of science. Something to whet the appetite for further study. Good explanations and illustrations help to get the ideas across. Interesting thus far... I went into a local B&N intending to buy another physics book, but after just finishing Brian Green's The Elegant Universe, my brain could use a bit of rest. lol.
I agree with the other commenter who said, this book gives you the facts but plays it safe. The National Geographic' name played a big part in me buying the book. But I did noticed the authors all had PDa. Although they should also have mentioned what schools they came from, but I guess that's nitpicking.
Call me paranoid, but I'm always worried some Creationist from the sales or editing department will manage to influence the authors. On page 20 under the category "The Universe" the last paragraph talks about the Big Bang and Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and after just saying "Most scientist have accepted the Big Bang model" it ends the section with, "There may be other valid models which are also consistent with observational data." And then abruptly ends. Kinda weird, no? What other valid models are they referring too? Now you got me all curious. :)
The next section goes pretty similar. It talks about the red shift and actually goes into really good detail on how the Redshift is such strong evidence for the Big Bang, but there it goes ending the section with "So far, however, no generally accepted explanation for the redshift has been found." --
Last time I checked wikipedia, the explanation was called "the doppler effect."
So yeah, some parts a are little weird. However, it makes the main points very clear (big thumbs up) but sprinkles in only a dash of confusion. I guess that's the authors sneaky way of getting Critical Thinking back into our heads.
Overall I'm giving this book two thumbs up and five gold stars. The problems I've encountered in the areas I deem most important pass with an A-. Also I wouldn't buy this book for a young highschooler, unless they are REALLY into science. lol. The author does a decent job of making all the facts entertaining, but don't fool yourself... It ain't no Harry Potter.
I suggest this book to a person who really is into this sort of thing. Or maybe use it as a coffee table book. Its easy to flip through, has lots of pictures and quick facts. It's like Wikipedia for science. It's a science book for teens, and an overview for adults. It touches upon the basic facts of the wonderful world of science. It doesn't go into depth on every subject in this 421-page book or else it will be a lot heavier. It doesn't have all the facts you may want to have in this book. It left out a lot of information. It is not a textbook. It could be called Wikipedia Science. It is still a great book, wonderful color pictures, brief but still good facts in this book. The Book to Read to Learn and Enjoy Science Another title for this review could be: Calling All Homeschool Students and Parents: Here is Your Science Book!
After homeschooling my son for eight years, I love to discover books like this one from National Geographic. This book is a treasure for homeschooling families that is useful for children of all ages. Yes, all ages. Four-, five-, and six- year olds will love paging through The Science Book, and I can guarantee that their interest will be piqued! One child may be fascinated by space travel; another by the story of dinosaurs. Of course a five-year-old may not understand the fine points of these subjects, but she (or he) will be curious, delighted, and very willing to have Mom or Dad read out loud from this book as she looks at the pictures. Homeschooled high school students will find the sections on Chemistry (Organic and Inorganic) and Physics/Technology to be comprehensive, with enough detail and explanations for a firm grasp of the subject.
The Science Book includes a substantial section on Mathematics, including Classical Mathematics, Analytical Geometry, Calculus, Probability, and Pure and Applied Mathematics. The inclusion of mathematics, the science based on abstract ideas "created by logical thought processes" emphasizes the interdisciplinary approach that is intrinsic to the study of science in the 21st century.
The Science Book makes fascinating reading for anyone, not just students learning at home. In The Science Book, students in school will find the very same concepts they study in science class, but this book offers a clear overview and in a concise, easy-to-understand layout. This book can enhance understanding of the sciences taught in middle and high schools.
If you have a curious mind and want a quick yet full answer for your science questions, then The Science Book should be on your bookshelf. For me, science always has made fascinating reading, and I find this book to be as informative as it is enjoyable. yeahh, right..... Very ambitious title is not connected to book itself and I guess my world is much different from that of National Geografic staff. They use only safe facts which is very rare in real life and give science on a middle school level and I am not in middle school.The book has plenty of illustrations and they are on a safe side too. By contrast Wikipedia is much better reading and its free. |  |
Select button not working? 
