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Why Don't Things Fall Up?: Seven fundamental science questions explored and explained
Everything you once learnt in science class, but have definitely forgotten along the way
Has a child - or anyone else - ever asked you why the sky is blue? Could you explain why ice cream melts? Have you forgotten why scientists think the universe started with a Big Bang, and do you understand the difference between respiration and breathing?
Why Don't Things Fall Up? will gently remind you of everything you may have learnt once upon a time, but have somehow forgotten along the way. If you've ever changed the subject when a child has asked for homework help, or if you have the curiosity of a seven year old yourself, or if you know everything but have forgotten the basics or don't want to know anything except the basics - then this is the book for you.
Using questions asked by children as a starting point, Alom Shaha (who has spent over two decades trying to help people of all ages understand this stuff) takes us on a tour of the "big ideas" of science from his unique perspective. His experience as a dad, a teacher and science communicator means he knows exactly what people don't know - and especially the misconceptions and other intellectual hurdles which prevent us from grasping key ideas. Combining his proven skill for explaining science with storytelling and flashbacks to school experiments, Why Don't Things Fall Up? reminds us that science is not just for scientists - it's a human endeavour that enriches all our lives.
Has a child - or anyone else - ever asked you why the sky is blue? Could you explain why ice cream melts? Have you forgotten why scientists think the universe started with a Big Bang, and do you understand the difference between respiration and breathing?
Why Don't Things Fall Up? will gently remind you of everything you may have learnt once upon a time, but have somehow forgotten along the way. If you've ever changed the subject when a child has asked for homework help, or if you have the curiosity of a seven year old yourself, or if you know everything but have forgotten the basics or don't want to know anything except the basics - then this is the book for you.
Using questions asked by children as a starting point, Alom Shaha (who has spent over two decades trying to help people of all ages understand this stuff) takes us on a tour of the "big ideas" of science from his unique perspective. His experience as a dad, a teacher and science communicator means he knows exactly what people don't know - and especially the misconceptions and other intellectual hurdles which prevent us from grasping key ideas. Combining his proven skill for explaining science with storytelling and flashbacks to school experiments, Why Don't Things Fall Up? reminds us that science is not just for scientists - it's a human endeavour that enriches all our lives.
- GenresScienceNonfiction
Audible Audio
Published August 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2023
At first glance, Alom Shaha's book is another of those compact hardbacks with six or seven essays that have done so well in the popular science field since Rovelli's Seven Brief Lessons in Physics. Even the subtitle 'and six other science lessons you missed at school' suggests this. But in reality, Shaha is doing something far more original and interesting. Popular science for absolute beginners.
The thing is, most popular science titles are written either by scientists or professional science writers who typically have a science-based degree. Shaha is, indeed, such a science writer, but he is also a secondary school science teacher. Scientists rarely grasp how to present science in a way that doesn't assume a reasonable amount of pre-knowledge. Science writers are usually better than this, but tend to favour the exotic and exciting bits of science, which often means going into more depth than many readers feel comfortable with. This is genuinely a book on science for people who don't read science books.
At first sight, Shaha's seven questions are distinctly simplistic. We get 'Why is the sky blue?', 'Why don't things fall up?', Why does ice cream melt?', 'What is the smallest thing?', 'What are stars?', 'Are fish animals?' and 'What am I made of?' Although these might seem something that could be answered in a couple of paragraphs (or with 'Yes' in answer to 'Are fish animals?'), Shaha uses the questions as starting points to delve into a whole range of scientific concepts, starting at the most basic level. So, for example, in the ice cream chapter, we get explorations of atoms/molecules, temperature, states of matter, statistical mechanics, Brownian motion and the basics of chemistry.
All this is done in a chatty, approachable fashion with some lovely little surprises. The absolute best is that when talking about waves, Shaha introduces the 'jelly baby wave machine' - I was hooked at its first mention, but in an appendix he even tells you how to build one. I might never do it, but it's somehow very pleasing that I now know how to do so.
There is one inevitable downside to a book like this - because Shaha is intent on keeping things as simple as possible (though a couple of equations do creep in), there is the occasional oversimplification. For example we are told that the force of gravity 'exists between any two objects with mass', which, while true, misses the reality that things without mass (photons, for example) can also be influenced by gravity. Similarly we are told about Franklin's infamous kite-in-a-thunderstorm experiment as if he actually undertook it, while it's generally considered by historians of science that he didn't actually do it.
Apart from that, I have just one concern. This is a book about science for people who don't read science books. Which is a great concept. But would someone who doesn't read science books ever read this book (even though they might benefit hugely)? I've a horrible feeling it won't necessarily reach the audience who most need to read it - but hopefully it will. Either way, it's a great idea, beautifully executed.
The thing is, most popular science titles are written either by scientists or professional science writers who typically have a science-based degree. Shaha is, indeed, such a science writer, but he is also a secondary school science teacher. Scientists rarely grasp how to present science in a way that doesn't assume a reasonable amount of pre-knowledge. Science writers are usually better than this, but tend to favour the exotic and exciting bits of science, which often means going into more depth than many readers feel comfortable with. This is genuinely a book on science for people who don't read science books.
At first sight, Shaha's seven questions are distinctly simplistic. We get 'Why is the sky blue?', 'Why don't things fall up?', Why does ice cream melt?', 'What is the smallest thing?', 'What are stars?', 'Are fish animals?' and 'What am I made of?' Although these might seem something that could be answered in a couple of paragraphs (or with 'Yes' in answer to 'Are fish animals?'), Shaha uses the questions as starting points to delve into a whole range of scientific concepts, starting at the most basic level. So, for example, in the ice cream chapter, we get explorations of atoms/molecules, temperature, states of matter, statistical mechanics, Brownian motion and the basics of chemistry.
All this is done in a chatty, approachable fashion with some lovely little surprises. The absolute best is that when talking about waves, Shaha introduces the 'jelly baby wave machine' - I was hooked at its first mention, but in an appendix he even tells you how to build one. I might never do it, but it's somehow very pleasing that I now know how to do so.
There is one inevitable downside to a book like this - because Shaha is intent on keeping things as simple as possible (though a couple of equations do creep in), there is the occasional oversimplification. For example we are told that the force of gravity 'exists between any two objects with mass', which, while true, misses the reality that things without mass (photons, for example) can also be influenced by gravity. Similarly we are told about Franklin's infamous kite-in-a-thunderstorm experiment as if he actually undertook it, while it's generally considered by historians of science that he didn't actually do it.
Apart from that, I have just one concern. This is a book about science for people who don't read science books. Which is a great concept. But would someone who doesn't read science books ever read this book (even though they might benefit hugely)? I've a horrible feeling it won't necessarily reach the audience who most need to read it - but hopefully it will. Either way, it's a great idea, beautifully executed.
August 11, 2025
Alom Shaha is a science teacher who wants to make science accessible for everyone. He says thatlearning about science is a cultural activity that allows to engage with the world around us. (I agree!)
Shaha wrote, "[learning science] is a cultural activity with which all of us should be able to engage, and indeed contribute to, should we wish. I think science comes from the same thing that drives us to make art, music, and literature---or response to being alive, existing in this world, and the urge to make sense of it and share what we have understood with others. Science is not only for those who want to become scientists, just as art is not only for those who wish to become artists; it is a human endeavor that enriches all of our lives"
This book is an accessible tour of many topics in science including light, chemical reactions, classical physics, a bit of quantum mechanics, and genetics.
Overall I really enjoyed and was impressed by how accessible this text is! I also loved that he included some instructions for demonstrations at the end of the book.
(4.5 stars).
Shaha wrote, "[learning science] is a cultural activity with which all of us should be able to engage, and indeed contribute to, should we wish. I think science comes from the same thing that drives us to make art, music, and literature---or response to being alive, existing in this world, and the urge to make sense of it and share what we have understood with others. Science is not only for those who want to become scientists, just as art is not only for those who wish to become artists; it is a human endeavor that enriches all of our lives"
This book is an accessible tour of many topics in science including light, chemical reactions, classical physics, a bit of quantum mechanics, and genetics.
Overall I really enjoyed and was impressed by how accessible this text is! I also loved that he included some instructions for demonstrations at the end of the book.
(4.5 stars).
March 31, 2024
This is an outstanding book! It is written in a friendly, conversational style and gives a beautifully simple introduction to fundamental scientific ideas. Alom Shaha is an excellent storyteller, including interesting details from the history of science as well as unearthing the core roots of our collective scientific understanding. Thoroughly recommended for anyone who is curious about the world around them and how we understand it.
NB: It includes instructions for how to make both a jelly baby wave machine and a pin hole camera. I love anything that encourages people to try their own experiments!
NB: It includes instructions for how to make both a jelly baby wave machine and a pin hole camera. I love anything that encourages people to try their own experiments!
April 21, 2025
A brilliant read, answers seven questions (why is the sky blue? What am I made of? Etc) in a way that’s easy to retell.
I’ve read a decent number of science books before which do explain but don’t do it as clearly as this. The author has chosen the clarity over the detail intentionally, although he does acknowledge them.
The organisation of the questions is well chosen so the scientific concepts flow through the book. Would recommend to everyone.
I’ve read a decent number of science books before which do explain but don’t do it as clearly as this. The author has chosen the clarity over the detail intentionally, although he does acknowledge them.
The organisation of the questions is well chosen so the scientific concepts flow through the book. Would recommend to everyone.
August 23, 2023
Wonderful!
September 24, 2023
A great book, clearly written, and with enough enthusiasm and character to give this science teacher ideas to refresh their explanations.
January 11, 2024
A really good book I would recommend to all my GCSE students- includes an awful lot of Physics GCSE content in a really accessible and easy to understand way
November 12, 2024
A fantastic refresher on science I intend to re-read at least once a year. 😊
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews