The Best of Annals of Improbable Research (Paperback)

by Marc Abrahams (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
"Science is too human, too much fun, and too important not to laugh at it." The Annals of Improbable Research (and its predecessor, the Journal of Irreproducible Results) has been making fun of science and scientists for decades. This latest compendium includes a listing of the Ig Nobel prizes, annually awarded "for scientific achievements which cannot or should not be reproduced," and some of the prizewinning papers, such as "Failure of Electric Shock Treatment for Rattlesnake Envenomation" and "Of Mites and Man." There are also plenty of groundbreaking original studies from AIR: "How Dead Is a Doornail?" "Furniture Airbags," and "The Medical Effects of Kissing Boo-Boos." As the book's warning label states, the result is a highly reactive mix: "Contents are unexpectedly educational and informative, especially in patients who suffer allergic reactions to science, technology, literature, or art. Can be highly addictive." Let the buyer beware. --Mary Ellen Curtin

Review
"If you have any interest in modern scientific research you'll find yourself guffawing from the first page of this book to the last."--Martin Gardner
-- Review

A delightful look at the history of AIR, Ig, and scientific silliness. Chock full of memorable papers, compelling interviews, and musings on God, The Best of Annals of Improbable Research is a jolly read. -- San Francisco Weekly, April 24, 1998

It is comforting to know these brilliant minds have have found harmless outlets for their excess intellectual energies. It is also entertaining and instructive for the rest of us. -- Chicago Sun-Times, December 18, 1998

Mixing true yet 'colorful and stupefyingly impressive' research culled from 'serious' research journals...this humorous retrospective lets readers peek inside research labs and minds of the greats. -- Science News, January 3, 1998

There are so many important questions, so very many confusing, tantalizing things in this life. The Annals of Improbable Research looks into all of them. -- Editorial Humor, Oct.14,1997

When I first saw the anthology Best of Annals of Improbable Research, I thought it would be a good Christmas present for someone I know who agrees with AIR's fundamental principle: Science is too important to be stuffy about. But I'll have to buy another copy; I'm going to keep this one! -- Linda Seebach, Rocky Mountain News, Denver, CO

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716730944
• ISBN-13: 978-0716730941
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #255,970 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Endless Resources and Possibilities!, November 29, 1999

By	Turtle Haste (Corvallis, OR) - See all my reviews

This book came home with my spouse about a year ago to be placed in my "reading" pile. I never could figure out what he was snickering at until I was looking for an article for math class. What a find! As a student teacher I've used "Aerodynamics of Potato Chips" and "Taxonomy of Barney" for evaluation of scientific study and an introduction to scientific inquiry. Most recently a classmate used "Aerodynamics of Potato Chips" with a group of middle school students who were interested in the distance of the standard toss as defined by the article (much to the horror of the custodial staff). From this initial investigation, the class moved into a more formal study of aerodynamics. This book is science educators dream! Fun and interesting articles that refocus attention, demonstrating that anything can be done scientifically, if one puts their mind to it. Its also an insight into the humor of science as who better to make fun of science than those who do it?

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Funny, Enjoyable Humor, November 23, 2000

By A Customer

As a scientist, I really enjoyed reading about the many funny quirks of scientific experimentation. Perhaps without these eccentricities, there would be no innovation! Great book!! If you enjoy "behind-the-bench" humor, I would like to suggest yet another book filled with hilarious situations and lots of candid, satirical wit on the life of scientists and their managers in high-tech R&D industry, from the point-of-view of the technical staff. This new, insightful American satire is entitled, "Management by Vice" by C.B. Don and is highly recommended as an entertaining, adjunct-read to the incredible "Annals of Improbable Research".

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ubiquitous Holy Grail, November 26, 2003

By	Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As a scientist and technical professional I couldn't put this book down. I have kept up with the the Annals of Improbable Research for many years and this truly reflects some of the best efforts of scientists the world over. In this volume we have works by legitimate Nobel prize winners, and lesser known works such as "Gummy Worm on a Sidewalk" by Kate and Jesse Eppers, ages 12 and 10, respectively. (In their conclusion they noted that: "We came to a conclusion that three out of five people will accidentally step on a gummy worm thrown on a sidewalk." Brilliant.)

Highlights for me include: "The Laser Cheese Raclette", "The Effects of Peanut Butter on the Earth's Rotation," and, of course, "Internet Barbie and the Time Caplet." There are too many to go into, but almost all are delightful. I guess the only minor critique would be of the couple of pages of limericks, which I find a bit trying, particularly when the subject matter is "Mastodon, Mother, and Babe."

Overall a wonderful, humorous look at scientists and science through a very different lens than most are used to.