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Journey to Civilization The Science of how we got here
How was the world made and how did we get here? All human cultures have ancient accounts of the creation of the Earth, and people, that have been passed down through an oral tradition of storytelling, until they were eventually written down. These traditional cosmological stories have universally they define our place in the universe and gave meaning to our existence. Journey to The Science of How We Got Here reveals a new cosmological story that is based on the evidence and skepticism of science. It explores and explains the science itself, from the physics of stars and the formation of rocky planets, to the evolution of life and the epic journey of humans out of Africa to nearly every continent the Earth. There has never before been one creation story that was shared by all the people of the world. Today, however, nearly all of humanity shares the methods and products of science. Science has become a universal language across all cultures; and thus the new creation story produced by science is the story of all the people of the world. It is the common ground upon which we all stand. Journey to Civilization is written for the non-scientist in clear, straight-forward language, and is richly illustrated with diagrams, charts, and beautiful color graphics and photographs. It will enrich the reader’s understanding of science, and it will change their view of humanity and our place in the universe.
- GenresScience
282 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 15, 2014
Journey to Civilization: The Science of How We Got Here was written by a science teacher of 30 years, Roger P. Briggs. In this book Briggs sets out to tell the story of our universe; how it was created and evolved to the world today using only scientific theories and methods.
I am unsure on where to begin with in regards to this book. This is not normally the type of book that I would choose to read, but I agreed to read it and give my honest opinion. Briggs is very enthusiastic and excited about this subject and I could feel his passion for science bleed through the page. His positive energy and passion for sharing this information is apparent in every word. If I had been watching the Briggs give a lecture on this subject, I would have been more involved and able to soak in more because I imagine him being the type of lecturer who is so enthusiastic about his subject that I wouldn’t be able to space out, I would be wholly drawn in. Being that I am not a ‘science person’ and have never sought out reading about science unless it is an educational requirement, I found myself spacing out while I was reading this book. Especially when a math problem is placed before me. As soon as I see a math problem my mind recoils, shuts down and goes to a 'special place' where the math in no longer able to harass it. That being said I did have some issues making it through this book, but my dislike of science and math shouldn’t make people who enjoy science pass over this title.
Journey to Civilization: The Science of How We Got Here; covers a wide variety of scientific specialties from Astronomers, to Cosmologists, from Microbiologists to Physical Anthropologists and a few more I am sure I am missing. Briggs gives a wonderful overview about how life was created, through scientific theory, from the creation of our galaxy, to the first beginnings of life up to where we are today. This book isn't bogged down with overly complicated explanations. Even if I spaced out, it is written for the non-expert or beginning scientist. I think this book would be best enjoyed by students who want to get a general overview of these scientific specialties, as well as people who are interest in the scientific theories of how our world was created and evolved.
This review was originally published at:
http://cozycornerandcafebookreviews.b...
I am unsure on where to begin with in regards to this book. This is not normally the type of book that I would choose to read, but I agreed to read it and give my honest opinion. Briggs is very enthusiastic and excited about this subject and I could feel his passion for science bleed through the page. His positive energy and passion for sharing this information is apparent in every word. If I had been watching the Briggs give a lecture on this subject, I would have been more involved and able to soak in more because I imagine him being the type of lecturer who is so enthusiastic about his subject that I wouldn’t be able to space out, I would be wholly drawn in. Being that I am not a ‘science person’ and have never sought out reading about science unless it is an educational requirement, I found myself spacing out while I was reading this book. Especially when a math problem is placed before me. As soon as I see a math problem my mind recoils, shuts down and goes to a 'special place' where the math in no longer able to harass it. That being said I did have some issues making it through this book, but my dislike of science and math shouldn’t make people who enjoy science pass over this title.
Journey to Civilization: The Science of How We Got Here; covers a wide variety of scientific specialties from Astronomers, to Cosmologists, from Microbiologists to Physical Anthropologists and a few more I am sure I am missing. Briggs gives a wonderful overview about how life was created, through scientific theory, from the creation of our galaxy, to the first beginnings of life up to where we are today. This book isn't bogged down with overly complicated explanations. Even if I spaced out, it is written for the non-expert or beginning scientist. I think this book would be best enjoyed by students who want to get a general overview of these scientific specialties, as well as people who are interest in the scientific theories of how our world was created and evolved.
This review was originally published at:
http://cozycornerandcafebookreviews.b...
January 13, 2014
I received a copy of this book for an honest review through Netgalley. This is a well written book with a fascinating subject. It explores the many stages of existence of humankind, and gives us a creation tale told through science and logic. In style it is very similar to the works of Jared Diamond, who is the master at taking scientific facts and explaining them in a way that the layman can comprehend. Journey to Civilization is intelligent but also an easy and engaging read. It is also very informative without reading like a textbook. Anyone looking for a comprehensive scientific view of the history of humankind will greatly enjoy this book. 4/5 stars.
March 18, 2014
This well presented book brings together a picture of science from the moment that the universe began, to now. While it is necessarily a complex topic, readers may skip over terms they don't immediately understand in order to get the broad picture, and come back to them as they want to learn. Photos, diagrams and graphs in bright colours help to illustrate the copious data.
While JOURNEY TO CIVILISATION bears similarities to Dawkins' 'The Blind Watchmaker' it makes use of more modern discoveries such as the finding of Neanderthal DNA in the DNA of modern humans in Asia and Europe. "Good theories in science make predictions that can be tested," says Roger P Briggs and he gives us several examples, from natural selection of moths to the evolution of complex bacteria from simple ones.
The human-caused greenhouse effect will cause severe problems; we have to overcome the challenge of sharing an increasingly overcrowded Earth with other species. Teenagers with an interest in the topic could read this book though it is too technical for children and coves a great deal of ground in compressed fashion. I recommend Roger Briggs's work to ecology students and anyone with a grasp of the material who wishes to update their knowledge.
While JOURNEY TO CIVILISATION bears similarities to Dawkins' 'The Blind Watchmaker' it makes use of more modern discoveries such as the finding of Neanderthal DNA in the DNA of modern humans in Asia and Europe. "Good theories in science make predictions that can be tested," says Roger P Briggs and he gives us several examples, from natural selection of moths to the evolution of complex bacteria from simple ones.
The human-caused greenhouse effect will cause severe problems; we have to overcome the challenge of sharing an increasingly overcrowded Earth with other species. Teenagers with an interest in the topic could read this book though it is too technical for children and coves a great deal of ground in compressed fashion. I recommend Roger Briggs's work to ecology students and anyone with a grasp of the material who wishes to update their knowledge.
January 24, 2015
Journey to Civilization The Science of how we got here
by Roger P Briggs
This is great time for this book to be printed... with the remake of Cosmos and the re look at historical triumphs in science, the growth of theory and practice a look at the facts and figures behind the sensation. The popularity of science on you tube, in Asap science, Vsause. or Face books I f@#$% love science show the interest of the population in science has blossomed in the need to learn more.
Looking at the first day and the formation of the galaxy universe and all things. I love the reference to time being three days although all human history is in the last seconds similar to cosmos's year of creation where its the last 14 seconds for all of humanity or history. I think the three days make it an easier concept to look at.
Looking at the theories and ideas of the formation of life in day 3, how progress from aminoacids and dna, rna development create problems with finding definitive evidence of how life progressed.
the aspect of looking into the development of life from the beginning if bacteria, flora and fauna, going into the branches of the tree of life is spectacularly explained.
The book begins the explanation of tree of life with a warning that from that point on the book will become controversial that the ideas will conflict with how man first believed they were created by a supreme being. I think the author did an outstanding job of acknowledging the controversy in simple and polite terms.
The authors quick review of paleo-anthropology was awesome. I loved the contributions of personal history and the descriptions of the finds, although its a brief part of the whole story his wording and technique make it to become the most remarkable part of the book.
The controversy discussed back and forth between climate change and extinction is handled superbly explaining the problem and current findings that have changed and solidified theory.
The wikimedia sources are great illustrations, the enhance the learning of the reader, and allow representations to show the difference in predictive nature of the illustrations.
My only criticism comes in part to not using the technology to make links define terms allowing for a younger reading audience, i would love to recommend this book to teachers for further supplements for their science classrooms, if the text had more descriptive terminology it could easily be used in the classroom.
I am astonished by the currency of the information it the book, research findings are supported and elaborated with current evidence and theory.
the text looking at migration of people through out the land mass, the author does a great job showing the controversy and the convulsions of how many theories have not been proven.
by Roger P Briggs
This is great time for this book to be printed... with the remake of Cosmos and the re look at historical triumphs in science, the growth of theory and practice a look at the facts and figures behind the sensation. The popularity of science on you tube, in Asap science, Vsause. or Face books I f@#$% love science show the interest of the population in science has blossomed in the need to learn more.
Looking at the first day and the formation of the galaxy universe and all things. I love the reference to time being three days although all human history is in the last seconds similar to cosmos's year of creation where its the last 14 seconds for all of humanity or history. I think the three days make it an easier concept to look at.
Looking at the theories and ideas of the formation of life in day 3, how progress from aminoacids and dna, rna development create problems with finding definitive evidence of how life progressed.
the aspect of looking into the development of life from the beginning if bacteria, flora and fauna, going into the branches of the tree of life is spectacularly explained.
The book begins the explanation of tree of life with a warning that from that point on the book will become controversial that the ideas will conflict with how man first believed they were created by a supreme being. I think the author did an outstanding job of acknowledging the controversy in simple and polite terms.
The authors quick review of paleo-anthropology was awesome. I loved the contributions of personal history and the descriptions of the finds, although its a brief part of the whole story his wording and technique make it to become the most remarkable part of the book.
The controversy discussed back and forth between climate change and extinction is handled superbly explaining the problem and current findings that have changed and solidified theory.
The wikimedia sources are great illustrations, the enhance the learning of the reader, and allow representations to show the difference in predictive nature of the illustrations.
My only criticism comes in part to not using the technology to make links define terms allowing for a younger reading audience, i would love to recommend this book to teachers for further supplements for their science classrooms, if the text had more descriptive terminology it could easily be used in the classroom.
I am astonished by the currency of the information it the book, research findings are supported and elaborated with current evidence and theory.
the text looking at migration of people through out the land mass, the author does a great job showing the controversy and the convulsions of how many theories have not been proven.
August 24, 2014
I think the author of this book tried something very arduous and complex. He tried to narrate from the moment the Big Bang happened to when humans appeared on Earth. Now one can only fathom all the scientific study that it entails, the intelligence to comprehend it all, the bird-eye's view for synthesis and the capacity to divulge such complex matter in layman's language.
Well in my humble opinion I think he has done quite a good job about it. Mind you it is still a science book, it can become “boring” at times but it has zest in the prose that picks you up now and again to urge one's curiosity to read further.
One thing, I would recommend to read this book on a colour rendering electronic reader or computer. There are quite some stunning photos, obviously in colour, that if you read them on an ink rendering e-reader would just pass unnoticed. And more importantly, the colour in the photos, diagrams or graphs are needed to understand fully the accompanying text.
You will find that the book is full of hypertext. In fact more than 25% of the book is made up of Appendices to help smoothing the reading experience of the “more scientific stuff”.
So if all science books could be written in this way, then general science could be more digestible and easily accessible to many.
The book is also available as a paperback.
Well done!
Well in my humble opinion I think he has done quite a good job about it. Mind you it is still a science book, it can become “boring” at times but it has zest in the prose that picks you up now and again to urge one's curiosity to read further.
One thing, I would recommend to read this book on a colour rendering electronic reader or computer. There are quite some stunning photos, obviously in colour, that if you read them on an ink rendering e-reader would just pass unnoticed. And more importantly, the colour in the photos, diagrams or graphs are needed to understand fully the accompanying text.
You will find that the book is full of hypertext. In fact more than 25% of the book is made up of Appendices to help smoothing the reading experience of the “more scientific stuff”.
So if all science books could be written in this way, then general science could be more digestible and easily accessible to many.
The book is also available as a paperback.
Well done!
May 11, 2014
I am not a scientist and I understood this book and the concepts that are being presented. The boxes of highlights interspersed throughout the book were interesting and added to the main content. The clock analogy for explaining the passage of time really helped me to understand how the earth and people developed together.
Read
July 26, 2016I am not the target demographic for this book as it is a look at how the world was created through the big bang and evolution.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews