The Secret House: The Extraordinary Science of an Ordinary Day [Paperback]

David Bodanis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0425188426 | ISBN-13: 978-0425188422 | Publication Date: March 4, 2003

In E=mc², David Bodanis took the life's work of one of history's greatest geniuses and made it "astonishingly understandable" (Parade) to the everyday reader. Now he takes the reader through an average day in and around an average house, showing us the fascinating science beneath the surface-from the static between radio stations, to the millions of pillow mites that snuggle up with us every night, from the warm electric fields wrapped around a light bulb filament, to what really makes the garden roses red. With wit, whimsy, and delightful detail, David Bodanis explains it all in ordinary words--on an extraordinary tour...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Nothing short of astounding. (The New York Times) Wonderful. (San Francisco Chronicle)

About the Author

David Bodanis studied mathematics at the University of Chicago and in 1988 became a Senior Associate Member of St. Anthony's College in Oxford, England. From 1991-97, he lectured at the University of Oxford, designing the university's main survey of social science methods. Author of several books, he is an ideas consultant to corporations and organizations worldwide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (March 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425188426
• ISBN-13: 978-0425188422
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 4.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #451,361 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

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but No Index and Missing Photos, May 17, 2003

By 

W. Watson (Nevada City, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret House: The Extraordinary Science of an Ordinary Day (Paperback)

This is a republication of the book which was written in 1985. It's a very interesting read, but some of the material has probably surfaced elsewhere in the intervening period. It could use an index for future reference, and is missing the some 80 photographs found in the hardback. There are obvious typos in some places, probably because of editing to get the book into paperback form. I'd really suggest buying a used copy of the original, which I would give a 5 star rating to. The photos help a great deal to add to the text.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hairy world up close, July 24, 2005

By 

- Kasia S. (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Secret House: The Extraordinary Science of an Ordinary Day (Paperback)

The things that happen around us every day are very easy to miss unless a time comes when one reaches for a book such as this one.

People think that if it's not in their face, then it doesn't exist, but this book tells you like it is!

It follows an average household in two major sections Day and Night;
Then breaks activities into- morning, midday, afternoon,
then : early evening, dinner continues, Bed & bath.

The writing is humorous at times, scientifically proven, accurate and most of all, very interesting and not hard to comprehend.

If you ever wondered what's in your toothpaste (chalk, water, paint, seaweed, anti-freeze, paraffin oil, detergent, peppermint and formaldehyde),
in your margarine (lard, fish fat, sulfurs, deodorizers, color and some sunflower oil, so that it can be painted on the side of the tub as wholesome),
what's in commercial cake mix, why roses are red, how many dust mites- its dead family members- and their poop you sleep and walk on, the history if the fork, dining room table, music, talk, light bulb, why your blue jeans are blue ( decaying oil produced but certain flowers is the tint) , if you ever knew that the lightning bolt is 5 times hotter than the sun itself, what really happens when you flush the toilet and how many days ( 11 to be exact) suspended germs can hover over it, how long that meat that you buy in the store has been lying around for ( 10 days, for muscles of animal to relax after rigor mortis ) and other bizarre interesting things you touch and breather in, then this is the book for you.
Don't be scared, it won't make anyone an alarmist, but it's a great tool on learning fascinating info and keeping germs at bay.

Knowledge is power. Who knew that invention (the long time it really took) to popularize soap meant end of many plagues and common reasons why people lived do short.

Now you will know many fun facts too. Great read, highly recommended.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Extraordinary Book of Extraordinary Science, January 18, 2005

By 

Nick S (MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret House: The Extraordinary Science of an Ordinary Day (Paperback)

This book (The Secret House: The Extraordinary Science of an Ordinary Day) follows one perfectly normal day in the house of two people. Starting with the alarm clock going off and ending with a late night bath, this book portrays the science behind all the normal things that are usually taken for granted by most. One man however (the author David Bodanis), does not let these things go unnoticed. He shows us what our eyes cannot see. These things include, what gives potato chips their snap, why jeans are blue, what is crawling into your food when you are not looking, what you kick up when you take a step, the damage you could do with the twist of the foot, the millions and millions of tiny mites and creatures crawling across your face as you read this review, and many, many other things, far to many for me to list here. The types of things Bodanis analyzes and breaks down are interesting, amazing, and in most cases, shocking. Without a doubt, this will be one of the most eye opening books you will ever read.
I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to find what is actually going on in their homes when they are there, and the things that go on in your homes when you are not there. This book had my interest from the front cover to the back cover. I will be honest, when I first got this book, I got it mostly because of the easy language and the fairly short number of pages. After finishing it though, I am immediately thankful that I did end up getting it. The language is very simple to understand. Some of the things discussed are not simple topics, but Bodanis does a great job of breaking it down into much simpler things, and much of the time, drawing metaphors to topics that a non-chemist will understand. A lot of the time, I found myself reading pages over, not because I did not understand them, but because I wanted to re-read some of the amazing things he says in this book. Any person can relate to this book, because it is about an ordinary day, which every person has had. I suggest this book to anyone that would be interested in what goes on beneath the surface of their daily routine.