Religions > Atheism > 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine)
| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Michael Gray" |
| Date: |
19 Nov 2006 12:47:35 AM |
| Object: |
25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
1. and 2. The Voyage of the Beagle (1845) and The Origin of Species
(1859) by Charles Darwin [tie]
3. Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical
Principles of Natural Philosophy) by Isaac Newton (1687)
4. Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems by Galileo Galilei
(1632)
5. De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolutions of Heavenly
Spheres) by Nicolaus Copernicus (1543)
6. Physica (Physics) by Aristotle (circa 330 B.C.
7. De Humani Corporis Fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body) by
Andreas Vesalius (1543)
8. Relativity: The Special and General Theory by Albert Einstein
(1916)
9. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (1976)
10. One Two Three . . . Infinity by George Gamow (1947)
11. The Double Helix by James D. Watson (1968)
12. What Is Life? by Erwin Schrödinger (1944)
13. The Cosmic Connection by Carl Sagan (1973)
14. The Insect Societies by Edward O. Wilson (1971)
15. The First Three Minutes by Steven Weinberg (1977)
16. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)
17. The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould (1981)
18. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by
Oliver Sacks (1985)
19. The Journals of Lewis and Clark by Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark (1814)
20. The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Richard P. Feynman (1963)
21. Sexual Behavior in the Human Male by Alfred C. Kinsey et al.
(1948)
22. Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey (1983)
23. Under a Lucky Star by Roy Chapman Andrews (1943)
24. Micrographia by Robert Hooke (1665)
25. Gaia by James Lovelock (1979)
I don't have a problem with most of these, but there are a few
"stand-out" anomolies, from my viewpoint.
That 19 beats 20 is very puzzling.
(That 19 is even in the list in the first place is astounding, but
that's just my opinion)
That 24 is so low on the list is also a bit weird.
I'm glad that left out that opprobrious fraud, Sigmund.
I note with some delight that most of the authours were functionally
atheist.
I also note that there are one or two that I have not yet read.
Better brush up on my Latin!
--
.
|
|
| User: "Fester" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 07:43:05 AM |
|
|
"Michael Gray" <mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:kpuvl2lbo3cchsmql8k483spmb1ifj9bgg@4ax.com...
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
1. and 2. The Voyage of the Beagle (1845) and The Origin of Species
(1859) by Charles Darwin [tie]
3. Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical
Principles of Natural Philosophy) by Isaac Newton (1687)
4. Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems by Galileo Galilei
(1632)
5. De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolutions of Heavenly
Spheres) by Nicolaus Copernicus (1543)
6. Physica (Physics) by Aristotle (circa 330 B.C.
7. De Humani Corporis Fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body) by
Andreas Vesalius (1543)
8. Relativity: The Special and General Theory by Albert Einstein
(1916)
9. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (1976)
10. One Two Three . . . Infinity by George Gamow (1947)
11. The Double Helix by James D. Watson (1968)
12. What Is Life? by Erwin Schrödinger (1944)
13. The Cosmic Connection by Carl Sagan (1973)
14. The Insect Societies by Edward O. Wilson (1971)
15. The First Three Minutes by Steven Weinberg (1977)
16. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)
17. The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould (1981)
18. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by
Oliver Sacks (1985)
19. The Journals of Lewis and Clark by Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark (1814)
20. The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Richard P. Feynman (1963)
21. Sexual Behavior in the Human Male by Alfred C. Kinsey et al.
(1948)
22. Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey (1983)
23. Under a Lucky Star by Roy Chapman Andrews (1943)
24. Micrographia by Robert Hooke (1665)
25. Gaia by James Lovelock (1979)
I don't have a problem with most of these, but there are a few
"stand-out" anomolies, from my viewpoint.
That 19 beats 20 is very puzzling.
(That 19 is even in the list in the first place is astounding, but
that's just my opinion)
That 24 is so low on the list is also a bit weird.
I'm glad that left out that opprobrious fraud, Sigmund.
I note with some delight that most of the authours were functionally
atheist.
I also note that there are one or two that I have not yet read.
Better brush up on my Latin!
WTF is Gaia doing on this list? And I would hardly call Lewis and Clark's
book a great work of science either. What a joke to include these on a list
containing Newton's book, for example. One can certainly argue with the
ordering of many of the others.
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Scott Richter" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 11:55:19 AM |
|
|
Michael Gray <mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
What?
"Of Pandas and People" didn't make the list?
Even after "creationism" was find/replaced with "ID"?
.
|
|
|
| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
21 Nov 2006 01:13:27 AM |
|
|
In article <1hp1ma8.6az4721gxwicfN%>,
(Scott Richter) wrote:
Michael Gray <mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
What?
"Of Pandas and People" didn't make the list?
Even after "creationism" was find/replaced with "ID"?
And omigawd, they didn't even ltis the Babble!
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
Contact - Throw a .net over the .com
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Michael Gray" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 02:51:59 PM |
|
|
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 09:55:19 -0800, (Scott
Richter) wrote:
- Refer: <1hp1ma8.6az4721gxwicfN%>
Michael Gray <mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
What?
"Of Pandas and People" didn't make the list?
Nor the bible!
That's "science", isn't it?
Even after "creationism" was find/replaced with "ID"?
--
.
|
|
|
| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
21 Nov 2006 01:14:52 AM |
|
|
In article <cug1m2thlc0m30dt6bvj5hvaoc52gno0pm@4ax.com>,
Michael Gray <mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 09:55:19 -0800, (Scott
Richter) wrote:
- Refer: <1hp1ma8.6az4721gxwicfN%>
Michael Gray <mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
What?
"Of Pandas and People" didn't make the list?
Nor the bible!
That's "science", isn't it?
Sure. It reduces everything to just one theory: Goddidit!
Even after "creationism" was find/replaced with "ID"?
--
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
Contact - Throw a .net over the .com
.
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Yang, AthD h.c" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 01:18:38 PM |
|
|
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 09:55:19 -0800, (Scott
Richter) wrote:
Michael Gray <mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
What?
"Of Pandas and People" didn't make the list?
Even after "creationism" was find/replaced with "ID"?
Or Michael Crichton, what's up with that :-)
-----
Yang
a.a. #28
AthD (h.c.) conferred by the regents of the LCL
a.a. pastor #-273.15, the most frigid church of Celcius nee Kelvin
EAC Econometric Forecast and Sorcery Division
The Bush 'balanced' budget: -2 trillion and worsening
The Bush 'economic' policy: 12.5 million FEWER jobs than Clinton and counting
The Bush Iraq lie: -2864 GIs, one friend's co-worker's son and mounting
Having Bush ***** up my country: Worthless
newsgroups Yang promises not to revenge post
in response to Sound-of-Trumpet's *****:
rec.art.scifi.written
sci.archaeology
soc.history.what-if
.
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "I AMTRUECRISTIAN" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 07:28:08 AM |
|
|
Michael Gray .hey just to say the past 5 nights i've prayed that either
you or your mother get cancer and die because it would make the world a
better place, i'll continue praying too untill you finally stop posting
your negative depressing posts, im keeping an eye on your postings.
.
|
|
|
| User: "Doc Smartass" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 04:37:10 PM |
|
|
"I AMTRUECRISTIAN" <XL5@OPERAMAIL.COM> wrote in
news:1163942888.657744.88050@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:
Michael Gray .hey just to say the past 5 nights i've prayed that either
you or your mother get cancer and die because it would make the world a
better place, i'll continue praying too untill you finally stop posting
your negative depressing posts, im keeping an eye on your postings.
Here's hoping your coffee is cold and unsweetened.
--
Doc Smartass
"***** repeated to the limit of infinity asymptotically approaches
the odour of roses." -- Relf's Law
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Al Klein" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 01:37:25 PM |
|
|
On 19 Nov 2006 05:28:08 -0800, "I AMTRUECRISTIAN" <XL5@OPERAMAIL.COM>
wrote:
Michael Gray .hey just to say the past 5 nights i've prayed that either
you or your mother get cancer and die because it would make the world a
better place, i'll continue praying too untill you finally stop posting
your negative depressing posts, im keeping an eye on your postings.
Feel the Christian love.
--
rukbat at optonline dot net
"A truly unselfish act would be a Christian volunteering to have his soul take your
soul's place in hell, so yours could go to Heaven. Don't hold your breath."
- John Popelish
(random sig, produced by SigChanger)
.
|
|
|
| User: "Michael Gray" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 02:51:13 PM |
|
|
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:37:25 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <6jc1m2d4k5shhujo69b4aqa8tvi82r9fki@4ax.com>
On 19 Nov 2006 05:28:08 -0800, "I AMTRUECRISTIAN" <XL5@OPERAMAIL.COM>
wrote:
Michael Gray .hey just to say the past 5 nights i've prayed that either
you or your mother get cancer and die because it would make the world a
better place, i'll continue praying too untill you finally stop posting
your negative depressing posts, im keeping an eye on your postings.
Feel the Christian love.
It is genuinely mentally unbalanced.
I feel pity for the poor thing, having to live inside that mind 24/7.
And in response to this uplifting post of all things.
--
.
|
|
|
| User: "Al Klein" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 03:39:02 PM |
|
|
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:21:13 +1030, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:37:25 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <6jc1m2d4k5shhujo69b4aqa8tvi82r9fki@4ax.com>
On 19 Nov 2006 05:28:08 -0800, "I AMTRUECRISTIAN" <XL5@OPERAMAIL.COM>
wrote:
Michael Gray .hey just to say the past 5 nights i've prayed that either
you or your mother get cancer and die because it would make the world a
better place, i'll continue praying too untill you finally stop posting
your negative depressing posts, im keeping an eye on your postings.
Feel the Christian love.
It is genuinely mentally unbalanced.
I feel pity for the poor thing, having to live inside that mind 24/7.
Not to worry - any semblance of "mind" left long ago.
--
rukbat at optonline dot net
"I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want
you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good...Our
goal is a Christian nation. We have a Biblical duty, we are called by
God, to conquer this country. We don't want equal time. We don't want
pluralism."
-Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue, The News-Sentinel, Fort
Wayne, Indiana, 8-16-93
(random sig, produced by SigChanger)
.
|
|
|
| User: "Michael Gray" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
20 Nov 2006 02:26:48 AM |
|
|
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 16:39:02 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <qmj1m2d8dovbcpslpq52os9vbce6f7e46v@4ax.com>
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:21:13 +1030, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:37:25 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <6jc1m2d4k5shhujo69b4aqa8tvi82r9fki@4ax.com>
On 19 Nov 2006 05:28:08 -0800, "I AMTRUECRISTIAN" <XL5@OPERAMAIL.COM>
wrote:
Michael Gray .hey just to say the past 5 nights i've prayed that either
you or your mother get cancer and die because it would make the world a
better place, i'll continue praying too untill you finally stop posting
your negative depressing posts, im keeping an eye on your postings.
Feel the Christian love.
It is genuinely mentally unbalanced.
I feel pity for the poor thing, having to live inside that mind 24/7.
Not to worry - any semblance of "mind" left long ago.
P.S. My mother says she is in perfect health.
Another notch in the "Prayer don't do *****" belt.
--
.
|
|
|
| User: "Al Klein" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
20 Nov 2006 07:47:06 AM |
|
|
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 18:56:48 +1030, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 16:39:02 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <qmj1m2d8dovbcpslpq52os9vbce6f7e46v@4ax.com>
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:21:13 +1030, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:37:25 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <6jc1m2d4k5shhujo69b4aqa8tvi82r9fki@4ax.com>
On 19 Nov 2006 05:28:08 -0800, "I AMTRUECRISTIAN" <XL5@OPERAMAIL.COM>
wrote:
Michael Gray .hey just to say the past 5 nights i've prayed that either
you or your mother get cancer and die because it would make the world a
better place, i'll continue praying too untill you finally stop posting
your negative depressing posts, im keeping an eye on your postings.
Feel the Christian love.
It is genuinely mentally unbalanced.
I feel pity for the poor thing, having to live inside that mind 24/7.
Not to worry - any semblance of "mind" left long ago.
P.S. My mother says she is in perfect health.
Another notch in the "Prayer don't do *****" belt.
I'm glad. Both for your mother and for this affirmation of the
failure of prayer.
--
rukbat at optonline dot net
"A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate because he
unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand."
-- Bertrand Russell.
(random sig, produced by SigChanger)
.
|
|
|
| User: "Michael Gray" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
20 Nov 2006 03:55:09 PM |
|
|
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:47:06 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <sdc3m25kp2lp8bpgo68cv6ie963t2d2kn3@4ax.com>
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 18:56:48 +1030, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 16:39:02 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <qmj1m2d8dovbcpslpq52os9vbce6f7e46v@4ax.com>
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:21:13 +1030, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:37:25 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <6jc1m2d4k5shhujo69b4aqa8tvi82r9fki@4ax.com>
On 19 Nov 2006 05:28:08 -0800, "I AMTRUECRISTIAN" <XL5@OPERAMAIL.COM>
wrote:
Michael Gray .hey just to say the past 5 nights i've prayed that either
you or your mother get cancer and die because it would make the world a
better place, i'll continue praying too untill you finally stop posting
your negative depressing posts, im keeping an eye on your postings.
Feel the Christian love.
It is genuinely mentally unbalanced.
I feel pity for the poor thing, having to live inside that mind 24/7.
Not to worry - any semblance of "mind" left long ago.
P.S. My mother says she is in perfect health.
Another notch in the "Prayer don't do *****" belt.
I'm glad. Both for your mother and for this affirmation of the
failure of prayer.
And she's an atheist too. You think that if prayer had any real
effect, she would be the first that his insane god would zap.
I guess that about wraps it up for god, eh?
--
.
|
|
|
| User: "Al Klein" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
20 Nov 2006 05:13:12 PM |
|
|
On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 08:25:09 +1030, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:47:06 -0500, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
I'm glad. Both for your mother and for this affirmation of the
failure of prayer.
And she's an atheist too. You think that if prayer had any real
effect, she would be the first that his insane god would zap.
I guess that about wraps it up for god, eh?
Well ...
It sure wraps it up for those who claim to speak for him.
--
rukbat at optonline dot net
"To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains
premature today."
- Isaac Asimov
(random sig, produced by SigChanger)
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Frank Mayhar" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 05:25:34 PM |
|
|
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:37:25 -0500, Al Klein wrote:
On 19 Nov 2006 05:28:08 -0800, "I AMTRUECRISTIAN" <XL5@OPERAMAIL.COM>
wrote:
Michael Gray .hey just to say the past 5 nights i've prayed that either
you or your mother get cancer and die because it would make the world a
better place, i'll continue praying too untill you finally stop posting
your negative depressing posts, im keeping an eye on your postings.
Heh. At that rate Michael will live forever.
Feel the Christian love.
It's okay if you're a lunatic^H^H^H^H^H^H^HChristian.
--
Frank Mayhar frank@exit.com http://www.exit.com/
Exit Consulting http://www.gpsclock.com/
http://www.exit.com/blog/frank/
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 02:21:38 AM |
|
|
Michael Gray wrote:
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
What constitutes a great science book (IMHO) may depend on what
one considers great science. Is it a document of discoveries
(Newton, Darwin, Einstein) or a popularizer of science (Crick,
Sagan)? In this era of embraced ignorance, popularizers may be
more valuable than those who find facts.
And not to be picky (since I've only read one of the 25) it's a
bit disappointing not to see Jonathan Miller or Benjamin Spock
(hell, no James Burke!) on the list.
Bob Dog
.
|
|
|
| User: "JTEM" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 03:11:46 AM |
|
|
wrote:
What constitutes a great science book (IMHO) may
depend on what one considers great science.
In my always humble opinion, I'd say a great science
book is one that promotes interest in science.
Regardless of discipline, no one (two, three...) book(s)
is ever going to cut it. You need further resources, a
lot of them, and, rather than singling out a resource, I'd
single out the books which prompt the reader to seek
those resources... even if they are fictional.
.
|
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 03:48:06 AM |
|
|
JTEM wrote:
bg12345@apexmail.com wrote:
What constitutes a great science book (IMHO) may
depend on what one considers great science.
In my always humble opinion, I'd say a great science
book is one that promotes interest in science.
Regardless of discipline, no one (two, three...) book(s)
is ever going to cut it. You need further resources, a
lot of them, and, rather than singling out a resource, I'd
single out the books which prompt the reader to seek
those resources... even if they are fictional.
Does this mean you approve of the CSI TV shows (Las Vegas - yes;
Miami - er, no; New York - puh-leeze! 9_9) or Mythbusters?
Bob Dog
.
|
|
|
| User: "JTEM" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 04:31:28 AM |
|
|
wrote:
JTEM wrote:
In my always humble opinion, I'd say a great science
book is one that promotes interest in science.
Regardless of discipline, no one (two, three...) book(s)
is ever going to cut it. You need further resources, a
lot of them, and, rather than singling out a resource, I'd
single out the books which prompt the reader to seek
those resources... even if they are fictional.
Does this mean you approve of the CSI TV shows (Las
Vegas - yes; Miami - er, no; New York - puh-leeze! 9_9)
or Mythbusters?
I dunno. I've long asked myself if the L.A.P.D. could ever
had gotten as bad as it did if it Hollywood hadn't invested
decades into promoting the idea (creating the perception)
that it was a flawless organization with the highest
professional standards.
Everything from "Dragnet" to "Beverly Hills Cop" pushed
the myth of L.A.P.D.'s high standards, while the facts
revealed quite a different story (the O.J. trial, Rodney King
for example).
I have no problems with Myth Busters though, except for
the obvious fact that it is not a book.
I'm not saying that I don't have some issues with a few of
their experiments, but the "MythBuster" approach, as stated,
is certainly one of the best descriptions of a scientifically
approached investigation.
More than anything, what they add is reproducing the results.
They don't just test the myth, but when that fails they try to
find out what it would take to duplicate the results.
.
|
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 05:24:17 AM |
|
|
JTEM wrote:
bg12345@apexmail.com wrote:
JTEM wrote:
In my always humble opinion, I'd say a great science
book is one that promotes interest in science.
<snip>
Does this mean you approve of the CSI TV shows (Las
Vegas - yes; Miami - er, no; New York - puh-leeze! 9_9)
or Mythbusters?
I dunno. I've long asked myself if the L.A.P.D. could ever
had gotten as bad as it did if it Hollywood hadn't invested
decades into promoting the idea (creating the perception)
that it was a flawless organization with the highest
professional standards.
Everything from "Dragnet" to "Beverly Hills Cop" pushed
the myth of L.A.P.D.'s high standards, while the facts
revealed quite a different story (the O.J. trial, Rodney King
for example).
I don't expect you to read my old posts, but I had no respect
for cops long before Rodney King.
Q: Why don't we call them Keystone Kops anymore?
A: Because they're not just in Pennsylvania.
I have no problems with Myth Busters though, except for
the obvious fact that it is not a book.
But with a generation of vidiots who don't read, something is
better than nothing. Who knows, maybe in a century there won't
be paper books, only digital video and Project Gutenberg.
I'm not saying that I don't have some issues with a few of
their experiments, but the "MythBuster" approach, as stated,
is certainly one of the best descriptions of a scientifically
approached investigation.
More than anything, what they add is reproducing the results.
They don't just test the myth, but when that fails they try to
find out what it would take to duplicate the results.
If it's realistic in methodology and gets kids thinking, I'm all
for it, i.e. Bill Nye, etc.
(Mmm...Kari Byron and Scottie Chapman....)
Bob Dog
.
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Therion Ware" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 03:57:06 AM |
|
|
On 19 Nov 2006 01:48:06 -0800, wrote:
JTEM wrote:
wrote:
What constitutes a great science book (IMHO) may
depend on what one considers great science.
In my always humble opinion, I'd say a great science
book is one that promotes interest in science.
Regardless of discipline, no one (two, three...) book(s)
is ever going to cut it. You need further resources, a
lot of them, and, rather than singling out a resource, I'd
single out the books which prompt the reader to seek
those resources... even if they are fictional.
Does this mean you approve of the CSI TV shows (Las Vegas - yes;
Miami - er, no; New York - puh-leeze! 9_9) or Mythbusters?
Aside: I Dunno why Horatio bothers with all that forensic stuff.
Clearly he knows who's guilty before they even start. Like to see more
of Mr Grissom and Lady Heather though...
--
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
attrib: Pauline Réage. Cine To DVD? http://www.video2cd.co.uk
.
|
|
|
| User: "skyeyes" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
20 Nov 2006 05:32:45 PM |
|
|
Therion Ware wrote:
Aside: I Dunno why Horatio bothers with all that forensic stuff.
Clearly he knows who's guilty before they even start. Like to see more
of Mr Grissom and Lady Heather though...
The Horatio Cain character is a cop who happens to run a science/CSI
unit. Gil Grissom's character is a scientist who happens to work for
the police.
I'd take Gil Grissom any day. After the sex, we could go play with his
fetal pig. ;->
Brenda Nelson, A.A.#34
EAC Professor of Feliine Thermometrics and Cat-Herding
skyeyes at dakotacom dot net
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 05:15:19 AM |
|
|
Therion Ware wrote:
On 19 Nov 2006 01:48:06 -0800, wrote:
JTEM wrote:
wrote:
Does this mean you approve of the CSI TV shows (Las Vegas - yes;
Miami - er, no; New York - puh-leeze! 9_9) or Mythbusters?
Aside: I Dunno why Horatio bothers with all that forensic stuff.
Snoratio? They need to dump Caruso, drop the CSI:NY show and
move Gary Sinise south. Sinise's character is more believable.
Clearly he knows who's guilty before they even start. Like to see more
of Mr Grissom and Lady Heather though...
Ohyesohyesohyesohyesohyesohyes!!! Whip me, beat me! I...!
Sorry. I mean Lady Heather, not Grissom. (Mmm...Melinda Clarke.)
Not to go off on a tangent, but CSI started one thing that you
never saw before on TV: everybody is smart, even the bad guys
and even the people they don't like. How often have you seen a
TV show or movie where a cop does something inexplicably dumb
that not even an amateur would do in real life? Not everybody
is genius, but at least events seem more plausible.
(And why is Sara with Grissom, not Greg? Grissom should be with
Sophia!!!)
Bob Dog
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Michael Gray" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 02:48:46 PM |
|
|
On 19 Nov 2006 00:21:38 -0800, wrote:
- Refer: <1163924498.487483.246810@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
Michael Gray wrote:
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
What constitutes a great science book (IMHO) may depend on what
one considers great science. Is it a document of discoveries
(Newton, Darwin, Einstein) or a popularizer of science (Crick,
Sagan)? In this era of embraced ignorance, popularizers may be
more valuable than those who find facts.
And not to be picky (since I've only read one of the 25) it's a
bit disappointing not to see Jonathan Miller or Benjamin Spock
(hell, no James Burke!) on the list.
Bob Dog
Yes, I noticed the absence of Miller.
At least Dawkins is on the list.
--
.
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Yang, AthD h.c" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 02:10:55 AM |
|
|
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:17:35 +1030, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
1. and 2. The Voyage of the Beagle (1845) and The Origin of Species
(1859) by Charles Darwin [tie]
3. Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical
Principles of Natural Philosophy) by Isaac Newton (1687)
4. Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems by Galileo Galilei
(1632)
5. De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolutions of Heavenly
Spheres) by Nicolaus Copernicus (1543)
6. Physica (Physics) by Aristotle (circa 330 B.C.
7. De Humani Corporis Fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body) by
Andreas Vesalius (1543)
8. Relativity: The Special and General Theory by Albert Einstein
(1916)
9. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (1976)
10. One Two Three . . . Infinity by George Gamow (1947)
11. The Double Helix by James D. Watson (1968)
12. What Is Life? by Erwin Schrödinger (1944)
13. The Cosmic Connection by Carl Sagan (1973)
14. The Insect Societies by Edward O. Wilson (1971)
15. The First Three Minutes by Steven Weinberg (1977)
16. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)
17. The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould (1981)
18. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by
Oliver Sacks (1985)
19. The Journals of Lewis and Clark by Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark (1814)
20. The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Richard P. Feynman (1963)
21. Sexual Behavior in the Human Male by Alfred C. Kinsey et al.
(1948)
22. Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey (1983)
23. Under a Lucky Star by Roy Chapman Andrews (1943)
24. Micrographia by Robert Hooke (1665)
25. Gaia by James Lovelock (1979)
I don't have a problem with most of these, but there are a few
"stand-out" anomolies, from my viewpoint.
That 19 beats 20 is very puzzling.
(That 19 is even in the list in the first place is astounding, but
that's just my opinion)
That 24 is so low on the list is also a bit weird.
I'm glad that left out that opprobrious fraud, Sigmund.
I note with some delight that most of the authours were functionally
atheist.
I also note that there are one or two that I have not yet read.
Better brush up on my Latin!
The Double Helix isn't really a "science" book as it was a memoir, but
nonetheless a great read.
-----
Yang
a.a. #28
AthD (h.c.) conferred by the regents of the LCL
a.a. pastor #-273.15, the most frigid church of Celcius nee Kelvin
EAC Econometric Forecast and Sorcery Division
The Bush 'balanced' budget: -2 trillion and worsening
The Bush 'economic' policy: 12.5 million FEWER jobs than Clinton and counting
The Bush Iraq lie: -2864 GIs, one friend's co-worker's son and mounting
Having Bush ***** up my country: Worthless
newsgroups Yang promises not to revenge post
in response to Sound-of-Trumpet's *****:
rec.art.scifi.written
sci.archaeology
soc.history.what-if
.
|
|
|
| User: "Michael Gray" |
|
| Title: Re: 25 Greatest Science Books of all Time? (Discover Magazine) |
19 Nov 2006 02:47:41 PM |
|
|
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 00:10:55 -0800, "Yang, AthD (h.c)"
<eacmole@/*AWOLBUSH*/mail.com> wrote:
- Refer: <a540m21jsttt9368fsg75nhpc8ph7u6131@4ax.com>
On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:17:35 +1030, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
http://www.discover.com/issues/dec-06/features/25-greatest-science-books/
1. and 2. The Voyage of the Beagle (1845) and The Origin of Species
(1859) by Charles Darwin [tie]
3. Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical
Principles of Natural Philosophy) by Isaac Newton (1687)
4. Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems by Galileo Galilei
(1632)
5. De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolutions of Heavenly
Spheres) by Nicolaus Copernicus (1543)
6. Physica (Physics) by Aristotle (circa 330 B.C.
7. De Humani Corporis Fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body) by
Andreas Vesalius (1543)
8. Relativity: The Special and General Theory by Albert Einstein
(1916)
9. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (1976)
10. One Two Three . . . Infinity by George Gamow (1947)
11. The Double Helix by James D. Watson (1968)
12. What Is Life? by Erwin Schrödinger (1944)
13. The Cosmic Connection by Carl Sagan (1973)
14. The Insect Societies by Edward O. Wilson (1971)
15. The First Three Minutes by Steven Weinberg (1977)
16. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)
17. The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould (1981)
18. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by
Oliver Sacks (1985)
19. The Journals of Lewis and Clark by Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark (1814)
20. The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Richard P. Feynman (1963)
21. Sexual Behavior in the Human Male by Alfred C. Kinsey et al.
(1948)
22. Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey (1983)
23. Under a Lucky Star by Roy Chapman Andrews (1943)
24. Micrographia by Robert Hooke (1665)
25. Gaia by James Lovelock (1979)
I don't have a problem with most of these, but there are a few
"stand-out" anomolies, from my viewpoint.
That 19 beats 20 is very puzzling.
(That 19 is even in the list in the first place is astounding, but
that's just my opinion)
That 24 is so low on the list is also a bit weird.
I'm glad that left out that opprobrious fraud, Sigmund.
I note with some delight that most of the authours were functionally
atheist.
I also note that there are one or two that I have not yet read.
Better brush up on my Latin!
The Double Helix isn't really a "science" book as it was a memoir, but
nonetheless a great read.
Yeah, the selection criteria are a bit loose.
--
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
