Philosophy
Wired book reviewer Matt Blum gives his review of Stephen and Lucy Hawking's children book George's Secret Key to the Universe. If there is a Christmas this year, it would make a cool gift.
George's Secret Key to the Universe is probably exactly what you'd expect from a children's book written by the world's preeminent theoretical physicist and his daughter. It is full of information about the universe, theories about black holes and tributes to the wonders of science in general, but presented in a gentle way so that it all remains digestible to young minds.
George is a young boy whose parents are extreme technophobes, to the point of refusing to use light bulbs. George doesn't feel the same way, and wants a computer more than anything else in the world. One day his pet pig Freddy runs away, he follows him next door (where George has been forbidden to go), and he discovers that the neighbors are Eric, a physicist, and his daughter Annie, a free spirit. In Eric's study resides Cosmos, the most powerful computer in the world, with a somewhat sullen personality. Eric and Annie, with Cosmos's reluctant help, introduce George to the wonders of science and teach him about the universe. In the process, of course, they teach the reader as well. Alas, George accidentally reveals the existence of Cosmos to his evil school teacher, Dr. Reeper, which sets up much of the plot of the rest of the book. There is also a subplot involving school bullies.
There are some beautiful photographs, mostly from the Hubble Space Telescope, provided in the book, and charts presenting scientific data directly so as not to make the text too technical. Still, I can't unequivocally recommend the book. The first several chapters are clunky, setting up the story in a very obvious way. The messages are delivered in a very heavy-handed way -- for example, the disparity between George's parents and Eric need not have been made quite so drastic. I think many, if not most, kids will realize that the story is there only as a vehicle for the lessons being taught. Still, if my kids (7 and 5) are any indication, they will enjoy the story anyway. There is an unexpectedly scary moment late in the book, which I felt was handled poorly by the authors, but taken as a whole it's a worthwhile read.
George's Secret Key to the Universe is the first book of a planned trilogy, with the second and third books coming out next year and 2010, respectively. It is not a perfect book, and unlike most of the books I have recommended here is not as good a read for adults as for kids, but it's worth the money for its ability to get complicated facts and theories across to kids. And for GeekParents, there's something comforting about knowing that you don't have to double-check the science in a book, because one of the authors is often mentioned in the same breath as Newton and Einstein, which you probably aren't.
"George's Secret Key to the Universe"--Stephen Hawking & daughter Lucy
- S. Hawking Is Moving Closer To Philosophy
"Stephen Hawking tackles Creation on 'Curiosity'" by Dan Vergano July 31st, 2011 USA TODAY The most famous scientist in the world, Stephen Hawking, has never avoided the big questions, from the nature of time to the fate of the universe. But...
- S. Hawking's New Book...a Review By Michael Moorcock
Well, why not...nothing else to do, so write a book and speculate. "Book review: 'The Grand Design' by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow" This fascinating book ponders the numerous theories that explain our universe, scientific and otherwise....
- Hawking Has Inside Information About The Universe
Hawking has certainly stepped into the realm of philosophy and metaphysics. "God did not create the universe, says Hawking" by Michael Holden September 2nd, 2010 Reuters God did not create the universe and the "Big Bang" was an inevitable consequence...
- Texas A&m Will Host Stephen Hawking April 5th
If you are interested... "Stephen Hawking To Speak April 5" March 25th, 2010 Texas A&M News & Information Services Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking returns to Aggieland next month to present a rare public lecture, and officials in the Department...
- George Gamow...big Bang...popular Science
I almost forgot. This is George Gamow's birthdate. The Russian/American nuclear physicist George Gamow was born Mar. 4, in Odessa, in the Ukraine. Gamow came to the United States in the 1930s. During the War, when all the American nuclear physicists...
Philosophy
Another review of Stephen and Lucy Hawking's children's book
Wired book reviewer Matt Blum gives his review of Stephen and Lucy Hawking's children book George's Secret Key to the Universe. If there is a Christmas this year, it would make a cool gift."The Geekly Reader: George's Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy and Stephen Hawking"
by
Matt Blum
July 23rd, 2008
Wired
by
Matt Blum
July 23rd, 2008
Wired
George's Secret Key to the Universe is probably exactly what you'd expect from a children's book written by the world's preeminent theoretical physicist and his daughter. It is full of information about the universe, theories about black holes and tributes to the wonders of science in general, but presented in a gentle way so that it all remains digestible to young minds.
George is a young boy whose parents are extreme technophobes, to the point of refusing to use light bulbs. George doesn't feel the same way, and wants a computer more than anything else in the world. One day his pet pig Freddy runs away, he follows him next door (where George has been forbidden to go), and he discovers that the neighbors are Eric, a physicist, and his daughter Annie, a free spirit. In Eric's study resides Cosmos, the most powerful computer in the world, with a somewhat sullen personality. Eric and Annie, with Cosmos's reluctant help, introduce George to the wonders of science and teach him about the universe. In the process, of course, they teach the reader as well. Alas, George accidentally reveals the existence of Cosmos to his evil school teacher, Dr. Reeper, which sets up much of the plot of the rest of the book. There is also a subplot involving school bullies.
There are some beautiful photographs, mostly from the Hubble Space Telescope, provided in the book, and charts presenting scientific data directly so as not to make the text too technical. Still, I can't unequivocally recommend the book. The first several chapters are clunky, setting up the story in a very obvious way. The messages are delivered in a very heavy-handed way -- for example, the disparity between George's parents and Eric need not have been made quite so drastic. I think many, if not most, kids will realize that the story is there only as a vehicle for the lessons being taught. Still, if my kids (7 and 5) are any indication, they will enjoy the story anyway. There is an unexpectedly scary moment late in the book, which I felt was handled poorly by the authors, but taken as a whole it's a worthwhile read.
George's Secret Key to the Universe is the first book of a planned trilogy, with the second and third books coming out next year and 2010, respectively. It is not a perfect book, and unlike most of the books I have recommended here is not as good a read for adults as for kids, but it's worth the money for its ability to get complicated facts and theories across to kids. And for GeekParents, there's something comforting about knowing that you don't have to double-check the science in a book, because one of the authors is often mentioned in the same breath as Newton and Einstein, which you probably aren't.
"George's Secret Key to the Universe"--Stephen Hawking & daughter Lucy
- S. Hawking Is Moving Closer To Philosophy
"Stephen Hawking tackles Creation on 'Curiosity'" by Dan Vergano July 31st, 2011 USA TODAY The most famous scientist in the world, Stephen Hawking, has never avoided the big questions, from the nature of time to the fate of the universe. But...
- S. Hawking's New Book...a Review By Michael Moorcock
Well, why not...nothing else to do, so write a book and speculate. "Book review: 'The Grand Design' by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow" This fascinating book ponders the numerous theories that explain our universe, scientific and otherwise....
- Hawking Has Inside Information About The Universe
Hawking has certainly stepped into the realm of philosophy and metaphysics. "God did not create the universe, says Hawking" by Michael Holden September 2nd, 2010 Reuters God did not create the universe and the "Big Bang" was an inevitable consequence...
- Texas A&m Will Host Stephen Hawking April 5th
If you are interested... "Stephen Hawking To Speak April 5" March 25th, 2010 Texas A&M News & Information Services Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking returns to Aggieland next month to present a rare public lecture, and officials in the Department...
- George Gamow...big Bang...popular Science
I almost forgot. This is George Gamow's birthdate. The Russian/American nuclear physicist George Gamow was born Mar. 4, in Odessa, in the Ukraine. Gamow came to the United States in the 1930s. During the War, when all the American nuclear physicists...