Good science and common sense often don't mix. In Weighing the Soul, Len Fisher shows the path to scientific discovery is frequently a bumpy one that follows Schopenhauer's famous maxim - 'All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; and Third, it is accepted as self-evident.' Fisher tells the fascinating, human stories behind some of the great as well as some of the not-so-great scientific ideas of the past - those that were truly bizarre, peculiar or downright daft, and ...
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Good science and common sense often don't mix. In Weighing the Soul, Len Fisher shows the path to scientific discovery is frequently a bumpy one that follows Schopenhauer's famous maxim - 'All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; and Third, it is accepted as self-evident.' Fisher tells the fascinating, human stories behind some of the great as well as some of the not-so-great scientific ideas of the past - those that were truly bizarre, peculiar or downright daft, and those that just seemed that way at the time. As he shows, it is often only with hindsight that the two can be told apart, and it is some of those who appeared most wrong - and who were variously ignored, persecuted and imprisoned as a result - that ultimately went on to be proved most right. Len's witty and engaging style takes us from Frankenstein's monster to pacemakers, from The Water Babies to the structure of DNA, from one American doctor's attempts to weigh the human soul through to the necessary (and truly weird) mysteries of modern science. Along the way he illuminates a wide variety of wonderful titbits - such as links between Newton and Polaroid sunglasses, and how Quantum Mechanics gave us CD players - and shows why, like Alice in Wonderland, modern scientists can often end up believing six impossible things before breakfast.
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Seller's Description:
Very good in very good dust jacket. First Edition. A hardback First Edition in Very Good or better condition, Near Fine, in a similar dustjacket. This book is in stock now, in our UK premises. Photos of our books are available on request (the pictures you see on Alibris are NOT our own).
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Seller's Description:
Good. No Jacket. Size: 19 to 25 cm tall, Octavo, (8vo); Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail tracked worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in fine dust jacket. First Edition. A hardback First Edition in Fine condition, tiny almost invisible bump to lower front corner, in a Fine dustjacket. This book is in stock now, in our UK premises. Photos of our books are available on request (the pictures you see on Alibris are NOT our own).
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Very Good jacket. 214 pages. Book and Jacket are both in Very good condition throughout. The only exception is a small inscription to the inside page and some notes written on inside back cover. Fascinating Titbits And Diverting Detail, This Illuninates The True, And Often Bumpy, Road To Scientific Discovery.
