The Best Australian Science Writing 2017

by Michael Slezak

The annual collection celebrating the finest voices in Australian science writing. From the furthest reaches of the universe to the microscopic world of our genes, science offers writers the kind of scope other subjects simply can't match. Good writing about science can be moving, funny, exhilarating, or poetic, but it will always be honest and rigorous about the research that underlies it. Now in its seventh year, The Best Australian Science Writing brings together knowledge and insight from Australia’s brightest thinkers as they explore the intricacies of the world around us. This lively collection of essays covers a wide range of subjects, and challenges our perceptions of the world and how we exist within it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Educational and a good read, despite some chapters assuming too much base knowledge in the reader (I'm looking at you, "Impossible Alloys"). The book would have been better with pictures.

The chapters about Aboriginal astronomy and songlines were stand-out, very well written and explained. Elmo Keep demonstrated excellent storytelling in the book's final chapter about North Dakota's cold war pyramid.

[indy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the pieces in this collection are worthy of 4 or 4.5 stars, but a greater number are not nearly as inspiring or entertaining. One was so dry that I skimmed it. My favourites were the articles about cephalopods.

[Olwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable book of articles to dip into and follow your interests. Helpfully, at the end of each article are links to other articles in the book you might enjoy.

[Nhan Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unexpected great read - Australian Science Writing 2017

People looked at me and like “Dude! You read that! BLEHH!”. Well don’t judge a book by its cover!

I’ve finished this book and what a good read it is! I have never enjoy a non-fiction so much since “When breath becomes air”! The book explore various aspects and field of science, but it is not the dry type, it weaves emotion of the writers who are mostly scientists in their fields, into great short stories. Suddenly we feels that science is an art as well!
Recommended!