 "Good reading for both scientists and nonscientist." | 2009-06-15 |
| - Reviewed By Woonkie Paik from Illinois, USA |
I liked the format and the contents of this interesting book. The contents provide mostly clear explanations on problems we can have questions on as to WHY. They include those problems that we pretend to understand correctly based on what we were told from our childhood, but are erroneous.
My only reservation is that there are a few unsatisfactory explanations as in any book. One example is on the workings of a battery. The author's explanations on how a lemon battery works was incomplete with omission of the reaction occurring on the copper electrode, which is hydrogen ion reduction. One could go further mentioning that this reaction does not occur on zinc, where the electrons are released, instead of having the electrons travel to the copper electrode. If the hydrogen reaction occurs on zinc surface there would be no battery. This involves the kinetics concept, i.e. overpotential for the hydrogen reaction on different metals.
The format of the book is well designed, nice cartoons included, and helped me read without falling asleep on the subjects that can be sometimes boring otherwise. Overall the book can be an excellent reading for both scientists and lay people.
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 "LOVE IT" | 2009-06-04 |
| - Reviewed By theworm from hereandthereandeverywhere |
Good coffe table book or airplane/traveling book.
If you like physics and are interested in how everyday happenings work, you will enjoy this book.
I purchased my copy at an airport bookstore. And <3 it. |
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 "A Delightful Romp into explanations of "familiar unknowns."" | 2008-10-17 |
| - Reviewed By paulocal from Falls Church, VA USA |
This tasty little compendium is more or less "tongue in cheek," since we know by visual inspection that Einstein could not have had a barber. Nevertheless this little book yields surprisingly useful bits of trivia that, at one time or another, we all have had to wonder about: such as why are the sky and the ocean blue? What holds an airplane up? etc.
Its main vehicle for yielding up so many secrets of everyday phenomena is of course digging more carefully and more deeply into "ordinary Newtonian physics," that is to say mostly by giving a clarifying layman's explanation of how Newton's three laws of motion actually work in the real world.
Once this strategy for explaining is revealed, the reader can then carry forth for the rest of the book on his own, rendering Mr. Wolke's little gem less suspenseful and not quite as much fun as others of this genre. For instance, Raymond Smullyan's "The Lady or the Tiger? withholds the suspense a bit longer by also including many puzzles and paradoxes of everyday phenomena.
Still for its informational value alone Wolke's book is worth three stars. |
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| "Very Accessible Guide for Science Beginners" | 2008-08-19 |
| - Reviewed By Paul R. Bertolone from Japan |
I read this in about three sittings over a period of two days. I had heard for years what an interesting book this was, but just finally got around to checking it out. Honestly, I initially assumed that people gravitated to this book based on a catchy title. So I foolishly wrote it off to clever marketing; Boy am I glad that I came around and gave it a try. Wolke, who is a professor emeritus in chem, has an uncanny ability to mix humor and science and present a reader of any background an insightful and interesting look at the science behind everyday things.
One of the first entries explains why Americans drive on the right side of the road, something you never think about but becomes fascinated when it's explained. Numerous topics like this had me hooked early and I plowed through the book eagerly, laughing and oohing and ahing the whole way. I can now honestly say I know why the Earth doesn't spin us off as it rotates and why the bathroom floor feels colder than the carpet when they're both actually the same temperature.
It isn't really about Einstein, so the title is clever. The book is more along the lines of what scientists might talk about with their barber (or relative, banker, whomever) while trying to explain a complicated topic.
I would recommend this book to anyone with the slightest curiosity of their world. It is a fairly fast read and breaks down topics and individual questions. You could conceivably read it in any order or use it as a reference (it has an excellent index). There is also a glossary that explains complex terms (or "techspeak" as Wolke labels it) in basic language.
Don't make the same mistake I did and pass this one off as a gimmick, it's a great book and you will learn a great deal. |
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| "A pleasurable yet informative glimpse into the world of science" | 2008-04-03 |
| - Reviewed By TW |
As would be expected from the title of the book, What Einstein Told His Barber will not saddle you with technical speak and complex analysis one might expect from Einstein himself. This book is clearly presented for the layman thus making the premises accessible to all.
The information is straightforward and depicted with a curious sense of wit making the book a very enjoyable read. The Q&A format easily permits one to peruse the book in any sequence affording one the freedom to focus only on particular areas of interest.
If you enjoy science and are seeking a better understanding of universal concepts and the principals behind them, this book is worthwhile and one I recommend. |
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| "Anyone for knowledege??" | 2008-03-01 |
| - Reviewed By the1biglar |
| Full of trivia as well as little morsels of fact everyone wonders about. Completely worth the price! |
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