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The Science of Harry Potter: The Spellbinding Science Behind the Magic, Gadgets, Potions, and More!
How does magic in J. K. Rowling’s universe work? Finally, the scientific secrets of the Harry Potter universe are revealed!
The insanely popular Harry Potter books and movies have brought the idea of magic and sorcery into mainstream. Modern muggle scientists have uncovered explanations to the seemingly impossible, including answers to such questions
Often perceived as a supernatural force, magic captivates and delights its audience because of its seeming ability to defy physics and logic. But did you ever wonder if science has any explanation for these fantastic feats?
The Science of Harry Potter examines the scientific principles behind some of the spells, scenes, and games that Harry, Hermione, Ron and Dumbledore love best. Author Mark Brake, whose The Science of Star Wars was a knockout success, has found the answers to satisfy the curious spirits of muggles everywhere. Here is a perfect Harry Potter gift for anyone obsessed enough to stand in line to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them . Witches and wizards and even muggles everywhere will be fascinated by the merging of this improbable realm and real science!
The insanely popular Harry Potter books and movies have brought the idea of magic and sorcery into mainstream. Modern muggle scientists have uncovered explanations to the seemingly impossible, including answers to such questions
Often perceived as a supernatural force, magic captivates and delights its audience because of its seeming ability to defy physics and logic. But did you ever wonder if science has any explanation for these fantastic feats?
The Science of Harry Potter examines the scientific principles behind some of the spells, scenes, and games that Harry, Hermione, Ron and Dumbledore love best. Author Mark Brake, whose The Science of Star Wars was a knockout success, has found the answers to satisfy the curious spirits of muggles everywhere. Here is a perfect Harry Potter gift for anyone obsessed enough to stand in line to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them . Witches and wizards and even muggles everywhere will be fascinated by the merging of this improbable realm and real science!
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2017
236 people are currently reading
864 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
June 2, 2018
Disappointing. More “the study of Harry Potter” than the science of Harry Potter. Each chapter was no more than 2-5 pages long and barely dives into each category. This book feels like a mid grade physics major decided to make a book but decided against it halfway through each chapter. Not much science, not much Harry Potter. A lot of speculation and explaining what basic scientific concepts are.
March 19, 2023
trochę się ciągnęło - takie gdybanie o rzeczywistej magii, ale ciekawe i dla fanów świata czarodziejów może to być interesująca pozycja, z której dowiedzą się nowych informacji.
January 11, 2023
Spodziewałam się czegoś zupełnie innego..
September 8, 2021
EN/CZ
They did it again, as with Star Wars. The general idea of the book is to use Harry Potter as a starting point for science popularization. However, the execution, in my view, is very lazy. Often the link between the Harry Potter world and the explained science is really weak. Some parts (e.g. the fascism of the Deatheaters) are actually not explained. It is also not clear to me, who is meant to be the target audience, as the language is often very complex (e.g. casual use of terms like taxonomy) and but the explanations or presented topics are often very simplistic (e.g. jumping from astronomy in Hogwarts to the existence of planets). And how can (hopefully only the Czech version) have basically on the first page have professor "Snap" instead of Snape?
CZ:
Bohužel musím opět říci, že nechápu na koho autoři při této práci mysleli. Kniha je někdy zbytečně složitá, někdy naopak lehká, často se místo vědeckého vysvětlení nějakého jevu ve světě Harryho Pottera jedná jen o shrnutí pár stávajících prací ve vědě. Myslím, že základní myšlenka je skvělá, jen provedení mi přišlo jako jednoduchá snaha přiživit se známé značce. A jak může taková kniha hned na první stránce mít místo Snape napsáno profesor "Snap"?
They did it again, as with Star Wars. The general idea of the book is to use Harry Potter as a starting point for science popularization. However, the execution, in my view, is very lazy. Often the link between the Harry Potter world and the explained science is really weak. Some parts (e.g. the fascism of the Deatheaters) are actually not explained. It is also not clear to me, who is meant to be the target audience, as the language is often very complex (e.g. casual use of terms like taxonomy) and but the explanations or presented topics are often very simplistic (e.g. jumping from astronomy in Hogwarts to the existence of planets). And how can (hopefully only the Czech version) have basically on the first page have professor "Snap" instead of Snape?
CZ:
Bohužel musím opět říci, že nechápu na koho autoři při této práci mysleli. Kniha je někdy zbytečně složitá, někdy naopak lehká, často se místo vědeckého vysvětlení nějakého jevu ve světě Harryho Pottera jedná jen o shrnutí pár stávajících prací ve vědě. Myslím, že základní myšlenka je skvělá, jen provedení mi přišlo jako jednoduchá snaha přiživit se známé značce. A jak může taková kniha hned na první stránce mít místo Snape napsáno profesor "Snap"?
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December 11, 2024DID NOT FINISH
Przyznam szczerze, że nie tego się spodziewałam zaczynając tę lekturę. Byłam pewna, że nie będą to treści wielkiego lotu, jednak nie sądziłam, że potraktują je tak po macoszemu.
Nie rozumiem, po co tworzyć książkę, w której znajdują się informacje zwykle logiczne i takie, do których można dojść samemu.
(SPOJLER) No litości, nie po to czytam takie dodatkowe tytuły, aby dowiedzieć się, że ostatnim wielkim czarodziejem okazał się być Isaac Newton. Oczekiwałam solidnych, chociaż częściowo ciekawych informacji - nie dostałam nic.
Nie podoba mi się to.
Przyznam szczerze, że nie tego się spodziewałam zaczynając tę lekturę. Byłam pewna, że nie będą to treści wielkiego lotu, jednak nie sądziłam, że potraktują je tak po macoszemu.
Nie rozumiem, po co tworzyć książkę, w której znajdują się informacje zwykle logiczne i takie, do których można dojść samemu.
(SPOJLER) No litości, nie po to czytam takie dodatkowe tytuły, aby dowiedzieć się, że ostatnim wielkim czarodziejem okazał się być Isaac Newton. Oczekiwałam solidnych, chociaż częściowo ciekawych informacji - nie dostałam nic.
Nie podoba mi się to.
April 17, 2025
Some parts of this book were super fun — especially if you’re into Harry Potter and enjoy thinking about how magic could (sort of) work in real life. But other chapters really dragged, and the second half felt like a slog.
As someone with a (some sort of) background in technical physics, a lot of the science stuff was pretty straightforward-ish, so I wonder how it reads for people without that kind of knowledge. Not a book to read cover to cover, but if a specific topic catches your eye, it’s worth checking out as a fun curiosity.
As someone with a (some sort of) background in technical physics, a lot of the science stuff was pretty straightforward-ish, so I wonder how it reads for people without that kind of knowledge. Not a book to read cover to cover, but if a specific topic catches your eye, it’s worth checking out as a fun curiosity.
August 31, 2025
This was such a boring book to read. I don’t really know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. Kinda annoying how each chapter was 3-4 pages.
January 8, 2023
Nie zliczę ile razy przy niej zasnęłam, ale można się dowiedzieć kilku ciekawych rzeczy, więc niech będzie 2.
Ogólnie podtytułem powinno być "Newton was not the first of the age of reason: he was the last of the magicians." bo nie dadzą wam o tym zapomnieć - przewija się to przez całą książkę 🙃
Dużo rzeczy muśniętych, pytania rzucone w eter, wyjaśnienia typu "no teraz to nie jest możliwe, ale może kiedyś będzie". Aha, DZIĘKI.
Ogólnie podtytułem powinno być "Newton was not the first of the age of reason: he was the last of the magicians." bo nie dadzą wam o tym zapomnieć - przewija się to przez całą książkę 🙃
Dużo rzeczy muśniętych, pytania rzucone w eter, wyjaśnienia typu "no teraz to nie jest możliwe, ale może kiedyś będzie". Aha, DZIĘKI.
February 9, 2023
Jedna z gorszych książek jakie czytałam. Dawałam jej szanse do końca ale porównanie peleryny niewidki do kamuflażu wojskowego było gwoździem do trumny. Spodziewałam się zupełnie czegoś innego. Książka porównuje magiczny aspekt do odkryć naukowych obecnych w czasach przeszłych i teraźniejszych. W moim odczuciu kompletnie nie odpowiada na pytanie okładkowe, „czy magia jest możliwa w naszym świecie?”.
August 23, 2022
Okay. This book was epic. I love science and I love Harry Potter. It contained great little insights into JK Rowlings world, both in its creation and exploring it. The science behind it was great, with topics ranging from astronomy, to how spells would work to physics and bringing all the quirks of the Wizarding world into ours. It’s every Potter (and science lovers) dream in a book!
It’s not an overly taxing read, with quick succinct chapters and covers a very wide scope. It explains science well and constantly references the books in relation to scientific concepts which was also great. I really enjoyed it! I learnt a lot both about the Wizarding world and scientific concepts which I’d heard of before and expanded on what I knew
I had the audiobook format so it made for very entertaining listening for me. Loved it!
It’s not an overly taxing read, with quick succinct chapters and covers a very wide scope. It explains science well and constantly references the books in relation to scientific concepts which was also great. I really enjoyed it! I learnt a lot both about the Wizarding world and scientific concepts which I’d heard of before and expanded on what I knew
I had the audiobook format so it made for very entertaining listening for me. Loved it!
January 10, 2021
the perfect blend of Harry and science! Two of my favorite things! I loved the topics but often felt that history was explored more than looking to the future possibilities. Overall, quick and fun read.
January 4, 2023
Książka ciekawa z gatunku popularnonaukowych. Dobrze przedstawione powiązania magicznych i mugolskich aspektów w życiu. Przyjemnie się czytało i poznawało w jaki sposób mogłaby funkcjonować teleportacja albo eliksiry powodujące między innymi mówienie prawdy.
December 31, 2023
Zwiodłam się. Dostałam zbiór ciekawostek naukowych, które można opowiadać w sytuacjach, gdy nastaje niezręczna cisza. Opowiedzenie, że gołębie sprawdziłyby się czarodziejom znacznie lepiej niż sowy będzie genialnym posunięciem.
Pozycja raczej dla naukowych świrów niż 'przeciętnego' czytelnika.
Pozycja raczej dla naukowych świrów niż 'przeciętnego' czytelnika.
June 27, 2024
4.3/5
książka spełniła moje oczekiwania, które miałam jak pierwszy raz przeczytałam opis
nie trafi do każdego, ale dla fanów hp i osób zainteresowanych popularno-naukowymi treściami jak najbardziej
idealnie sprawdziła się do czytania po kilka rozdziałów przed snem
książka spełniła moje oczekiwania, które miałam jak pierwszy raz przeczytałam opis
nie trafi do każdego, ale dla fanów hp i osób zainteresowanych popularno-naukowymi treściami jak najbardziej
idealnie sprawdziła się do czytania po kilka rozdziałów przed snem
January 23, 2023
Niczego nowego się nie nauczyłam:(((
August 31, 2018
I absolutely loved the idea of combining the muggle world with my favourite fantasy world!! Although I found the human science sections quite dry, the way the author connected present day science to magic was very clever!! I overall really enjoyed my reading experience
August 7, 2019
Being a Potterhead, I was super excited about this when I saw it on the shelves. I love science and Harry Potter so this seemed to be like a major find! Nope! Not so much.
There are some interesting tie-ins to the history of science and magic but it is very superficial. Each chapter is very short and often reads like a community college research essay where they introduce a topic then right as it gets interesting, suddenly summarize the concepts then abruptly conclude.
That being said I could probably just enjoy it for what it was worth except halfway through the authors introduce politics. SERIOUSLY?! I’m not interested in the skewed political views of the authors being shoved down my throat when I select a book like this. I read political materials all the time from all different perspectives and political affiliations, but this was just annoying on the author’s part to include this in a book that is supposed to be about science and magic, and it completely put me off the remainder of the book.
There are some interesting tie-ins to the history of science and magic but it is very superficial. Each chapter is very short and often reads like a community college research essay where they introduce a topic then right as it gets interesting, suddenly summarize the concepts then abruptly conclude.
That being said I could probably just enjoy it for what it was worth except halfway through the authors introduce politics. SERIOUSLY?! I’m not interested in the skewed political views of the authors being shoved down my throat when I select a book like this. I read political materials all the time from all different perspectives and political affiliations, but this was just annoying on the author’s part to include this in a book that is supposed to be about science and magic, and it completely put me off the remainder of the book.
May 12, 2020
Without having true citations and referenced sources, it felt a lot like having a conversation with a guy at a bar. The tone felt like “I read an article that said...” or “I have a friend who works in this industry who said...”. I didn’t hate my time while reading it but I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. Some of the chapters seemed a bit of a stretch between the connection. Like “the students looked at stars in the astronomy tower so now I’m going to explain the solar system”. Some interesting topics though about modern technology and even the fascism of death eaters. I wish the true connections of science and Harry Potter were explored more in detail. Quick and easy read that was fun in a lot of parts, so I’m not complaining, but also not recommending.
September 26, 2020
With any pop science book you have to be careful of expectations. As someone who is generally scientifically literate, they are mostly a good source of interesting ideas and thought experiments and show how to apply science to both everyday and more unique problems, while to those with less experience they can be a great way to introduce concepts and spark interest.
That being said, I was unsure on who this book was aimed at. The biggest issue is most definitely the chapter sizes, a chapter of more than 2 and a half pages is a rarity and half of this is spent setting up the question, referencing the point in Harry Potter the question appears or oddly enough other books and media, often with little use in the long term answer. Half the chapter on horcruxes seemed to be made up of discussion of and the history of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which although interesting was not a relevant build up to the final conclusion of transcendence and uploading personality.
Scientific concepts seemed to be explained shallowly in what is a great example of quality over quantity of topics covered, which seemed a shame as to the amount of research in this book. I generally found the tangents and non-scientific discussions more interesting such as mythological and historical references, but again this may be as a lot of the science was not new to me, and I would be intrigued to go back to these as jumping off points as even in this, nothing seems to be concluded in a satisfactory manner.
I struggled to figure out who this book is for, as I say for most of the science it brought up things that have been discussed in other areas with brief explanations due to its size, but I was not sure if these explanations would be enough for a novice understanding with complicated concepts such as quantum entanglement having less than a paragraph of explanation.
The overall book consists of brief discussions of complicated topics that may or may not seem shallow on both ends of the scientifically literate spectrum. The tangents, history and delves into more of the social sciences as well as mythological reference seemed the most enjoyable part to me and certainly made me want to research them more, but that was all I got due to the shallowness of discussions however I am also aware that this is often the deal you get with a pop science book and to expect any different is to misunderstand the book you are reading. I would be interested to know if the explanations were enough for people with less experience with the genre and for those who do have the experience the mythology may be the most rewarding part of the book.
That being said, I was unsure on who this book was aimed at. The biggest issue is most definitely the chapter sizes, a chapter of more than 2 and a half pages is a rarity and half of this is spent setting up the question, referencing the point in Harry Potter the question appears or oddly enough other books and media, often with little use in the long term answer. Half the chapter on horcruxes seemed to be made up of discussion of and the history of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which although interesting was not a relevant build up to the final conclusion of transcendence and uploading personality.
Scientific concepts seemed to be explained shallowly in what is a great example of quality over quantity of topics covered, which seemed a shame as to the amount of research in this book. I generally found the tangents and non-scientific discussions more interesting such as mythological and historical references, but again this may be as a lot of the science was not new to me, and I would be intrigued to go back to these as jumping off points as even in this, nothing seems to be concluded in a satisfactory manner.
I struggled to figure out who this book is for, as I say for most of the science it brought up things that have been discussed in other areas with brief explanations due to its size, but I was not sure if these explanations would be enough for a novice understanding with complicated concepts such as quantum entanglement having less than a paragraph of explanation.
The overall book consists of brief discussions of complicated topics that may or may not seem shallow on both ends of the scientifically literate spectrum. The tangents, history and delves into more of the social sciences as well as mythological reference seemed the most enjoyable part to me and certainly made me want to research them more, but that was all I got due to the shallowness of discussions however I am also aware that this is often the deal you get with a pop science book and to expect any different is to misunderstand the book you are reading. I would be interested to know if the explanations were enough for people with less experience with the genre and for those who do have the experience the mythology may be the most rewarding part of the book.
August 22, 2024
THE SCIENCE OF HARRY POTTER. CZY MAGIA JEST MOŻLIWA W NASZYM ŚWIECIE?
MARK BRAKE i JON HASE.
Kiedy jak nie przed Bożym Narodzeniem odczuwamy najwięcej magii?
Jarmarki, kolorowe światełka, choinki, zakupy, prezenty, spotkania z rodziną.
W tym wyjątkowym czasie postanowiłem dokończyć czytanie popularnonaukowej pozycji zahaczającej o moje ulubione literackie uniwersum.
Dobrze się składa, bo prosiliście mnie o jakąś wartościową pozycję dla nastolatków, która w świetny sposób może zachęcić je do nauk ścisłych. Obudzić w nich głód wiedzy. Wzniecić chęć do poznawania naszej mugolskiej magii- nauki.
Żeby było jasne to nie jest oficjalna książka ze świata Harrego Pottera. Nie spodziewajcie się też jakiegoś rozwinięcia serii. Autor wyjaśnia czytelnikom kwestie występujące w prozie Rowling.
Dowiecie się między innymi:
- czy kiedykolwiek zobaczymy pelerynę niewidkę?
- jak niebezpieczny potrafi być Nimbus 2000?
- czy współczesna medycyna jest w stanie konkurować z Felix Felicis?
- czy naukowcy będą mogli już niebawem pochwalić się Wingardium Leviosa, czyli lewitacją?
Odpowiedzi na te zagadnienia to tylko przedsmak, bo
książkę podzielono na cztery części. Części traktujące: o magicznej filozofii, o magicznych przedmiotach i technicznych sztuczkach, o zielarstwie, eliksirach i magicznych stworzeniach oraz o magicznych rozmaitościach. Każda z nich zawiera zbiór pytań, na które odpowiadają autorzy.
Podsumowując jeśli szukacie wartościowego prezentu dla nastolatka (nie będącego powieścią) to szczerze polecam.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C03lyZ3NP...
MARK BRAKE i JON HASE.
Kiedy jak nie przed Bożym Narodzeniem odczuwamy najwięcej magii?
Jarmarki, kolorowe światełka, choinki, zakupy, prezenty, spotkania z rodziną.
W tym wyjątkowym czasie postanowiłem dokończyć czytanie popularnonaukowej pozycji zahaczającej o moje ulubione literackie uniwersum.
Dobrze się składa, bo prosiliście mnie o jakąś wartościową pozycję dla nastolatków, która w świetny sposób może zachęcić je do nauk ścisłych. Obudzić w nich głód wiedzy. Wzniecić chęć do poznawania naszej mugolskiej magii- nauki.
Żeby było jasne to nie jest oficjalna książka ze świata Harrego Pottera. Nie spodziewajcie się też jakiegoś rozwinięcia serii. Autor wyjaśnia czytelnikom kwestie występujące w prozie Rowling.
Dowiecie się między innymi:
- czy kiedykolwiek zobaczymy pelerynę niewidkę?
- jak niebezpieczny potrafi być Nimbus 2000?
- czy współczesna medycyna jest w stanie konkurować z Felix Felicis?
- czy naukowcy będą mogli już niebawem pochwalić się Wingardium Leviosa, czyli lewitacją?
Odpowiedzi na te zagadnienia to tylko przedsmak, bo
książkę podzielono na cztery części. Części traktujące: o magicznej filozofii, o magicznych przedmiotach i technicznych sztuczkach, o zielarstwie, eliksirach i magicznych stworzeniach oraz o magicznych rozmaitościach. Każda z nich zawiera zbiór pytań, na które odpowiadają autorzy.
Podsumowując jeśli szukacie wartościowego prezentu dla nastolatka (nie będącego powieścią) to szczerze polecam.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C03lyZ3NP...
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February 28, 2025O livro explora a intersecção entre magia e ciência, defendendo que muitos elementos do mundo mágico podem ser explicados por avanços científicos. O autor argumenta que a tecnologia moderna, como voos de aviões e inteligência artificial, pode parecer mágica para a maioria. Phenômenos em Harry Potter, uma série de ficção, têm paralelos na ciência real: o Mapa do Maroto se assemelha ao Sistema de Posicionamento Global, e a levitação de sapos pode ser explicada por diamagnetismo.
Viagens no tempo são discutidas sob a ótica da mecânica quântica, com a possibilidade de universos paralelos evitando paradoxos. Avanços em teletransporte, materiais autolimpantes e biotecnologia são comparados aos feitiços de Harry Potter. A evolução da comunicação humana é ligada à capacidade de falar com cobras, e corujas, que desempenham o papel de mensageiras, possuem uma rica conexão com o folclore.
A mitologia se entrelaça com a ciência, como no caso de criaturas híbridas e a manipulação genética. Pesquisas científicas, como aquelas sobre o veneno de certas criaturas e a engenharia de células-tronco, refletem temas mágicos. A crença na magia é vista como um reflexo da necessidade humana de esperança e controle em um mundo incerto. O autor conclui que, embora a magia possa ser explicada pela ciência, a fascinante busca por seus mistérios nunca desaparecerá.
Viagens no tempo são discutidas sob a ótica da mecânica quântica, com a possibilidade de universos paralelos evitando paradoxos. Avanços em teletransporte, materiais autolimpantes e biotecnologia são comparados aos feitiços de Harry Potter. A evolução da comunicação humana é ligada à capacidade de falar com cobras, e corujas, que desempenham o papel de mensageiras, possuem uma rica conexão com o folclore.
A mitologia se entrelaça com a ciência, como no caso de criaturas híbridas e a manipulação genética. Pesquisas científicas, como aquelas sobre o veneno de certas criaturas e a engenharia de células-tronco, refletem temas mágicos. A crença na magia é vista como um reflexo da necessidade humana de esperança e controle em um mundo incerto. O autor conclui que, embora a magia possa ser explicada pela ciência, a fascinante busca por seus mistérios nunca desaparecerá.
October 15, 2018
This was a fairly interesting books, if you are a fan of the Harry Potter series. There is less of a connection to the Harry Potter world as one would imagine, though.
The book is focused around the question: Can we do magic via science, and spends the chapters looking into the science behind invisibility cloaks and time travel. It references many things associated with the Harry Potter universe, but is not in anyway associated with the series.
I enjoyed it, even if it is simply because of the science behind things. It went in to technical detail on the way "muggles" would try to attempt the things in the Harry Potter universe. If you like science, then you will love the idea of learning about such processes. No, we can't do the things in the book, because they are magic. Harry Potter is a fantasy, and that means there are made up things. There is not a scientific process because it is simply magic and can't be recreated by science alone.
Good book, but not what I was expecting when I first picked it up. It needs to be geared away from being described as a Harry Potter book. There is no science in Harry Potter's magic. It is simply magic.
The book is focused around the question: Can we do magic via science, and spends the chapters looking into the science behind invisibility cloaks and time travel. It references many things associated with the Harry Potter universe, but is not in anyway associated with the series.
I enjoyed it, even if it is simply because of the science behind things. It went in to technical detail on the way "muggles" would try to attempt the things in the Harry Potter universe. If you like science, then you will love the idea of learning about such processes. No, we can't do the things in the book, because they are magic. Harry Potter is a fantasy, and that means there are made up things. There is not a scientific process because it is simply magic and can't be recreated by science alone.
Good book, but not what I was expecting when I first picked it up. It needs to be geared away from being described as a Harry Potter book. There is no science in Harry Potter's magic. It is simply magic.
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October 4, 2020Le sujet m'avait attiré (j'aime beaucoup les ouvrages de vulgarisation scientifique, et l'approche magie / science me paraissait prometteuse) mais je me suis au final contenté de le feuilleter de manière superficielle après la lecture du premier chapitre.
Comme dit dans les autres reviews, le contenu scientifique est assez pauvre (les chapitres étant très courts, 3-5 pages ; il aurait été plus intéressant d'avoir moins de chapitres mais qu'ils soient davantage approfondis). Les chapitres m'ont fait l'effet de d'abord parler d'un thème sur Harry Potter, puis passer sur un thème scientifique relié de manière plutôt vague.
Le premier chapitre, qui part de l'importance de l'astronomie à Poudlard pour ensuite parler de l'évolution des théories autour du système solaire ne m'a pas donné envie de poursuivre la lecture, ce qui m'a été confirmé par ce que j'ai feuilleté du reste de l'ouvrage : il s'agit de connaissances scientifiques très basiques donc peu d'intérêt à cette lecture, sauf peut-être pour des enfants / adolescents.
Comme dit dans les autres reviews, le contenu scientifique est assez pauvre (les chapitres étant très courts, 3-5 pages ; il aurait été plus intéressant d'avoir moins de chapitres mais qu'ils soient davantage approfondis). Les chapitres m'ont fait l'effet de d'abord parler d'un thème sur Harry Potter, puis passer sur un thème scientifique relié de manière plutôt vague.
Le premier chapitre, qui part de l'importance de l'astronomie à Poudlard pour ensuite parler de l'évolution des théories autour du système solaire ne m'a pas donné envie de poursuivre la lecture, ce qui m'a été confirmé par ce que j'ai feuilleté du reste de l'ouvrage : il s'agit de connaissances scientifiques très basiques donc peu d'intérêt à cette lecture, sauf peut-être pour des enfants / adolescents.
August 5, 2020
I wouldn't consider this book serious reading, it was a spontaneous decision to grab this book.
It was fascinating in some parts but some absolutely bored me. Most of the book was pretty manageable because each segment was short. However, I found the explanation nothing special, and it was just introducing facts for the most part.
I will still say this book is a pretty enjoyable read, one of those you can take with you on vacation or just reading on your commute, but I still prefer the original series, obviously.
Still get this book if you enjoy Harry Potter and you want to find out more about how the world of Harry Potter connects to our world. You will probably learn new facts from it, the problem is, you will probably forget after a few days.
Oh well, I suppose nothing can beat the original. Pure as it is.
It was fascinating in some parts but some absolutely bored me. Most of the book was pretty manageable because each segment was short. However, I found the explanation nothing special, and it was just introducing facts for the most part.
I will still say this book is a pretty enjoyable read, one of those you can take with you on vacation or just reading on your commute, but I still prefer the original series, obviously.
Still get this book if you enjoy Harry Potter and you want to find out more about how the world of Harry Potter connects to our world. You will probably learn new facts from it, the problem is, you will probably forget after a few days.
Oh well, I suppose nothing can beat the original. Pure as it is.
February 28, 2020
Une opération marketing ... Ou comment utiliser la licence Harry Potter pour se faire de l'argent , tout cela sans se soucier un seul instant d'apporter de la qualité au livre.
Oh et ce n'est surtout pas pour les enfants : car c'est bien connu que le public cible d'HP c'est les adultes... Parce que clairement le vocabulaire n'est pas adapté pour des enfants de moins de 14 ans et qu'il y a même une ou deux (mauvaises) blagues graveleuses...
Oui, on trouve des informations intéressantes dans ce livre, mais enfin si vous avez choisi spécifiquement celui-là c'est que vous attendiez aussi qu'il vous replonge dans l'univers créé par J.K Rowling : et là vraiment c'est raté.
Cet ouvrage est tout sauf ludique : c'est la mort du fun...
Oh et ce n'est surtout pas pour les enfants : car c'est bien connu que le public cible d'HP c'est les adultes... Parce que clairement le vocabulaire n'est pas adapté pour des enfants de moins de 14 ans et qu'il y a même une ou deux (mauvaises) blagues graveleuses...
Oui, on trouve des informations intéressantes dans ce livre, mais enfin si vous avez choisi spécifiquement celui-là c'est que vous attendiez aussi qu'il vous replonge dans l'univers créé par J.K Rowling : et là vraiment c'est raté.
Cet ouvrage est tout sauf ludique : c'est la mort du fun...
August 11, 2024
This book was actually so bad. It felt a lot like being talked at by a man who doesn’t know what he’s talking about. None of the actual facts have any citations (but some of the quotes do) and the rest feels like speculation which is being presented as fact. Obviously this book is largely imaginative and speculative but rather than being fun it was just a lot of all over the place nonsense and endless reporting of enlightenment era discoveries.
It was also written very poorly. I feel like it did not go through the editing process. Halfway through the chapter the author would just begin talking about something else with no clear transition and it would end with no real conclusion. Also my biggest gripe is that some of the actual facts from the books were wrong. Like that is the one thing that can be reported with confidence but somehow still got fucked up.
It was also written very poorly. I feel like it did not go through the editing process. Halfway through the chapter the author would just begin talking about something else with no clear transition and it would end with no real conclusion. Also my biggest gripe is that some of the actual facts from the books were wrong. Like that is the one thing that can be reported with confidence but somehow still got fucked up.
December 6, 2022
🪄Kolejna świetna pozycja dla fanów Harry'ego Pottera. Jeśli chcielibyście dowiedzieć się wielu ciekawostek ze świata czarodziei, to jest to książka dla was. W książce autorzy zabierają nas w podróż i wyjaśniają, jak działają magiczne rzeczy, eliksiry, zaklecia i wiele wiele innych.
🪄Świetnie jest zobaczyć, że wiele elementów z opowieścią J.K. Rowling ma swoje odzwierciedlenie w nauce, przyrodzie, a nawet historii i jest to super, że autorzy podzielili się tą wiedzą z nami. Książkę czyta się z ogromnym zaciekawieniem, świetnie wszystko jest opisane, no i czuć ten klimat, który towarzyszy filmom o przygodach Harry'ego Pottera.
🪄Świetnie jest zobaczyć, że wiele elementów z opowieścią J.K. Rowling ma swoje odzwierciedlenie w nauce, przyrodzie, a nawet historii i jest to super, że autorzy podzielili się tą wiedzą z nami. Książkę czyta się z ogromnym zaciekawieniem, świetnie wszystko jest opisane, no i czuć ten klimat, który towarzyszy filmom o przygodach Harry'ego Pottera.
February 17, 2024
Dry. More like a series of college essays than a book. Not a single chapter went anywhere. I think I was hoping for more a book about the connections between Harry Potter and science both past and modern, not how can we muggles accomplish what they do in Harry Potter. It was honestly 200 pages of the authors establishing that no we cannot reproduce anything from Harry Potter. Surprisingly.
My final complaint is that the book just ends on a chapter. No wrap up and conclusion just the end of the chapter about if we could produce a real invisibility cloak. And yet, it feels oddly fitting that a book that went nowhere doesn’t really end either.
My final complaint is that the book just ends on a chapter. No wrap up and conclusion just the end of the chapter about if we could produce a real invisibility cloak. And yet, it feels oddly fitting that a book that went nowhere doesn’t really end either.
July 13, 2024
Less the science of Harry Potter and more using Harry Potter themes and objects to discuss whatever topics the author wants to delve into (including fascism - interesting, but not science). Unfortunately most of the topics he discusses either are very surface level or complex without necessary context for a lay reader to understand. In the beginning he fails to clearly mark when he's going back and forth between Harry Potter history and actual history. Some sections are repetitive. Some sections' writing style remind me of a grade school essay. There was some good information in here but it was not an enjoyable read for me.
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