Science in Seconds

by Hazel Muir

"Science in Seconds" explains 200 of the most important concepts in various branches of science. The book uses easily understood language and clear illustrations for each concept, making it ideal for those with little or no experience in the sciences. Readers can gain a preliminary understanding and may be motivated to seek more information. Generous cross-referencing and a glossary of terms add clarity and context.

The book explains key concepts in the following subjects: PhysicsChemistryBiologyEcologyBiotechnologyAnatomy and physiologyMedicineEarth scienceEnergy generationAstronomySpace flightInformation technology

"Science in Seconds" is an excellent resource for students recently introduced to these concepts and as a quick-look reference for interested readers.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Reference, Education

415 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Brian Clegg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why it is, but publishers seem to love books that give you a whole host of bite-sized information on a subject. I can't help but feel it's a bit of a dinosaur as far as book styles go, because this is the kind of thing that the internet does so well. Books are better for narrative flow - no one wants to read 80,000 words from a web page - but if you just want a bite-sized intro to a subject, then the web is your oyster.

With that in mind, I really have nothing against Hazel Muir's Science in Seconds. It is a well written collection of very short articles on all sorts of aspects of science. They are so short they tend to be more statement of facts than interesting stories, but they do the job well enough, with passable illustrations in a strange almost square pocket-sized shape. But I am stretched to see the point of it.

There are a couple of small moans. Inevitably when trying to cover all of science, some good bits will be missed out and others questioned - it's the case with any 'best of' list. Interesting though hard drives, flash memory and optical storage are, I really don't think they qualify to rank alongside the big bang, quantum theory and evolution. And if I'm going to be picky, there were a couple of small errors. The explanation of a how a plane's wing generates lift is wrong in ascribing it primarily to the Bernoulli effect, and a piece on the planets tell us there are 8 in the text, but show 9 in the diagram - but mostly the content is absolutely fine, concise and factful. It's just I keep coming back to 'What's the point'?

The press release tells us it is a 'compact and portable format - a handy reference, ideal for students'. But would a student really buy this as a reference? It has far too little detail to help with a science course. And anyone with a smartphone can access much more detailed references at the touch of a button in an even better 'compact and portable' format. I feel like a real grouch here. Just call me Oscar. I genuinely think that Muir has done an excellent job. But to what end?

For those who like a bit of publishing speculation, it's interesting that when I searched for the book on Amazon, the same book came up but the cover showed it was written by Paul Parsons rather than Hazel Muir. What happened there, then?

Review first published on www.popularscience.co.uk and reproduced with permission

[Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate the authors for the huge amount of effort and research put into this information-packed book with great details and almost no misinformation at all. This is literally science-in-seconds. And this is high-level science as well. The book contains nearly all of the major concepts in AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Physics. You will definitely be enlightened after reading this book.

I plan to review the concepts in this book from time to time.

[Am Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book full of bite-sized info for the person who wants to know at least a little about a wide array of science topics ranging from plants and photosynthesis, to climate change and global warming, to space and wormholes. Each topic is maximum 2 pages long, comprising of 4-6 paragraphs. The font is big and easy to read. If you're looking for a nifty time filler while commuting, this book is it. It is well targeted at the adult science layman - the language is suitably advanced but not too technical or jargon-filled that it becomes off-putting.

[Burak Ö · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temel ortaokul lise seviyesinde bilim bilgileri içeriyor. 12 bölümde kısa anlatımlar içeren bu ''Dakikalar İçinde'' serisi kitabını okurken bazı bilgilerin eksik olduğunu düşünüyordum ki kitabın özgün halinin 2012 yılında yayınlandığını öğrendim. 11 yıllık teknoloji gelişimini siz de okuyunca fark edeceksiniz.

[Arwa Baj · Rating 5 out of 5]

So basic yet SO GOOD like omg this is what my mind is looking for! I'm a clinical dietitian and I've studies so many complicated science subjects with too much details including biochemistry.. for me to understand, I sometimes need to see the overall picture, go over the basic idea of everything just like what find in this book♥️

[jelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

cant say i understood all (or most) of the concepts but at least im familiar with them now >:)

[Ashley Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you just wanna learn basic stuff without getting tooooo into it. Kinda brought me back to high school, which is the last time I purposely read anything having to do with science.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ideal book for any preteen schoolchild.

[Callum Laing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a itty bitty litty

[Rokas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to skip Chemistry and Biology, cuz that shit was so borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring. The rest was alright tho, sometimes way too complicated.

[Leah Servelan Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for the collection you keep in the toilet room for when you accidentally go without your phone and need some reading material. I would buy an updated version in a heartbeat.

[Lauren W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and to the point.

[Maggie Hesseling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! Every day I've picked it up just to read a couple pages and refresh my knowledge of high school science, and learn a couple things that I'd never known. It's going to become my quick go-to guide for anything scientific. With great illustrations to help explain the concepts. A must-read for any (very very occasional) science dabbler such as myself.

[Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

A science encyclopedia made easy

Easy to read, a Bible of the world, made easy to read, a must read this is like education , all of it, condensed.

[OldLeg · Rating 4 out of 5]

an ok book, to refresh basic scientific concepts.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional! ❤️