Rating:

Physics for everyone…

Author:  Helen Czerski

storm in a teacup book coverIt’s unlikely that there will ever be anyone like him again.  Possibly the most prolific writer in the history of the written word, Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) was always my go to author when it came to entertaining explanations of the physical world around us, from neutrinos to galaxies.  I’m (a lot) older now, but I recognized some of the same thrills when I recently picked up Storm in a Teacup by British physicist and TV host Helen Czerski.  Much like Asimov, she displays an engaging knack for deftly illuminating the many curiosities that make up the world around us.

Coast redwoods photo

How do these giant redwoods defy gravity?

Featuring wide-ranging chapters on topics like gasses, gravity, viscosity, magnetism, waves (light, sound and water), the book is remarkably readable despite the often complicated and counterintuitive subject matter.   Using simple explanations and forgoing mathematical equations, Czerski cleverly explores everyday life with passion and enthusiasm.

Most of the best physics writing I’ve come across over the past few years involves the bizarre mysteries of the quantum world.  It’s a fascinating topic, but it really doesn’t have any sort of application to the human-scale world that we actually live in.  Pursuing a more practical bent, Czerski focuses on the physics that we interact with every moment of our lives.  And that’s what makes the book so enjoyable.  Everything she writes about, from popcorn to ketchup bottles to coffee stains, is directly observable, allowing curious readers to explore and expand topics in their own kitchens, backyards or swimming pools.

In the tradition of the great science writers who’ve come before her, Storm in a Teacup is a truly entertaining success on multiple levels. The explanations are clear, informative and often a lot of fun.   I can enthusiastically recommend the book for anyone who wants to know more about the world we live in.  Or anyone looking for a great conversation starter at the next neighborhood picnic.

— D. Driftless

I bought this book at Arcadia Books in Spring Green, WI.  It’s one of the best book stores in southern Wisconsin.

Redwood photo by Acroterion (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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