Please Explain

by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

Australia's favourite scientist's twenty-sixth book!'What are the facts? Again and again and again - what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking ... avoid opinion ... facts are your single clue. Get the facts!' - time Enough for Love, Robert Heinlein Does eating celery make you lighter? Do you have to be dying to have a near-death experience? Is a yawn a silent, natural scream for air; and if a little oxygen is good for you is more oxygen better? Can the humble spud kill? Did Galileo drop his balls from the Leaning tower of Pisa? Did a NASA computer really prove a miracle in the Bible actually happened? Is there any substance harder than diamond, and do diamonds really last forever? And exactly how many Eskimo words for 'snow' are there? Wherever he goes, people always ask Dr Karl to explain stuff, and in this his 26th book (26 is the only number directly between a square and a cube), he explains more myths and curly questions. Visit Dr Karl at www.drkarl.com

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2007

Reviews

[Tricia]

I really enjoyed this book. Written in short chapters it is easy to pick up and put down. There was some amusing anecdotes and I learnt stuff :-)

[Ellen Marie]

I’m biased because I grew up with Dr Karl books, but these are always a fun read.

I know these are probably a few reading levels below me now, but this was a nice break for my brain.

Anyway, if you want entertaining science facts or interesting explanations of a wide range of scientific topics, read Dr Karl.

[Kathryn]

I finished reading this nonfiction Ebook while in the comfy chairs at my local Barnes and Noble, and I can say that this enjoyable book is great for comfy chair reading.

The author is an Australian science communicator on television and radio, as well as being a prolific author. This book takes on several questions, such as whether there are "negative calorie" foods (there are not), whether salting the pasta water will make the water boil faster (only to a vanishingly minute degree, but it might improve the taste of the pasta), whether women speak more than men (nope), whether psychics have really aided crime investigations (nope), and other burning questions.

I found this to be a fun book, and enjoyed reading it.

[Sanket]

Dr Karl does it again. Please explain is an insightful science book that will surely satisfy curious minds. The book is written more or less like a magazine which makes it more readable. No pre-requisites required for this science book. This would make a great gift for children and adults alike.

[Tumshy]

Karl is a great brain and explains things as they are.
His books are a joy to read and everyone can benefit from some form of enlightenment by just browsing though one.
I refer to his unique genius regularly.

[Nerrelle]

Dr Karl does it again

I just love his enthusiasm & interesting topics. He debunks old beliefs and steers you in the right direction. Such a wide range of information & easy to read, even the very technical stuff.

[Andrew]

Legend

[Jimmy Scarff]

I could understand most of what was in there. It was good information.

I like how Karl draws on a wide variety of subjects in his scientific explanation.

I think the book is very good. It was my mothers, and she got it from the op shop.

I thought it was a good read. Interesting. Mum reckons its hard to understand.

[R]

enlightening...

[Adam]

DR. KARL IS AWESOME

[Mills College Library]

500 K947p 2008

[Jared]

A smart man with even smarter shirts. Plus he shops at bunnings like me; maybe next time I'll get a signature.

[Paul]

Awesome read. Thanks Dr Karl
Hi Kenz :)

[Bibbulmun]

Nearly as good as listening to him on triple j. Very enjoyable and amusing as always.