Book recomendation for a young scientist please
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Please no! Dawkins is as fanatical as the Sky Pixies Fanciers he spends his entire time ridiculing. Let her decide for herself - his rabid atheism is as bad as the unthinking fanaticism he protests.
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
I disagree, true, he can go on a bit, but at least his belief system is based on a foundation of science and logic.
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Can anyone offer any recommendations of a science(I know that is a very broad and nebulous term) book to buy as a present for a my niece who is 11 and is just starting to very much get interested in science? I heard she came top of her school year in all subjects so I would want to get her something which is a little bit of a challenge to read - whilst at the same time not being too abstract(anything by Dawkins is probably not a good idea due to a slight religious leaning...) Thanks in advance [Edit] In the end I went for the book by Bill Nye[^] and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced. So thanks for all the suggestions and I am sure the ones that I did not follow up I will keep in mind at some later date when my niece is older. :thumbsup:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
I highly recommend Cosmos by Carl Sagan. It's a classic. It's very accessible. I read through it when I was 12 or 14. Carl Sagan gives a narrative that is a combination of wonderment and scientific presentation. Just what a young scientist needs. There is an accompanying video series. Get the hardback, you want this one to last. I still have my original copy. I dont really know how dated Cosmos is anymore. Of course technology has changed the way we see things but the questions remain the same. We can observe things much better now which actually makes his questions more relavent. Please tell me you will get this one. * * * * * * * * Now, Dawkins is anything but slight, lol. he's an out and out bigot when it comes to religion. I was fascinated by the Selfish Gene and curious enough to read the God Delusion. I came away disgusted by his tone.
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Can anyone offer any recommendations of a science(I know that is a very broad and nebulous term) book to buy as a present for a my niece who is 11 and is just starting to very much get interested in science? I heard she came top of her school year in all subjects so I would want to get her something which is a little bit of a challenge to read - whilst at the same time not being too abstract(anything by Dawkins is probably not a good idea due to a slight religious leaning...) Thanks in advance [Edit] In the end I went for the book by Bill Nye[^] and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced. So thanks for all the suggestions and I am sure the ones that I did not follow up I will keep in mind at some later date when my niece is older. :thumbsup:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
When I was a kid, the books that actually inspired me most were by Andre Norton, Robert Heinlein, Lester Delrey. Dreaming about how things could be inspired me to learn more about math and science.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Can anyone offer any recommendations of a science(I know that is a very broad and nebulous term) book to buy as a present for a my niece who is 11 and is just starting to very much get interested in science? I heard she came top of her school year in all subjects so I would want to get her something which is a little bit of a challenge to read - whilst at the same time not being too abstract(anything by Dawkins is probably not a good idea due to a slight religious leaning...) Thanks in advance [Edit] In the end I went for the book by Bill Nye[^] and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced. So thanks for all the suggestions and I am sure the ones that I did not follow up I will keep in mind at some later date when my niece is older. :thumbsup:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
Personally I think that Jules Verne books and Isaac Asimov books and essays are still a must for everyone who have an inner joy for science :cool:
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Can anyone offer any recommendations of a science(I know that is a very broad and nebulous term) book to buy as a present for a my niece who is 11 and is just starting to very much get interested in science? I heard she came top of her school year in all subjects so I would want to get her something which is a little bit of a challenge to read - whilst at the same time not being too abstract(anything by Dawkins is probably not a good idea due to a slight religious leaning...) Thanks in advance [Edit] In the end I went for the book by Bill Nye[^] and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced. So thanks for all the suggestions and I am sure the ones that I did not follow up I will keep in mind at some later date when my niece is older. :thumbsup:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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Can anyone offer any recommendations of a science(I know that is a very broad and nebulous term) book to buy as a present for a my niece who is 11 and is just starting to very much get interested in science? I heard she came top of her school year in all subjects so I would want to get her something which is a little bit of a challenge to read - whilst at the same time not being too abstract(anything by Dawkins is probably not a good idea due to a slight religious leaning...) Thanks in advance [Edit] In the end I went for the book by Bill Nye[^] and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced. So thanks for all the suggestions and I am sure the ones that I did not follow up I will keep in mind at some later date when my niece is older. :thumbsup:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
GuyThiebaut wrote:
I'm not familiar with it but probably a good choice.
GuyThiebaut wrote:
and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced.
IMHO you may have gone to far in the other direction - a little beneath a bright child that age. An old but a goodie that I cut my teeth on at around that age is "One Two Three . . . Infinity: Facts and Speculations of Science"[^], by George Gamow.
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Can anyone offer any recommendations of a science(I know that is a very broad and nebulous term) book to buy as a present for a my niece who is 11 and is just starting to very much get interested in science? I heard she came top of her school year in all subjects so I would want to get her something which is a little bit of a challenge to read - whilst at the same time not being too abstract(anything by Dawkins is probably not a good idea due to a slight religious leaning...) Thanks in advance [Edit] In the end I went for the book by Bill Nye[^] and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced. So thanks for all the suggestions and I am sure the ones that I did not follow up I will keep in mind at some later date when my niece is older. :thumbsup:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
Isaac Asimov has written some great books on science. They cover all different topics. Take a look at them.
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Can anyone offer any recommendations of a science(I know that is a very broad and nebulous term) book to buy as a present for a my niece who is 11 and is just starting to very much get interested in science? I heard she came top of her school year in all subjects so I would want to get her something which is a little bit of a challenge to read - whilst at the same time not being too abstract(anything by Dawkins is probably not a good idea due to a slight religious leaning...) Thanks in advance [Edit] In the end I went for the book by Bill Nye[^] and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced. So thanks for all the suggestions and I am sure the ones that I did not follow up I will keep in mind at some later date when my niece is older. :thumbsup:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
I know you already picked a book, but may I recommend one? The Dancing Universe[^] It's a great read even for people that are not aspiring scientist. It has a great tale of the origins of science (and religion in the sense of when things were not comprehended) and mentions the great names of science throug the history up to Plato. I know that when I started it I couldn't stop. It's not a difficult read and can be challenging at some points. To me this is the book that better explained relativity in a way common people could actually understand it.
"To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems" - Homer Simpson "Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction." ― Francis Picabia
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Can anyone offer any recommendations of a science(I know that is a very broad and nebulous term) book to buy as a present for a my niece who is 11 and is just starting to very much get interested in science? I heard she came top of her school year in all subjects so I would want to get her something which is a little bit of a challenge to read - whilst at the same time not being too abstract(anything by Dawkins is probably not a good idea due to a slight religious leaning...) Thanks in advance [Edit] In the end I went for the book by Bill Nye[^] and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced. So thanks for all the suggestions and I am sure the ones that I did not follow up I will keep in mind at some later date when my niece is older. :thumbsup:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
Check out WhyIsEverything.com and the associated book that my chief scientist and I wrote. Later, Paul
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Check out WhyIsEverything.com and the associated book that my chief scientist and I wrote. Later, Paul
One Two Three Infinity is great, if quite a bit dated. Look for books with simple experiments that a child can do; I had one of "101 Experiments for Young Scientists,' something like that. If you can, sit with her and teach her math and science that you think are a bit too advanced for her age. That's what my mother did with me, and I ended up with a Ph. D in physics, I think in no small part because of that help at an early age. Please no Dawkins; but I am biased, being a religious man. Electronics sets, chemistry sets (IF there are any good ones left to buy, I never see any), telescopes and microscopes, whichever she is interested in. Good luck, good for you to want to help! Tom
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Can anyone offer any recommendations of a science(I know that is a very broad and nebulous term) book to buy as a present for a my niece who is 11 and is just starting to very much get interested in science? I heard she came top of her school year in all subjects so I would want to get her something which is a little bit of a challenge to read - whilst at the same time not being too abstract(anything by Dawkins is probably not a good idea due to a slight religious leaning...) Thanks in advance [Edit] In the end I went for the book by Bill Nye[^] and a year's subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine[^] after my sister informed me that New Scientist may be too advanced. So thanks for all the suggestions and I am sure the ones that I did not follow up I will keep in mind at some later date when my niece is older. :thumbsup:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
I can't recall the title, but I've an excellent book by Isac Asimov that explains science in easy to understand terms, starting from the origin of the universe - through the atronomers that discovered various aspects - to the chemistry, and how the periodic table works and why. The front cover has a purplish picture of the cosmos.
