The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic) [Hardcover]

National Geographic (Author), Marshall Brain (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 2008 | Series: National Geographic

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 illustrations—including 3-D graphics and pictograms—make 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 power—with 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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marshall Brain is the founder of the award-winning website HowStuffWorks.com. A graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he earned his master's in computer science from North Carolina State University, where he later taught. Named one of the Carolina's top entrepreneurs by Ernst & Young, Brain is also a distinguished speaker and author of more than a dozen books, in which he masterfully simplifies complex subject matter into a digestible format for people of all ages and experience levels.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (October 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426203373
• ISBN-13: 978-1426203374
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 1.6 x 10.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book to Read to Learn and Enjoy Science, February 3, 2009

By 

Renee L Paolino (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic) (Hardcover)

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.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Re-titled: The Science Book: A Concise Encyclopedia, January 15, 2009

By 

Penetralia - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic) (Hardcover)

The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works should be entitled, "The Science Book: A Concise Encyclopedia."

This book does not contain EVERYTHING you need to know about the world, nor science, and how it completely works. In fact, the title is profoundly misleading.

However, this receives four stars for the quality of information and images contained in this cost effective edition. This textbook can be thought of as a good all-in-one science encyclopedia.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's like Wikipedia for science., March 16, 2009

By 

mj - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic) (Hardcover)

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.