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爻亘毓丞 兀毓賲丿丞 賱賱毓賱賲: 禺賮丞 丕賱孬賱噩 丕賱賲匕賴賱丞 賵賲賮丕噩丌鬲 毓賱賲賷丞 兀禺乇賶
賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱賯氐賷乇 丕賱乇卮賷賯貙 賷兀禺匕賳丕 芦噩賵賳 噩乇賷亘賷賳禄 亘亘乇丕毓鬲賴 丕賱賲毓鬲丕丿丞 賮賷 噩賵賱丞賺 賳鬲毓乇賻賾賮 賮賷賴丕 毓賱賶 爻亘毓 丨賯丕卅賯賻 毓賱賲賷丞賺 兀爻丕爻賷丞 賷乇鬲賰夭 毓賱賷賴丕 賵噩賵丿賳丕 匕丕鬲賴. 賷購毓丿 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賵丕噩賻賴丞賸 賲毓 丕賱賲賳胤賯 丕賱爻賱賷賲貨 賮丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 丕賱氐賱亘丞貙 毓賱賶 爻亘賷賱 丕賱賲孬丕賱貙 賴賷 賮賷 兀睾賱亘 鬲賰賵賷賳賴丕 毓亘丕乇丞 毓賳 賮囟丕亍賺 禺丕賵賺貙 毓賱賶 毓賰爻 賲丕 鬲購氐賵賽賾乇 賱賳丕 丨賵丕爻購賾賳丕貙 賮賰賷賮 鬲鬲賲丕爻賰 賲毓賸丕 廿匕賳責 賰匕賱賰 賷亘丿賵 兀賳賴 賱丕 賵噩賵丿賻 賱賲丕 賯丿 賳爻賲賽賾賷賴 芦賯賵丞 丕賱丨賷丕丞禄貙 賮賰賷賮 賳賮乇賽賾賯 廿匕賳 亘賷賳 丕賱賰丕卅賳丕鬲 丕賱丨賷丞 賵丕賱噩賲丕丿丕鬲責 賵賱賲丕匕丕 賷胤賮賵 丕賱孬賱噩 賮賵賯 丕賱賲丕亍 亘賷賳賲丕 賱丕 鬲胤賮賵 兀睾賱亘購 丕賱賲賵丕丿賽賾 丕賱氐賱亘丞責 乇亘賲丕 鬲馗賳 兀賳賴 賱賷爻 孬賲丞 丨丕噩丞賹 賱胤乇丨 賲孬賱 賴匕丕 丕賱爻丐丕賱 賲賳 丕賱兀爻丕爻貙 賱賰賳 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賴賷 兀賳賴 賱賵 賱賲 賷胤賿賮購 丕賱孬賱噩貙 賱賻賲丕 馗賴乇鬲 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賲胤賱賯賸丕 毓賱賶 賰賵賰亘 丕賱兀乇囟. 賱賯丿 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱廿噩丕亘丕鬲 毓賳 賴匕賴 丕賱兀爻卅賱丞 賲丿賴卮丞賸 賮賷 夭賲賳 丕賰鬲卮丕賮賴丕貙 賵賱丕 賷夭丕賱 亘毓囟賴丕 賲丿賴卮賸丕 丨鬲賶 丕賱賷賵賲. 賱賳賳胤賱賯賿 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱噩賵賱丞 廿匕賳 賱賳鬲毓乇賻賾賮 毓賱賶 鬲賱賰 丕賱丨賯丕卅賯 丕賱爻亘毓 丕賱賲丿賴卮丞.
- GenresScienceNonfictionPhysics
108 pages, ebook
First published September 24, 2020
14 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
John Gribbin
375听books829听followersJohn R. Gribbin is a British science writer, an astrophysicist, and a visiting fellow in astronomy at the University of Sussex. His writings include quantum physics, human evolution, climate change, global warming, the origins of the universe, and biographies of famous scientists. He also writes science fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 12, 2020
I was highly sceptical of the very short hardback science book form when Carlo Rovelli started the trend with his woffly Seven Brief Lessons, however, I've been proved wrong - the last couple of years we have seen a string of books that pack bags of science in a digestible form into a small space. John Gribbin has already proved himself a master of this approach with his Six Impossible Things, and he's done it again with Seven Pillars.
The title echoes that of T. E. Lawrence's feels-even-longer-than-it-is Seven Pillars of Wisdom, but Gribbin's book is that volume's antithesis - light, to the point and hugely informative. Strictly speaking, perhaps this book should have been titled Seven Pillars of Life, as its linking thread is seven scientific occurrences needed for life to exist. As Gribbin makes it clear, these were all ideas that when first put forward were considered unlikely contenders, but now have mostly become mainstream.
The seven ideas span the nature of atoms, what stars are and how they work, the chemical nature of life, the existence of organic molecules in abundance in the galaxy, the resonant surprise that leads to the relatively abundant formation of carbon, the genetic code and the nature of hydrogen bonding. Each of these contributes to the existence of life, and each provides a fascinating story in the history of science. Some of these stories are more widely known than others, but even where they are familiar, Gribbin brings in small and delightful insights that are less familiar to the reader of popular science. It's also the case that Gribbin provides particularly clear insights into what can be relatively technical topics, for example in describing Fred Hoyle's contribution to our understanding of the way that stars created the elements (and rightly pointing out how much Hoyle should have had a Nobel Prize for his efforts).
Gribbin bookends the story with thoughts on how relatively unique the intelligent life on Earth might be in the galaxy. In his opening prologue he introduces Giordano Bruno and his idea of multiple worlds inhabited by intelligent life, teasing us with the prospect that there may be many such planets out there... only to rein this concept in at the end of the book, in the face of the narrow squeaks life on Earth has gone through to end up with intelligent lifeforms, making it seem more of an unlikely occurrence.
That approach is fun, but does give me my only slight moan about the book, which is that Bruno is given too much credit. Gribbin does not fall into the trap of some science writers of setting Bruno up as a saint, martyred for his scientific genius. However, he does tell us that Bruno was the first to identify the stars as other suns with their own inhabited systems - but Bruno seems to have taken this from Nicholas of Cusa, who lived over 100 years earlier. Similarly, though Gribbin recognises that the main heresy charges Bruno faced were purely theological, he tells us that 'speculating about the plurality of worlds' was one of the charges, where the actual point at issue was 'a plurality of worlds and their eternity', the second part being the important bit as it challenged the idea of the creation.
This is a very minor issue though, and has no impact on the effectiveness of the book as whole. It packs in the science, tells an intriguing story and is beautifully packaged. (In fact, for the price differential, it's well worth going for the hardback as this is a lovely book to hold and read.) Deserves to do very well indeed.
The title echoes that of T. E. Lawrence's feels-even-longer-than-it-is Seven Pillars of Wisdom, but Gribbin's book is that volume's antithesis - light, to the point and hugely informative. Strictly speaking, perhaps this book should have been titled Seven Pillars of Life, as its linking thread is seven scientific occurrences needed for life to exist. As Gribbin makes it clear, these were all ideas that when first put forward were considered unlikely contenders, but now have mostly become mainstream.
The seven ideas span the nature of atoms, what stars are and how they work, the chemical nature of life, the existence of organic molecules in abundance in the galaxy, the resonant surprise that leads to the relatively abundant formation of carbon, the genetic code and the nature of hydrogen bonding. Each of these contributes to the existence of life, and each provides a fascinating story in the history of science. Some of these stories are more widely known than others, but even where they are familiar, Gribbin brings in small and delightful insights that are less familiar to the reader of popular science. It's also the case that Gribbin provides particularly clear insights into what can be relatively technical topics, for example in describing Fred Hoyle's contribution to our understanding of the way that stars created the elements (and rightly pointing out how much Hoyle should have had a Nobel Prize for his efforts).
Gribbin bookends the story with thoughts on how relatively unique the intelligent life on Earth might be in the galaxy. In his opening prologue he introduces Giordano Bruno and his idea of multiple worlds inhabited by intelligent life, teasing us with the prospect that there may be many such planets out there... only to rein this concept in at the end of the book, in the face of the narrow squeaks life on Earth has gone through to end up with intelligent lifeforms, making it seem more of an unlikely occurrence.
That approach is fun, but does give me my only slight moan about the book, which is that Bruno is given too much credit. Gribbin does not fall into the trap of some science writers of setting Bruno up as a saint, martyred for his scientific genius. However, he does tell us that Bruno was the first to identify the stars as other suns with their own inhabited systems - but Bruno seems to have taken this from Nicholas of Cusa, who lived over 100 years earlier. Similarly, though Gribbin recognises that the main heresy charges Bruno faced were purely theological, he tells us that 'speculating about the plurality of worlds' was one of the charges, where the actual point at issue was 'a plurality of worlds and their eternity', the second part being the important bit as it challenged the idea of the creation.
This is a very minor issue though, and has no impact on the effectiveness of the book as whole. It packs in the science, tells an intriguing story and is beautifully packaged. (In fact, for the price differential, it's well worth going for the hardback as this is a lovely book to hold and read.) Deserves to do very well indeed.
November 22, 2022
賯丕賱 賰丕乇賱 爻丕睾丕賳: "丕賱賮賴賲 賲賮乇丨."
亘丿兀 丕賱胤乇賷賯 亘爻丐丕賱 兀賵 亘賲毓賱賵賲丞 賲丕 毓乇賮鬲賴丕 貙 賱賷賮鬲丨 丕賱亘丕亘 兀賲丕賲 兀爻卅賱丞 賵兀爻卅賱丞 兀禺乇賶. 賵兀賳丕 賮賷 丨丕噩丞 廿賱賶 丕賱賲夭賷丿 賲賳 丕賱賮賴賲 賵丕賱鬲卮賵賯 賱賱賲毓乇賮丞. 賵賰賱賲丕 毓乇賮鬲 兀丿乇賰 廿賳賷 賱丕 兀毓乇賮 卮賷卅賸丕 賰賲丕 賯丕賱 爻賯乇丕胤. 賵賰賱賲丕 賮賴賲鬲 貙 亘乇鬲賯賷.
-賲賳 兀賷賳 兀鬲賶 丕賱匕賴亘 廿賱賶 亘賳爻鬲禺丿賲賴 丨丕賱賷賸丕 賮賷 氐賳毓 禺賵丕鬲賲 兀賵 爻賱丕爻賱責
-賱賲丕匕丕 賷胤賮賵 丕賱孬賱噩 賮賵賯 丕賱賲賷丕賴責 賮賴匕丕 兀賲乇 睾乇賷亘.
-賲丕 賴賷 (丕賱賮乇囟賷丞 丕賱匕乇賷丞) 丕賱鬲賷 賯丕賱 毓賳賴丕 乇賷鬲卮丕乇丿 賮丕賷賳賲丕賳貙 廿賳賴丕 噩賲賱丞 氐睾賷乇丞 鬲丨鬲賵賷 毓賱賶 兀賰亘乇 賯丿乇 賲賳 丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲責
(爻亘毓丞 兀毓賲丿丞 賱賱毓賱賲) 賲賳 兀丨丿孬 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 丕賱亘爻賷胤丞 賮賷 胤乇丨賴丕 賵睾賳賷丞 亘丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲 賱賭 噩賵賳 噩乇賷亘賷賳 丕賱氐丕丿乇丞 毓賳 賴賳丿丕賵賷. 毓丿丿 氐賮丨丕鬲賴 賯氐賷乇丞 賱賰賳賴 丿爻賲.
"賮毓賳丿 丕爻鬲乇噩丕毓 丕賱賲丕囟賷 貙 賲賳 丕賱爻賴賱 兀賳 鬲乇賶 賰賷賮 氐丕乇鬲 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 貙 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 賷賵賲賸丕 賲丕 賲賵囟毓 丕爻鬲賳賰丕乇 賵爻禺胤 貙 丨賯丕卅賯 賲賯亘賵賱丞."
賮賲賳 禺賱丕賱 賴匕丕 丕賱賲毓賳賶 貙 毓乇囟 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲賳 丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 睾賷乇 賲賯亘賵賱丞 賲賳 賯亘賱 賵兀氐亘丨鬲 亘毓丿 匕賱賰 賲賳 兀賴賲 兀毓賲丿丞 賱賱毓賱賲 兀賵 爻鬲氐亘丨 貙 賰賱賴丕 賲乇鬲亘胤丞 亘賲賵囟賵毓 賵丕丨丿 賵賴賵 丕賱賰賵賳 賵賵噩賵丿賳丕.
賷鬲賳丕賵賱 賰賱 毓賲賵丿 亘丕賱鬲賮氐賷賱 賲賳 丨賷孬 賲毓賳丕賴 賵鬲丕乇賷禺賴 賵賲賳 兀賵賱 賲丕 丕賰鬲卮賮賴 賵丕賱鬲胤賵乇丕鬲 亘毓丿 匕賱賰 毓亘乇 丕賱賯乇賵賳 貙 賷卮乇丨 亘兀爻賱賵亘 亘爻賷胤 貙 賲賲賷夭 賵噩賲賷賱.
賰鬲丕亘 賲賳 佟贍侉 氐賮丨丞 賵賱賰賳 賲賱卅 亘賰賲 賲賳 丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲 丕賱囟禺賲丞. 賱丕 鬲賰賮賷 賯乇丕亍丞 賵丕丨丿丞 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賷 貙 爻兀丨鬲丕噩 廿賱賶 廿毓丕丿丞 賯乇丕卅鬲賴 賷賲賰賳 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 賲乇丞. 賰賱 毓賲賵丿 丕賱賵丕丨丿 賲丨鬲丕噩 賷賯乇兀賴 賵賷毓賷丿賴.
兀卮毓乇 亘賳賵毓 賲賳 丕賱卮睾賮 賵丕賱鬲鬲賵賯 賲毓 賴匕丕 丕賱賳賵毓 賲賳 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 貙 丕賱噩賲賷賱丞. 賮賷 賰賱 賲乇丞 亘爻鬲賮賷丿 賵兀毓乇賮 賲毓賱賵賲丞 賱賲 兀賰賳 兀毓乇賮賴丕 賵賴匕丕 賲賲鬲毓.馃馃尭
賷禺鬲賲 噩賵賳 噩乇賷亘賷賳 賰鬲丕亘賴 亘爻丐丕賱 賴賱 賳丨賳 賱賵丨丿賳丕 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰賵賳責 賵賰丕賳鬲 廿噩丕亘鬲賴 賲孬賷乇丞 賮賷 胤乇賷賯丞 毓乇囟賴丕.
亘丿兀 丕賱胤乇賷賯 亘爻丐丕賱 兀賵 亘賲毓賱賵賲丞 賲丕 毓乇賮鬲賴丕 貙 賱賷賮鬲丨 丕賱亘丕亘 兀賲丕賲 兀爻卅賱丞 賵兀爻卅賱丞 兀禺乇賶. 賵兀賳丕 賮賷 丨丕噩丞 廿賱賶 丕賱賲夭賷丿 賲賳 丕賱賮賴賲 賵丕賱鬲卮賵賯 賱賱賲毓乇賮丞. 賵賰賱賲丕 毓乇賮鬲 兀丿乇賰 廿賳賷 賱丕 兀毓乇賮 卮賷卅賸丕 賰賲丕 賯丕賱 爻賯乇丕胤. 賵賰賱賲丕 賮賴賲鬲 貙 亘乇鬲賯賷.
-賲賳 兀賷賳 兀鬲賶 丕賱匕賴亘 廿賱賶 亘賳爻鬲禺丿賲賴 丨丕賱賷賸丕 賮賷 氐賳毓 禺賵丕鬲賲 兀賵 爻賱丕爻賱責
-賱賲丕匕丕 賷胤賮賵 丕賱孬賱噩 賮賵賯 丕賱賲賷丕賴責 賮賴匕丕 兀賲乇 睾乇賷亘.
-賲丕 賴賷 (丕賱賮乇囟賷丞 丕賱匕乇賷丞) 丕賱鬲賷 賯丕賱 毓賳賴丕 乇賷鬲卮丕乇丿 賮丕賷賳賲丕賳貙 廿賳賴丕 噩賲賱丞 氐睾賷乇丞 鬲丨鬲賵賷 毓賱賶 兀賰亘乇 賯丿乇 賲賳 丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲責
(爻亘毓丞 兀毓賲丿丞 賱賱毓賱賲) 賲賳 兀丨丿孬 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 丕賱亘爻賷胤丞 賮賷 胤乇丨賴丕 賵睾賳賷丞 亘丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲 賱賭 噩賵賳 噩乇賷亘賷賳 丕賱氐丕丿乇丞 毓賳 賴賳丿丕賵賷. 毓丿丿 氐賮丨丕鬲賴 賯氐賷乇丞 賱賰賳賴 丿爻賲.
"賮毓賳丿 丕爻鬲乇噩丕毓 丕賱賲丕囟賷 貙 賲賳 丕賱爻賴賱 兀賳 鬲乇賶 賰賷賮 氐丕乇鬲 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 貙 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 賷賵賲賸丕 賲丕 賲賵囟毓 丕爻鬲賳賰丕乇 賵爻禺胤 貙 丨賯丕卅賯 賲賯亘賵賱丞."
賮賲賳 禺賱丕賱 賴匕丕 丕賱賲毓賳賶 貙 毓乇囟 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲賳 丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 睾賷乇 賲賯亘賵賱丞 賲賳 賯亘賱 賵兀氐亘丨鬲 亘毓丿 匕賱賰 賲賳 兀賴賲 兀毓賲丿丞 賱賱毓賱賲 兀賵 爻鬲氐亘丨 貙 賰賱賴丕 賲乇鬲亘胤丞 亘賲賵囟賵毓 賵丕丨丿 賵賴賵 丕賱賰賵賳 賵賵噩賵丿賳丕.
賷鬲賳丕賵賱 賰賱 毓賲賵丿 亘丕賱鬲賮氐賷賱 賲賳 丨賷孬 賲毓賳丕賴 賵鬲丕乇賷禺賴 賵賲賳 兀賵賱 賲丕 丕賰鬲卮賮賴 賵丕賱鬲胤賵乇丕鬲 亘毓丿 匕賱賰 毓亘乇 丕賱賯乇賵賳 貙 賷卮乇丨 亘兀爻賱賵亘 亘爻賷胤 貙 賲賲賷夭 賵噩賲賷賱.
賰鬲丕亘 賲賳 佟贍侉 氐賮丨丞 賵賱賰賳 賲賱卅 亘賰賲 賲賳 丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲 丕賱囟禺賲丞. 賱丕 鬲賰賮賷 賯乇丕亍丞 賵丕丨丿丞 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賷 貙 爻兀丨鬲丕噩 廿賱賶 廿毓丕丿丞 賯乇丕卅鬲賴 賷賲賰賳 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 賲乇丞. 賰賱 毓賲賵丿 丕賱賵丕丨丿 賲丨鬲丕噩 賷賯乇兀賴 賵賷毓賷丿賴.
兀卮毓乇 亘賳賵毓 賲賳 丕賱卮睾賮 賵丕賱鬲鬲賵賯 賲毓 賴匕丕 丕賱賳賵毓 賲賳 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 貙 丕賱噩賲賷賱丞. 賮賷 賰賱 賲乇丞 亘爻鬲賮賷丿 賵兀毓乇賮 賲毓賱賵賲丞 賱賲 兀賰賳 兀毓乇賮賴丕 賵賴匕丕 賲賲鬲毓.馃馃尭
賷禺鬲賲 噩賵賳 噩乇賷亘賷賳 賰鬲丕亘賴 亘爻丐丕賱 賴賱 賳丨賳 賱賵丨丿賳丕 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰賵賳責 賵賰丕賳鬲 廿噩丕亘鬲賴 賲孬賷乇丞 賮賷 胤乇賷賯丞 毓乇囟賴丕.
October 3, 2020
I love science books, I always have done. I'm especially drawn to the ones that seem informative but also seem like they won't bore me.
This book is exactly that. It's informative, it's interesting and its a great read. Overall, this book took me just over an hour to read because I was glued to it. The writing and content is easy to read and understand. I feel like I've learnt something, and my head isn't hurting because I couldn't understand the language.
This is a brilliant read for fans of science.
This book is exactly that. It's informative, it's interesting and its a great read. Overall, this book took me just over an hour to read because I was glued to it. The writing and content is easy to read and understand. I feel like I've learnt something, and my head isn't hurting because I couldn't understand the language.
This is a brilliant read for fans of science.
April 19, 2025
Biraz fazla s谋臒 ve b眉t眉nl眉kten uzak buldum.
June 16, 2021
This book is short and crisp. All the 7 pillar mentioned are ocean in itself and helps in navigating beauty of science.
1 -Pillar 1 - dedicated to significant features of atomic particles
2 Pillar 2- Suns composition , it's elements and how energy is generated in stars.
3 Pillar 3- How living things came - one beautiful description about experiment of Italian physicist Luigi Galvani mentioned.
Various story about how how chemists over a period combined different basic elements to form more complicated compound.
various mention of urea formation and science of fermentation by Buchner for which he won nobel prize
4 Pillar 4- Milky Way is a warehouse of raw ingredient of life.
Here Stanley Miller experiment showed how early atmosphere of our planet was developed.
Mentions of comet bought both water and life- atleast precursor of life down to earth.
5 Pillar 5-Carbon coincidence- How organic compounds are pivotal in shaping life on earth.
6 Pillar 6- How DNA, RNA, Protein & Nucleic acid are founding block for creation of human species.
Mentions about Erwin Schrodingers ' what is life' hypothesis.
Also mentions Discovery of DNA by Watson and crick
Significant features of RNA in transmitting information .
7 Pillar 7- significance of hydrogen bond - how it is so crucial letting ice floats in water; it allows large bodies of water even when temperature drops below freezing.
It is responsible for molecule of life.
1 -Pillar 1 - dedicated to significant features of atomic particles
2 Pillar 2- Suns composition , it's elements and how energy is generated in stars.
3 Pillar 3- How living things came - one beautiful description about experiment of Italian physicist Luigi Galvani mentioned.
Various story about how how chemists over a period combined different basic elements to form more complicated compound.
various mention of urea formation and science of fermentation by Buchner for which he won nobel prize
4 Pillar 4- Milky Way is a warehouse of raw ingredient of life.
Here Stanley Miller experiment showed how early atmosphere of our planet was developed.
Mentions of comet bought both water and life- atleast precursor of life down to earth.
5 Pillar 5-Carbon coincidence- How organic compounds are pivotal in shaping life on earth.
6 Pillar 6- How DNA, RNA, Protein & Nucleic acid are founding block for creation of human species.
Mentions about Erwin Schrodingers ' what is life' hypothesis.
Also mentions Discovery of DNA by Watson and crick
Significant features of RNA in transmitting information .
7 Pillar 7- significance of hydrogen bond - how it is so crucial letting ice floats in water; it allows large bodies of water even when temperature drops below freezing.
It is responsible for molecule of life.
February 19, 2023
For anyone wanting to understand the mysterious links between physics, chemistry, biology, the solar system and life itself, this is a book for you.
Presented as 7 short chapters (or 9 if you count the prologue and epilogue, which in a book this short are definitely candidates), John Gribbin guides us concisely from the unintuitive structure of an atom to how the building blocks for life are created throughout the universe and the biological engine of DNA.
Gribbin not only maintains a fascinating thread of how these are all connected, but also reveals how each of these Pillars are so finely balanced that it seems incredible that we are even here to see them.
This is primed to prompt further discussion on the Anthropic Principle as well as arguments from creationists who would say that there are simply too many coincidences to ignore, but Gribbin steers well clear of these and simply presents the facts.
I found the language very accessible, and I probably found the historical descriptions of the first few 'pillars' most interesting as they revealed the pace, ingenuity and sheer curiosity prevalent in science in the 19th and 20th centuries, and I am keen to explore this further.
I think you need a general breadth of appreciation of science - for me there is a definite hierarchy of interest with physics at the top, so some of the book did drag a little, but there was no doubting their place in the book overall.
In short, a wonderful book for showing high-school or university students how these fundamental things are connected to the big picture, and just as interesting to the grown-ups like me who are still trying to 'get it'. By the end I was actually wanting a bit more.
Presented as 7 short chapters (or 9 if you count the prologue and epilogue, which in a book this short are definitely candidates), John Gribbin guides us concisely from the unintuitive structure of an atom to how the building blocks for life are created throughout the universe and the biological engine of DNA.
Gribbin not only maintains a fascinating thread of how these are all connected, but also reveals how each of these Pillars are so finely balanced that it seems incredible that we are even here to see them.
This is primed to prompt further discussion on the Anthropic Principle as well as arguments from creationists who would say that there are simply too many coincidences to ignore, but Gribbin steers well clear of these and simply presents the facts.
I found the language very accessible, and I probably found the historical descriptions of the first few 'pillars' most interesting as they revealed the pace, ingenuity and sheer curiosity prevalent in science in the 19th and 20th centuries, and I am keen to explore this further.
I think you need a general breadth of appreciation of science - for me there is a definite hierarchy of interest with physics at the top, so some of the book did drag a little, but there was no doubting their place in the book overall.
In short, a wonderful book for showing high-school or university students how these fundamental things are connected to the big picture, and just as interesting to the grown-ups like me who are still trying to 'get it'. By the end I was actually wanting a bit more.
January 3, 2022
I learned a few things from this slender book, but I am not a trained scientist, so I usually do pick up some new things from science books. Just a couple of quibbles. One is that Gribben is no David Quammen - he does not do a great job of boiling difficult scientific concepts into layman's terminology. (Or maybe I am admittedly not the brightest bulb when it comes to science).
Take, for example, this corker: "The propylene oxide seen in clouds like Sagittarius B2 will have their chirality determined by the action of light*..." At the bottom of the page next to the the asterisk is this sentence: "For the technically minded, circularly polarised light."
You see what I mean.
Gribbin's editor also needs to do some fact checking. Take for example this assertion:
"... if all the DNA in all the cells in your body were stretched out ... and laid end to end, it would stretch along about 16 billion kilometres - more than a thousand times the distance of the Earth from the Sun."
That struck me as being wrong immediately and so I have checked and double checked and triple checked. The distance between our planet and its start is just shy of 150 million kms. If you multiply that by 100, you get 15 billion. It is more than 100 times the distance, not more than 1,000 times.
I don't do complicated physics, but I can do basic maths ...
Take, for example, this corker: "The propylene oxide seen in clouds like Sagittarius B2 will have their chirality determined by the action of light*..." At the bottom of the page next to the the asterisk is this sentence: "For the technically minded, circularly polarised light."
You see what I mean.
Gribbin's editor also needs to do some fact checking. Take for example this assertion:
"... if all the DNA in all the cells in your body were stretched out ... and laid end to end, it would stretch along about 16 billion kilometres - more than a thousand times the distance of the Earth from the Sun."
That struck me as being wrong immediately and so I have checked and double checked and triple checked. The distance between our planet and its start is just shy of 150 million kms. If you multiply that by 100, you get 15 billion. It is more than 100 times the distance, not more than 1,000 times.
I don't do complicated physics, but I can do basic maths ...
February 27, 2021
What a delight! A concise book that explains in a (mostly) comprehensible way how the beta sciences and scientists (try to) understand the world around us. If physics and chemistry were taught in this way in high school, it would be so much more relevant and fun for most. Big surplus: the book is very recent (2020) so you get up to speed on several scientific breakthroughs in just a couple of hours.
December 31, 2023
賰賲 丕卮鬲賯鬲 賱賯乇丕亍丞 賰鬲亘 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍!.. 賱賰賳 亘乇睾賲 丨賲丕爻賷 賮賷 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 廿賱丕 兀賳賷 亘毓丿 賲賳鬲氐賮 丕賱賮氐賱 丕賱兀賵賱 賵噩丿鬲 兀賳 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲鬲賵丕賱賶 賯丿 賯乇兀鬲賴丕 兀賵 卮丕賴丿鬲賴丕 賲賳 賯亘賱貙 賱賰賳賴丕 賮賷 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賯爻賲丞 廿賱賶 爻亘毓丞 賮氐賵賱 鬲賲孬賱 兀毓賲丿丞 乇卅賷爻賷丞 賱賱毓賱賲 丨丕賱賷賸丕貙 賵賱丕 兀乇賷丿 兀賳 兀馗賱賲 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賱賴匕丕 丕賱爻亘亘貙 賮丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賮賷丿 賮毓賱丕賸 賵爻賱爻 賮賷 丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 賵丕賱爻乇丿貙 賵爻賷卮噩毓賳賷 賱賯乇丕亍丞 丕賱賲夭賷丿 賱賳賮爻 丕賱賰丕鬲亘.
April 12, 2025
Brilliant!
A rundown of all the scientific main components/pillars necessary to explain life in the universe, in easy-to-read prose that is very understandable and digestable for the layman. The concepts are also laid out as kind of a scientific story, which for me increased excitement.
I warmly recommend it to you.
A rundown of all the scientific main components/pillars necessary to explain life in the universe, in easy-to-read prose that is very understandable and digestable for the layman. The concepts are also laid out as kind of a scientific story, which for me increased excitement.
I warmly recommend it to you.
June 30, 2022
A book that yet again showcased the gaps of my education in physics, chemistry and biology. Some bits were easier to grasp (related to how the discoveries were made), others I found difficult to think through.
July 18, 2024
Trevlig f枚renklad popul盲rvetenskaplig genomg氓ng av n氓gra viktiga framsteg i v氓r f枚rst氓else av v盲rlden. Kapitlet om hur livet uppstod 盲r sp盲nnande men lite kortfattat. Varje kapitel f枚ljer fr氓n det f枚rra p氓 ett bra s盲tt.
January 14, 2021
Erudite author has simplified some really basic principles. And explained the history of the evolution of thought for seven scientific ideas. Must read
October 14, 2021
A breathless account with the occasional unsatisfying explanation.
February 3, 2022
Fabulous.
Well written, easy to read, great (sensible) structure.
Well written, easy to read, great (sensible) structure.
June 5, 2022
(Mostly) Easy to read. Fascinating insights into the things we take for granted. And the ways of the ever self-questioning scientific mind.
June 30, 2022
Evrenin ilk saniyesinden g眉n眉m眉ze kadar uzanan zaman zarf谋nda ya艧ananlar谋n, mant谋kl谋 a莽谋klamalar谋 ve 7 temel ta艧谋 ile harmanlanmas谋... Kesinlikle okunmal谋...
January 23, 2023
"賱丕 賷賳亘睾賷 兀賳 賷丿賵乇 丕賱毓賱賲 丨賵賱 丕賱廿賷賲丕賳 亘賲毓鬲賯丿 賲丕貙 亘賱 賷噩亘 兀賳 賷丿賵乇 丨賵賱 丕賱鬲卮賰賷賰 賮賷 丕賱賲毓鬲賯丿丕鬲 丕賱乇丕爻禺丞 賮賷 丕賱匕賴賳. 賵賴匕丕 賱丕 賷囟賲賳 丿丕卅賲賸丕 丨賷丕丞 賴丕丿卅丞."
March 7, 2024
Too much chemistry for me - just pov
May 4, 2024
Too short for these topics.
October 23, 2024
Full of fascinating facts, and sometimes details I just couldn't consume as they were beyond my comprehension. But overall an excellent read. The last sentence of the book really stuck with me
December 19, 2022
芦丕賱兀乇囟 賰乇賵賷丞 賵鬲鬲丨乇賻賾賰 毓亘乇 丕賱賮囟丕亍. 賰丕賳 賴匕丕 丕賱丕爻鬲賳鬲丕噩 廿丿乇丕賰賸丕 賲孬賷乇賸丕 鬲賲賻賾 丕賱鬲賵氐購賾賱 廿賱賷賴 賯亘賱 賮鬲乇丞 夭賲賳賷丞 賱丕 鬲鬲毓丿賻賾賶 亘囟毓 賲卅丕鬲 賲賳 丕賱爻賳賷賳. 賵賴賷 賮賰乇丞 鬲鬲賳丕賯囟 鬲賲丕賲賸丕 賲毓 丕賱賲賳胤賯貙 賱丿乇噩丞 兀賳 亘毓囟 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 賲丕 夭丕賱賵丕 賱丕 賷爻鬲胤賷毓賵賳 賯賻亘賵賱賴丕. 賯丿 賱丕 鬲賰賵賳 賵丕丨丿賸丕 賲賳 賴丐賱丕亍貙 賵賱賰賳 賴賱 氐丿賻賾賯鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 賱賲噩乇賻賾丿 兀賳 賴匕丕 賴賵 賲丕 賯賷賱 賱賰 賮賷 氐睾乇賰貙 賵賱兀賳 芦丕賱噩賲賷毓 賷毓乇賮賵賳禄 兀賳賴 丨賯賷賯賷貙 兀賲 爻亘賯 賱賰 兀賳 丕爻鬲賵賯賮賰 丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 賮賷 賲丿賶 丕毓鬲亘丕乇 賴匕賴 丕賱賮賰乇丞 賲噩賳賵賳丞貙 賲賳 賵丕賯毓 禺亘乇鬲賰 丕賱賷賵賲賷丞貙 賵兀禺匕 丕賱兀丿賱丞 亘毓賷賳 丕賱丕毓鬲亘丕乇責禄
賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱賲賲鬲毓 噩丿賸丕貙 賷卮乇丨 噩乇賷亘賷賳 爻亘毓丞 兀毓賲丿丞 賷賯賵賲 毓賱賷賴丕 丕賱毓賱賲 丕賱丨丿賷孬: 丕賱匕乇丕鬲貙 賵丕賱賯賵賶 丕賱丨賷賵賷丞 (睾賷乇 丕賱賲賵噩賵丿丞) 賵丕賱賲噩乇丕鬲 賵丕賱DNA貙 賵丕賱賳噩賵賲貙 賵丕賱賰乇亘賵賳貙 賵丕賱乇賵丕亘胤 丕賱賴賷丿乇賵噩賷賳賷丞.
賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱賲賲鬲毓 噩丿賸丕貙 賷卮乇丨 噩乇賷亘賷賳 爻亘毓丞 兀毓賲丿丞 賷賯賵賲 毓賱賷賴丕 丕賱毓賱賲 丕賱丨丿賷孬: 丕賱匕乇丕鬲貙 賵丕賱賯賵賶 丕賱丨賷賵賷丞 (睾賷乇 丕賱賲賵噩賵丿丞) 賵丕賱賲噩乇丕鬲 賵丕賱DNA貙 賵丕賱賳噩賵賲貙 賵丕賱賰乇亘賵賳貙 賵丕賱乇賵丕亘胤 丕賱賴賷丿乇賵噩賷賳賷丞.
March 8, 2023
A condensed way to understand the different science disciplines and how they relate to each other.
I thought that it may be difficult for a non-scientist to follow
I thought that it may be difficult for a non-scientist to follow
June 8, 2021
This is the second of Gribbin's books I've read (Einstein's Masterwork). It's an informative, short, and (mostly) readable book about important aspects of all that makes up life. In particular, I learned a lot about the sun, its make-up, how it creates elements, and how those elements made their way to earth. In the prologue Gribbin explains that the creation of life was quite easy, and maybe even inevitable, which leads one to the possibility of life elsewhere. However, in the epilogue Gribbin shows how many things in the universe conspire to erase life, and how perfectly set up our solar system is to sustain it, and how we exist despite far too many odds, meaning it's likely that, despite the inevitability of life, we're probably alone in the universe.
I did think that the book was much more dull than the other book I read by Gribbon. I was fine with the history of the ideas, but the book often makes use of scientific jargon that often left me bored, scanning pages and waiting for the clearer aspects of the explanations.
Overall, I thought it was a decent enough read, but I was glad it was mercifully short.
I did think that the book was much more dull than the other book I read by Gribbon. I was fine with the history of the ideas, but the book often makes use of scientific jargon that often left me bored, scanning pages and waiting for the clearer aspects of the explanations.
Overall, I thought it was a decent enough read, but I was glad it was mercifully short.
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