Two Fisted Science: Stories About Scientists (Paperback)

~ (Author), Mark Badger (Author), Donna Barr (Author), Sean Bieri (Author) "Don't Jump In, young man?..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ralph Leighton, Los Alamos, Richard Feynman (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

It humanizes science in a badly needed way, it inspires. -- The Comics Journal

The cartoons both intrigue and amuse. An unusual but intelligent introduction to some of the most famous figures in physics. -- Physics World, December 1997

[W]onderfully offbeat and human. This collection illustrates some of science history's more offbeat sides... -- FACTSHEET FIVE, March 1998

Product Description

The first of its kind, Two-Fisted Science is a Xeric Award-winning and Eisner nominated original trade paperback featuring true stories from the history of science. From Galileo to Isaac Newton to Richard Feynman, you'll be amazed how the personalities of the scientists who shaped our world shaped the lives and discoveries. Some are serious, some are humorous, and all are compelling.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: G.T. Labs; 2 edition (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966010620
• ISBN-13: 978-0966010626
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #671,094 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #82 in	Books > Children's Books > Sports & Activities > Humor > Cartoons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I may be biased...but..., March 25, 2006

By	Colleen Doran (Appalachian Mountains) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Two-Fisted Science (Paperback)

I'm not sure if it is entirely fair for me to give a review of this book, since I was one of the illustrators who worked on it BUT my contribution is quite small and I can at least give you an honest assessment of the rest of the project. I have rarely been prouder to be a part of a graphic novel project. I have read all of Ottaviani's GN's about the lives of scientists (including the ones I did not work on) and I find them riveting. I do not agree with the earlier reviewer that there is any offensive material in this book. She makes the volume sound like an adaptaion of "Caligula". The "offensive" shot is a teeny, tiny panel that shows a lady floating through a man's imagination. She is clad in a gauzy garment. The shot is a direct and necessary shot to explain how the scientist came up with a mathematical formula. It is in no way gratuitous. Lord forbid that anyone who thinks this is offensive actually stroll through the ancient Greco-Roman art section of a museum. Their head will explode. I do not recall seeing any strong language at all. I also found the book to be quite amusing. The contributions of the other artists display solid cartooning. The clever stories, especially those about the life of the mischievous Feynmann, are de facto amusing. The guy was a born prankster. Scientists aren't carved out of marble, they make mistakes, get grouchy, think of pretty girls, and play practical jokes. This book is a great way to encourage young people to pursue science as it shows the humanity of them as well as their playful ways of viewing the world. Science isn't all dry study. It's about real people living real lives, and that is why I recommend this book, even if I drew a page of it, so I suppose there's a conflict of interest there. Oh well.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gee, I found this book particularly appropriate and helpful, September 21, 2004

By	Katrina Hagedorn (Ann Arbor MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Two-Fisted Science (Paperback)

In response to a previous review ("Inappropriate and unhelpful"):

1. Swear words? What swear words? There are none in my copy.

2. I've seen this book in young adult and adult sections of libraries and bookstores. It's perfectly appropriate for both sections. And I've seen the author speak to an audience of kids about his books and they gobbled it up.

3. Comics are not required to be funny. Was "Maus" by Art Spiegelman funny?

4. It's easy to find something to be offended by in just about any book, but it's hard to see where the writing and art here are in any way inappropriate to the subject matter. Let's not forget that these stories are based on scientists' real lives. You think scientists are perfect human beings? That's part of what makes these stories interesting to read. They're fallible, like you and me.

Besides, while the book may not be funny, it's certainly a lot of fun to read because of the comics format. What better way to get your kids interested in science?

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen in to some our greatest oddball minds . . ., September 19, 2003

By	Michael K. Smith (Gonzales, Louisiana) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Two-Fisted Science (Paperback)

All the stories in this collection of "graphic fiction" were written by Ottaviani, but the artwork was supplied by ten artists, including Bernie Mireault and Scott Saavedra. The stories are based on real events (reportedly real, anyway) about Einstein, Russell, Bohr, Heisenberg, and others - and especially Richard Feynman, who was not only one of 20th century physics's major minds but an amateur locksmith, talented musician, social philosopher, and world-class storyteller as well. Some, like "turtles all the way down," are smile-inducing classics, while others, like Heisenberg's approach to Bohr on behalf on the German nuclear effort in World War II are somber and reflective. Feynman's own recounting of his brief, tragic marriage during the Manhattan Project is especially affecting, and the tale of his safe-cracking activities at Los Alamos and Oak Ridge are a hoot. Oh, and you'll even learn some physics theory along the way, or at least get a taste of how physicists view the world. I hope another volume like this is in the works.