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Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy
A science book for the general reader that is informative enough to be a popular textbook and yet well-written enough to appeal to general readers. "Hazen and Trefil [are] unpretentious--good, down-to-earth, we-can-explain-anything science teachers, the kind you wish you had but never did."--The New York Times Book Review
Knowledge of the basic ideas and principles of science is fundamental to cultural literacy. But most books on science are often too obscure or too specialized to do the general reader much good.
Science Matters is a rare exception--a science book that is informative enough for introductory courses in high school and college, and yet lucid enough for readers uncomfortable with scientific jargon and complicated mathematics. And now, revised and expanded, it is up-to-date, so that readers can enjoy Hazen and Trefil's refreshingly accessible explanations of the most recent developments in science, from particle physics to biotechnology.
Knowledge of the basic ideas and principles of science is fundamental to cultural literacy. But most books on science are often too obscure or too specialized to do the general reader much good.
Science Matters is a rare exception--a science book that is informative enough for introductory courses in high school and college, and yet lucid enough for readers uncomfortable with scientific jargon and complicated mathematics. And now, revised and expanded, it is up-to-date, so that readers can enjoy Hazen and Trefil's refreshingly accessible explanations of the most recent developments in science, from particle physics to biotechnology.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1990
197 people are currently reading
1223 people want to read
About the author
Robert M. Hazen
95 books129 followersRobert M. Hazen, Senior Research Scientist at the Carnegie Institution of Washington’s Geophysical Laboratory and the Clarence Robinson Professor of Earth Science at George Mason University, received the B.S. and S.M. in geology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1971), and the Ph.D. at Harvard University in earth science (1975). The Past President of the Mineralogical Society of America, Hazen’s recent research focuses on the possible roles of minerals in the origin of life. He is also Principal Investigator of the Deep Carbon Observatory.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
October 26, 2019
This is all about the basics of science that people need to know to even ask the right questions in our world today. Originally published in the 90s, this edition is a 2009 update, so it's good enough for the basics. The authors do a good job of covering them all & explaining them well. Although I do & have always read a fair amount of popular science, it's been over 40 years since I took any basic science courses. A recent book (discussions between Dawkins, Dyson, & other top scientists in their fields of expertise) made me think I needed to get a good primer to fill in some blanks. This filled the bill admirably. I think the table of contents speaks well enough for the book.
Highly recommended for all. It was well narrated & I didn't need a text copy much. I did have to review the chapter on quantum physics. They do explain it as well as it can be explained, I think. It's just a difficult subject for me & not one I'm particularly interested in. I also appreciated the text for a review of all the names of the sub atomic particles. Again, it's not something I'm particularly interested in, but now I have a good, quick reference.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Scientific Literacy: What It Is, Why It’s Important,and Why We Don’t Have It
ONE: Knowing the universe is regular and predictable
TWO: Energy is conserved and always goes from more useful to less useful forms:
THREE: Electricity and Magnetismare two aspects of the same force
FOUR: The Atom All matter is made of atoms
FIVE: The World of the Quantum Everything comes in discrete units and you can’t measure anything without changing it
SIX: Chemical Bonding Atoms are bound by electron glue
SEVEN: Atomic Architecture The way a material behaves depends on how its atoms are arranged
EIGHT: Nuclear Physics Nuclear energy comes from the conversion of mass
NINE: The Fundamental Structure of Matter All matter is really made of quarks and leptons
TEN: Astronomy Stars experience a cycle of birth and death
ELEVEN: The Cosmos The universe was born at a specific time in the past, and it has been expanding ever since
TWELVE: Relativity Every observer sees the same laws of nature
THIRTEEN: The Restless Earth Earth’s surface is constantly changing, and no feature on Earth is permanent
FOURTEEN: Earth Cycles Earth operates in cycles
FIFTEEN: The Ladder of Life All living things are made from cells,the chemical factories of life
SIXTEEN: The Code of Life All life is based on the same genetic code:
SEVENTEEN: Biotechnology All life is based on the same chemistry and genetic code:
EIGHTEEN: Evolution All forms of life evolved by natural selection
NINETEEN: Ecosystems All life is connected:
Epilogue: The Role of Science
Highly recommended for all. It was well narrated & I didn't need a text copy much. I did have to review the chapter on quantum physics. They do explain it as well as it can be explained, I think. It's just a difficult subject for me & not one I'm particularly interested in. I also appreciated the text for a review of all the names of the sub atomic particles. Again, it's not something I'm particularly interested in, but now I have a good, quick reference.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Scientific Literacy: What It Is, Why It’s Important,and Why We Don’t Have It
ONE: Knowing the universe is regular and predictable
TWO: Energy is conserved and always goes from more useful to less useful forms:
THREE: Electricity and Magnetismare two aspects of the same force
FOUR: The Atom All matter is made of atoms
FIVE: The World of the Quantum Everything comes in discrete units and you can’t measure anything without changing it
SIX: Chemical Bonding Atoms are bound by electron glue
SEVEN: Atomic Architecture The way a material behaves depends on how its atoms are arranged
EIGHT: Nuclear Physics Nuclear energy comes from the conversion of mass
NINE: The Fundamental Structure of Matter All matter is really made of quarks and leptons
TEN: Astronomy Stars experience a cycle of birth and death
ELEVEN: The Cosmos The universe was born at a specific time in the past, and it has been expanding ever since
TWELVE: Relativity Every observer sees the same laws of nature
THIRTEEN: The Restless Earth Earth’s surface is constantly changing, and no feature on Earth is permanent
FOURTEEN: Earth Cycles Earth operates in cycles
FIFTEEN: The Ladder of Life All living things are made from cells,the chemical factories of life
SIXTEEN: The Code of Life All life is based on the same genetic code:
SEVENTEEN: Biotechnology All life is based on the same chemistry and genetic code:
EIGHTEEN: Evolution All forms of life evolved by natural selection
NINETEEN: Ecosystems All life is connected:
Epilogue: The Role of Science
May 20, 2015
For me this book didn't live up to its title. As I started reading I quickly switched off and went into skim mode. There was way too much information to absorb for someone with my appalling lack of science education. By page seventy-three I realised that of course I must stop reading it in this silly beginning-to-end fashion, and instead keep it as a reference book – a function it will fulfil extremely well.
And now I am going to damn the poor book with faint praise....
It is fairly well written.
In truth I have been totally spoilt. I recently read Richard Dawkins’s book The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True, and that was the science primer to end all science primers. It was so fantastically written that I was utterly and totally caught up in it. I took copious notes and learnt tons. It blew my socks off.
Science Matters is fine, and will find a well-deserved place on my bookshelf . It will be a great reference book, but there is no way I am going to read it the way I read The Magic of Reality. It just doesn't generate the same excitement. On the other hand it is a lot more detailed than the latter, so very useful in that respect.
My one real criticism is that it could have done with more diagrams and illustrations. Interestingly the Dawkins book had none, but was so beautifully and inspiringly written that it didn’t matter.
I'm sure this will be a useful reference book.
And now I am going to damn the poor book with faint praise....
It is fairly well written.
In truth I have been totally spoilt. I recently read Richard Dawkins’s book The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True, and that was the science primer to end all science primers. It was so fantastically written that I was utterly and totally caught up in it. I took copious notes and learnt tons. It blew my socks off.
Science Matters is fine, and will find a well-deserved place on my bookshelf . It will be a great reference book, but there is no way I am going to read it the way I read The Magic of Reality. It just doesn't generate the same excitement. On the other hand it is a lot more detailed than the latter, so very useful in that respect.
My one real criticism is that it could have done with more diagrams and illustrations. Interestingly the Dawkins book had none, but was so beautifully and inspiringly written that it didn’t matter.
I'm sure this will be a useful reference book.
August 23, 2018
So I had to stop reading this book... I was about 75% done with the book but sadly I could not get back into the book after I put it down the last time.
So I gave it 3 stars, the reason for that is it’s an amazing book when the topics are interesting to you. The beginning and middle have topics that deal with physics to elementary particles to atoms and molecules. But sadly I got to a point where I just was not interested in learning about plate tectonics and cells so I stopped. I would still recommend the book but sadly I just couldn’t finish it.
So I gave it 3 stars, the reason for that is it’s an amazing book when the topics are interesting to you. The beginning and middle have topics that deal with physics to elementary particles to atoms and molecules. But sadly I got to a point where I just was not interested in learning about plate tectonics and cells so I stopped. I would still recommend the book but sadly I just couldn’t finish it.
January 14, 2011
If we can send this book several hundred years back in time, we'd be so scientifically advanced as a species, that we probably would be colonizing a couple more planets of the solar system and voyaging in interstellar space.
The premise of the book is that US voters get to vote on policies that need some scientific background that they don't usually have (issues like stem cell research, climate change, evolution...etc). The book's goal is to help the reader become scientifically literate.
To this end, the book contains 17 chapters that talk about all different scientific domains, it extract the absolutely essential core of these domains, and present them in a way that is clearly understandable.
If you didn't study or read much about science, this is likely the perfect introduction that will make you cover most of your bases.
If you did study science and do read about, this will introduce you to new domains you probably didn't know much about before, and will serve you a perfect revision for all the principles of the various domains.
It talks about physics, biology, chemistry, and geology. Spanning topics like gravity, electromagnetism, radiation, thermodynamics, nuclear power, atomic interaction, nuclear interaction, subatomic particles, solar power, plate tectonics, cells, dna, evolution... and the list goes on.
I give it 5/5 because I absolutely can't understand how they were able to squeeze the most central thoughts of each of those scientific domains and present it in such a clear manner. Just incredible.
The premise of the book is that US voters get to vote on policies that need some scientific background that they don't usually have (issues like stem cell research, climate change, evolution...etc). The book's goal is to help the reader become scientifically literate.
To this end, the book contains 17 chapters that talk about all different scientific domains, it extract the absolutely essential core of these domains, and present them in a way that is clearly understandable.
If you didn't study or read much about science, this is likely the perfect introduction that will make you cover most of your bases.
If you did study science and do read about, this will introduce you to new domains you probably didn't know much about before, and will serve you a perfect revision for all the principles of the various domains.
It talks about physics, biology, chemistry, and geology. Spanning topics like gravity, electromagnetism, radiation, thermodynamics, nuclear power, atomic interaction, nuclear interaction, subatomic particles, solar power, plate tectonics, cells, dna, evolution... and the list goes on.
I give it 5/5 because I absolutely can't understand how they were able to squeeze the most central thoughts of each of those scientific domains and present it in such a clear manner. Just incredible.
September 21, 2020
The premise of Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy is that the average US citizens (and citizens in other countries too) do not possess enough scientific knowledge to become informed voters in many political issues. The book's goal is to help the general readers to become scientifically literate. Informative and practical, it contains 19 chapters, each focusing on one area of science, from Newtonian motion to General Relativity, and from astronomy to quantum computing to biology and evolution.
The book was first published in 1990 and revised in 2009. In my opinion, it should be revised every 10 years. I can see at least two areas need to be updated: 1. Nuclear fusion and the latest status of ITER project (https://www.iter.org) 2. Climate change is no longer just an issue for future generations and the prediction of 2c temperature increase is already out-of-date.
The book includes stem cell research and genetic engineering, not other medical science.
The book was first published in 1990 and revised in 2009. In my opinion, it should be revised every 10 years. I can see at least two areas need to be updated: 1. Nuclear fusion and the latest status of ITER project (https://www.iter.org) 2. Climate change is no longer just an issue for future generations and the prediction of 2c temperature increase is already out-of-date.
The book includes stem cell research and genetic engineering, not other medical science.
January 14, 2013
Really good science read for those of us who happened to major in the humanities; it's easy to read but not watered down too much; it's well organized and holds interest; they use a good deal of metaphors to get across abstract ideas. But it's only a brief summary or review of sorts.
Naturally, you probably know a thing or two already--in that case just enjoy the ride. Perhaps you even have a solid scientific patois, remnants of a high school/university education. But chances are that you don't exactly know as much as you think you do.
Naturally, you probably know a thing or two already--in that case just enjoy the ride. Perhaps you even have a solid scientific patois, remnants of a high school/university education. But chances are that you don't exactly know as much as you think you do.
July 11, 2019
Not a new science book by any means, but I appreciated the attempt to provide a lot of general information for the voting public. Here's the breakdown:
60% Physics
25% Biology
15% Chemistry, Geology, Astronomy, and other
60% Physics
25% Biology
15% Chemistry, Geology, Astronomy, and other
March 23, 2022
I wanted to read this book because I want to have a better understanding of science--- and a review of all the things I absorbed in high school. Sadly- while this book claims to be that tool....it was SO dry and boring....that I am not sure I can tell you much of what I read. SOOOOOOOOooooooo boring. Maybe it is all on me.....or maybe I should stop opening books that cover topics I am not super invested in... who knows? I just....no.
Read: find something more interesting to read. This was a big drag for me.
Read: find something more interesting to read. This was a big drag for me.
February 26, 2010
If you're looking to familiarize yourself with popular science topics in the news and media or just looking to learn a little more about the natural world, this book's the perfect solution. It doesn't get so far into the nitty-gritty details as to boar the casual reader but explores each subject thoroughly and in-depth enough.
For those who already know a subject to some fair extent, such as myself with physics, those sections may seem a little basic. This is, of course, the point of the book and unless you're knowledgeable of all the subjects covered you'll still gain something from the reading. I did mostly skim the physics parts than read them extensively but when it came to other areas, like chemistry, biology, and ecology, I was kept eagerly engaged.
I give it four stars because of the wide and diverse range of scientific fields covered. If it was a book on any one subject it wouldn't be nearly as valuable. The fact that it covers quickly and in good detail as many topics as it does is wonderfully worthwhile.
Side Note: Another good book by one of the authors, James Trefil, is "From Atoms to Quarks." I've read it twice and he did an equally well job presenting the world of particle physics in that as he did science in general here. In fact both of these books are high on my list of great scientific reads.
For those who already know a subject to some fair extent, such as myself with physics, those sections may seem a little basic. This is, of course, the point of the book and unless you're knowledgeable of all the subjects covered you'll still gain something from the reading. I did mostly skim the physics parts than read them extensively but when it came to other areas, like chemistry, biology, and ecology, I was kept eagerly engaged.
I give it four stars because of the wide and diverse range of scientific fields covered. If it was a book on any one subject it wouldn't be nearly as valuable. The fact that it covers quickly and in good detail as many topics as it does is wonderfully worthwhile.
Side Note: Another good book by one of the authors, James Trefil, is "From Atoms to Quarks." I've read it twice and he did an equally well job presenting the world of particle physics in that as he did science in general here. In fact both of these books are high on my list of great scientific reads.
September 14, 2016
This book is a great entry to many scientific fields, from astronomy to geology to biology and evolution. It aims to equip the reader with a basic understanding of current scientific topics and does so quite efficiently. Most of the content is interesting and awe-inspiring, although there were a few tiny instances where I would have liked a more skeptically scientific tone better. A few topics were also not as detailed as the others (presumably inevitable in this large a scope). Nevertheless, the tone is quite impartial and the data scientific. I just can't help but appreciate the intent behind a book that undertakes such an important mission.
It will not only bring you up to speed with most current scientific debate but also get you more interested in plate tectonics and stem cells than you would imagine.
It will not only bring you up to speed with most current scientific debate but also get you more interested in plate tectonics and stem cells than you would imagine.
April 12, 2012
I read this in hopes of clear explanations of current scientific issues. The book started out very promising. I enjoyed the explanations, yet somewhere in the beginning, the explanations were a bit fuzzy - not clarifying what they were talking about exactly. Of course, like most practical teaching, it would best be paired with an interactive section like a partner website to demonstrate motion of particles, molecules, etc.
I thought the authors had a lovely sense of humor, adding in charming metaphors or side commentary. I looked forward to the end of the chapter summaries, or "frontiers" that explained current research or hopes for future outcomes.
It would be a great textbook or reference book. I would put this on my shelf to review the most important science theories when in need.
I thought the authors had a lovely sense of humor, adding in charming metaphors or side commentary. I looked forward to the end of the chapter summaries, or "frontiers" that explained current research or hopes for future outcomes.
It would be a great textbook or reference book. I would put this on my shelf to review the most important science theories when in need.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
July 22, 2021I'm a looking askance at the 1990 copyright date, but I need some sort of basic refresher so I can identify where the holes are in my various understandings. Any recommendations, please??
....
This wasn't it. Like many of its ilk, it's at once too short and too dense. I know enough about the concepts discussed to understand the issues of the day, and know how to look for more info. if I need more detail in context. Reading this randomly w/out context does nothing for me. I have no idea whether or not to recommend it.
....
This wasn't it. Like many of its ilk, it's at once too short and too dense. I know enough about the concepts discussed to understand the issues of the day, and know how to look for more info. if I need more detail in context. Reading this randomly w/out context does nothing for me. I have no idea whether or not to recommend it.
October 28, 2024
I bought this book as a way of improving how I approach science as a discipline. I want to improve how I interrogate physical reality. This wasn’t a fair expectation of this book. Thumbing through the table of contents and noticing the 19 overlapping topics should have been a tip off.
However, the book was still helpful because of its use of simple metaphors and attempts to relate scientific concepts to everyday matters. I particularly enjoyed the later chapters on biology, in particular the discussion on mitosis - cell splitting and meiosis - cell reproduction. These are often glossed over in other accounts.
Overall, I was disappointed in how the book didn’t bring together scientific inquiry so that larger questions about reality, life, the cosmos were brought together in a common way. For example chemistry, as the core elements of hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, oxygen make up distance galaxy and what we shovel up from the ground. Geology, biology, chemistry, physics and astronomy are just the most obvious disciplines that share so much foundational attributes. How do these different disciplines come together as well diverge in this exploration?
That wasn’t explored in this book which keeps inquiries separate and treats them like silos that need to be understood apart from each other. I would say if you want to understand basic headlines about science this book is a start but no more than that.
However, the book was still helpful because of its use of simple metaphors and attempts to relate scientific concepts to everyday matters. I particularly enjoyed the later chapters on biology, in particular the discussion on mitosis - cell splitting and meiosis - cell reproduction. These are often glossed over in other accounts.
Overall, I was disappointed in how the book didn’t bring together scientific inquiry so that larger questions about reality, life, the cosmos were brought together in a common way. For example chemistry, as the core elements of hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, oxygen make up distance galaxy and what we shovel up from the ground. Geology, biology, chemistry, physics and astronomy are just the most obvious disciplines that share so much foundational attributes. How do these different disciplines come together as well diverge in this exploration?
That wasn’t explored in this book which keeps inquiries separate and treats them like silos that need to be understood apart from each other. I would say if you want to understand basic headlines about science this book is a start but no more than that.
March 26, 2025
This was a very informative, interesting read. It was fairly engaging (as engaging as a science book can be) and overall I enjoyed it. There is a LOT of information in here and I learned a lot. There are, however, several things I, as a Christian, disagree with and that is why I gave it only four stars. Otherwise it was pretty good.
August 15, 2024
Solid enough survey of high school level natural science, helped me brush up on some stuff I missed as a kid due simply to not paying attention as I should have! Unfortunately outdated. Some of my favorite nonfiction ever is also outdated, John Gribbin's In Search of Schrödinger's Cat comes to mind immediately, but it typically compensates for that by going into some detail over how scientists knew what they knew at the time of writing. Science Matters, on the other hand, is more interested in raw conclusions. That's a perfectly valid approach, especially for a boo attempting to cover the rudiments, but that also means being outdated has more drastic consequences.
October 4, 2018
If you want an edge-of-your-seat, scorching hot page turner, than you might want to look elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for a layperson’s explanation of the atomic structure of matter, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, organic chemistry, and cosmology (which tbh most people are), then this is the book is for you, nerd.
November 13, 2014
The basics. Introductory science topics, overview of stuff we were supposed to pick up before graduating high school but may have forgotten or were, unfortunately, never exposed.
May 30, 2019
The main idea behind this book - scientific literacy for everyone - is good. However, the authors overlooked one of the important truths of science: SCIENCE CANNOT PROVE ANYTHING.
July 21, 2021
Hazen and Trefil nearly pull it off. The goal of providing non-science folks an accessible pathway to science literacy is their self-proclaimed charter.
In practice, the folks that are good at math and science will benefit the most from this high-level view of the most essential concepts of the scientific world. The book covers a wide range of disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology, earth and geological science.
The core principals are based on well-known, broad scientific laws with the maxims of Newton, Maxwell and Einstein taking center stage. The periodic table, DNA/RNA, protein, enzymes, quarks, dark matter, black holes, Darwin, Mendel and other of science's greatest hits get a spin on the turntable as well.
In this short, dense book, Hazen and Trefil show the duality of science and life. Carbon dioxide is discarded by animals as a waste product which plants need to grow and thrive. Plants offload oxygen as their waste byproduct which is essential for animals to survive. Energy is grouped in two sets of pairs, kinetic/potential and magnetic/electrical. Quarks are balanced by dark matter. Negatively charged electrons are matched by positively charged protons. Mass converts to energy and energy converts to mass. The core of the earth produces heat which cools and returns to the core. Cooled materials is fed into the core and then heated up again in a constant convection cycle. One cell divides into two cells by splitting its paired DNA strands.
With each chapter, you see Hazen and Trefil connecting the sciences and showing how balanced the universe is. Energy is neither created or destroyed. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This yin and yang repeat through the turbo-accelerated journey through the sciences. It is not surprising that computers use binary code. Many aspects of the universe operate in a similar either/or paradigm.
Einstein is the hero of the book. He is more than a physicist. He studies the stars and the universe. He reversed his gaze and applies his physics at the sub-atomic level. He calculates how fast the universe is expanding. He detects the implications of atomic energy. His theory of relativity breaks the division between physics and chemistry and launches the search for a unified theory of everything. Einstein believed in the elegance and simplicity of the universe and used math, physics and chemistry to prove his intuition. To date, there are curiosities in particle and wave motions that confound a unified theory. As we conceive better instruments such as subatomic particle colliders, our smiling, crazy-haired German-born genius may one day prove even more prescient.
The authors begin with concepts that most mere mortals can digest. After the first few chapters, things get heavy and deep fast. The theory of relativity, quarks, string theory, and black holes are given a few paragraphs or pages of descriptions and require a basis of key scientific principles. The acceleration from accessible to "whoa" is intense.
Science literacy for non-scientific folks is a noble and well-intentioned goal but one that is not easy to pull off. A few chapters in, the folks without scientific foundation will bow out. The truth is this book is not likely to appeal to these folks anyways. Fortunately, folks who are scientific-minded and need a refresher course in different scientific disciplines will find this book a valuable asset. The explanations and examples are clear though complex. Readers who understand the basics of the various sciences will feel more confident and literate in fields after consuming this text.
Enjoy the wonders of science and appreciate the duality of the universe as you explore this well architected guide.
In practice, the folks that are good at math and science will benefit the most from this high-level view of the most essential concepts of the scientific world. The book covers a wide range of disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology, earth and geological science.
The core principals are based on well-known, broad scientific laws with the maxims of Newton, Maxwell and Einstein taking center stage. The periodic table, DNA/RNA, protein, enzymes, quarks, dark matter, black holes, Darwin, Mendel and other of science's greatest hits get a spin on the turntable as well.
In this short, dense book, Hazen and Trefil show the duality of science and life. Carbon dioxide is discarded by animals as a waste product which plants need to grow and thrive. Plants offload oxygen as their waste byproduct which is essential for animals to survive. Energy is grouped in two sets of pairs, kinetic/potential and magnetic/electrical. Quarks are balanced by dark matter. Negatively charged electrons are matched by positively charged protons. Mass converts to energy and energy converts to mass. The core of the earth produces heat which cools and returns to the core. Cooled materials is fed into the core and then heated up again in a constant convection cycle. One cell divides into two cells by splitting its paired DNA strands.
With each chapter, you see Hazen and Trefil connecting the sciences and showing how balanced the universe is. Energy is neither created or destroyed. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This yin and yang repeat through the turbo-accelerated journey through the sciences. It is not surprising that computers use binary code. Many aspects of the universe operate in a similar either/or paradigm.
Einstein is the hero of the book. He is more than a physicist. He studies the stars and the universe. He reversed his gaze and applies his physics at the sub-atomic level. He calculates how fast the universe is expanding. He detects the implications of atomic energy. His theory of relativity breaks the division between physics and chemistry and launches the search for a unified theory of everything. Einstein believed in the elegance and simplicity of the universe and used math, physics and chemistry to prove his intuition. To date, there are curiosities in particle and wave motions that confound a unified theory. As we conceive better instruments such as subatomic particle colliders, our smiling, crazy-haired German-born genius may one day prove even more prescient.
The authors begin with concepts that most mere mortals can digest. After the first few chapters, things get heavy and deep fast. The theory of relativity, quarks, string theory, and black holes are given a few paragraphs or pages of descriptions and require a basis of key scientific principles. The acceleration from accessible to "whoa" is intense.
Science literacy for non-scientific folks is a noble and well-intentioned goal but one that is not easy to pull off. A few chapters in, the folks without scientific foundation will bow out. The truth is this book is not likely to appeal to these folks anyways. Fortunately, folks who are scientific-minded and need a refresher course in different scientific disciplines will find this book a valuable asset. The explanations and examples are clear though complex. Readers who understand the basics of the various sciences will feel more confident and literate in fields after consuming this text.
Enjoy the wonders of science and appreciate the duality of the universe as you explore this well architected guide.
September 11, 2020
Scientific discoveries and breakthroughs are happening at an exponential rate so I pondered the value of reading a science book written in 1990. To make matters worse, the authors mention that it was written on a word processor with a vacuum tube display screen. Fortunately, the engaging writing and the overall premise made me continue reading and I am glad that I did.
Thomas Jefferson is credited with saying, “a well-informed electorate is a prerequisite for democracy.” The authors, Robert Hazen and James Trefil, have built on this concept stating the voters today need to be scientifically literate. Without a basic knowledge of scientific laws and principles they feel that voters are ill prepared to understand and form opinions on scientific matters they read in the news. The book is, therefore, geared to give a basic outline of the different fields of science and the matters that they study. The information presented covers a wide range of topics from the subatomic to the cosmos.
An interesting side note - I read this book during the term of an anti-science president. In fact, there seems to currently be a movement among many in America to push the idea that science is bad. For many this is due to their belief that religion and science are in conflict. The authors point out that science and religion deal with totally different things so there should be no conflict. It is almost as if Hazen and Trefil foresaw the day, thirty years in the future, when scientific illiteracy and antagonism would threaten the people of the United States. As we are watching, this antagonism and ignorance is contributing directly to the death of two hundred thousand people in the Covid-19 pandemic.
The information about subatomic particles, supercolliders, exoplanets, and the ozone layer in this book is definitely a bit dated. However, since the book is about basic principles more than specific scientific discoveries, it has stood up quite well to the passage of thirty years. The average reader will find a lot of useful information as well as answers to a number of scientific questions. Inside the front and rear pages in the hard cover edition is an index to roughly two hundred subjects the reader might choose to flip to rather than reading the book cover to cover.
The authors have condensed an enormous amount of science into less than three hundred pages and have given great examples to explain different concepts. They did not shy away from explaining there are often different and/or conflicting theories about how the universe works. As Hazen and Trefil put it, “there have been many theories of gravity… Any one of these theories may be wrong, incomplete, or incorporated into another. But if you drop an object, it falls, regardless of which theory you believe.”
I am a bit of a science nerd and was already familiar with many of the concepts this book talked about. I still enjoyed reading it as it refreshed my understanding and knowledge of some topics I last studied over fifty years ago in high school. The authors maintain that “the basic ideas underlying all science are simple.” That may be true but I do think that what the authors feel is basic may still be a little difficult for some people who consider themselves “unscientific.” The series of “For Dummies” and “Complete Idiot's Guides” came out after this book was published and are definitely more “dumbed down” that this book. This is not a criticism of either, just a note to those who consider themselves scientifically illiterate that this is a great book to start out with but not to be discouraged if you stumble here and there.
Thomas Jefferson is credited with saying, “a well-informed electorate is a prerequisite for democracy.” The authors, Robert Hazen and James Trefil, have built on this concept stating the voters today need to be scientifically literate. Without a basic knowledge of scientific laws and principles they feel that voters are ill prepared to understand and form opinions on scientific matters they read in the news. The book is, therefore, geared to give a basic outline of the different fields of science and the matters that they study. The information presented covers a wide range of topics from the subatomic to the cosmos.
An interesting side note - I read this book during the term of an anti-science president. In fact, there seems to currently be a movement among many in America to push the idea that science is bad. For many this is due to their belief that religion and science are in conflict. The authors point out that science and religion deal with totally different things so there should be no conflict. It is almost as if Hazen and Trefil foresaw the day, thirty years in the future, when scientific illiteracy and antagonism would threaten the people of the United States. As we are watching, this antagonism and ignorance is contributing directly to the death of two hundred thousand people in the Covid-19 pandemic.
The information about subatomic particles, supercolliders, exoplanets, and the ozone layer in this book is definitely a bit dated. However, since the book is about basic principles more than specific scientific discoveries, it has stood up quite well to the passage of thirty years. The average reader will find a lot of useful information as well as answers to a number of scientific questions. Inside the front and rear pages in the hard cover edition is an index to roughly two hundred subjects the reader might choose to flip to rather than reading the book cover to cover.
The authors have condensed an enormous amount of science into less than three hundred pages and have given great examples to explain different concepts. They did not shy away from explaining there are often different and/or conflicting theories about how the universe works. As Hazen and Trefil put it, “there have been many theories of gravity… Any one of these theories may be wrong, incomplete, or incorporated into another. But if you drop an object, it falls, regardless of which theory you believe.”
I am a bit of a science nerd and was already familiar with many of the concepts this book talked about. I still enjoyed reading it as it refreshed my understanding and knowledge of some topics I last studied over fifty years ago in high school. The authors maintain that “the basic ideas underlying all science are simple.” That may be true but I do think that what the authors feel is basic may still be a little difficult for some people who consider themselves “unscientific.” The series of “For Dummies” and “Complete Idiot's Guides” came out after this book was published and are definitely more “dumbed down” that this book. This is not a criticism of either, just a note to those who consider themselves scientifically illiterate that this is a great book to start out with but not to be discouraged if you stumble here and there.
April 23, 2020
Both strengths and weaknesses
The book is simplistic especially in early chapters and builds upon that foundation to culminate into controversial topics of today in the last couple of chapters.
As far as young earth vs. evolution vs. intelligent design the author uses several lines of evidence to convince the reader that a young earth theorist must accept that a creator needed to insert a lot of information suggestive of a long-storied past at the time of creation. He is rather dismissive of intelligent design by stating ID adherents have failed to produce one working theory (how would they?) and that evolution has produced hundreds that are proven (without acknowledging ID would leave the same fossil and DNA evidence). He resolves this by stating evolution vs. ID should be taught in a classroom outside the science department.
The last chapter on climate change was shorter than I expected and ended with a question rather than a conclusion. Prior to that he offers several renewable energy options but does not spend time discussing the pragmatism of each. I found it interesting that he didn’t address (carbon neutral) energy renewal in the potential recycling of cellulose which had been mentioned in an earlier chapter. Did I miss something or did he completely omit the nuclear power option in the final chapter? These are minor critiques and I thought he wrote a balanced summary of where we are scientifically even raising the differences in satellite data vs. surface data.
Each chapter summarizes volumes of information in an organized and efficient manner. There are times when you wish the author would take a topic to the next level but not practical in a single book. Overall, well done and keeps things interesting in a field that many would otherwise find boring.
The book is simplistic especially in early chapters and builds upon that foundation to culminate into controversial topics of today in the last couple of chapters.
As far as young earth vs. evolution vs. intelligent design the author uses several lines of evidence to convince the reader that a young earth theorist must accept that a creator needed to insert a lot of information suggestive of a long-storied past at the time of creation. He is rather dismissive of intelligent design by stating ID adherents have failed to produce one working theory (how would they?) and that evolution has produced hundreds that are proven (without acknowledging ID would leave the same fossil and DNA evidence). He resolves this by stating evolution vs. ID should be taught in a classroom outside the science department.
The last chapter on climate change was shorter than I expected and ended with a question rather than a conclusion. Prior to that he offers several renewable energy options but does not spend time discussing the pragmatism of each. I found it interesting that he didn’t address (carbon neutral) energy renewal in the potential recycling of cellulose which had been mentioned in an earlier chapter. Did I miss something or did he completely omit the nuclear power option in the final chapter? These are minor critiques and I thought he wrote a balanced summary of where we are scientifically even raising the differences in satellite data vs. surface data.
Each chapter summarizes volumes of information in an organized and efficient manner. There are times when you wish the author would take a topic to the next level but not practical in a single book. Overall, well done and keeps things interesting in a field that many would otherwise find boring.
June 15, 2023
Science Matters, Acheiving Scientific Literacy
Written by Robert M. Hazen and James Trefil
ISBN 978-0-307-45458-4
Book design by R. Bull
Introduction
Scientific Literacy: What it is, why it is important and why we don't have it.
One: Knowing
The universe is regular and predictable
Two: Energy
Energy is conserved and always goes from more useful to less useful form
Three: Electricity and Magnetism
Electricity and magnetism are two aspects of the same force
Four: The Atom
All matter is made of atoms
Five: The world of the Quantum
Everything comes is discrete units and you can't measure anything without changing it.
Sex: Chemical Bonding
Atoms are bound by electron glue
Seven: Atomic Architecture
The way material behaves depends on how its atoms are arranged
Eight: Nuclear Physics
Nuclear energy comes from the conversion of mass
Nine: The fundamental structure of matter
All matter is really made of quarks and leptons
Ten: Astronomy
Stars experience a cycle of births and deaths
Eleven: The Cosmos
The universe was born on a specific time in the past, and has been expanding ever since.
Twelve: Relativity
Every observer sees the same laws of nature
Thirteen: The restless Earth
Earth's surface is constantly changing, and no feature on Earth is permanent
Fourteen: Earth Cycles
Earth operates in cycles
Ffteen: The ladder of life
All living things are made from cells, the chemical factories of life
Sixteen: The code of Life
All life is based on the same genetic code
Seventeen: Biotechnology
All life is based on the same chemistry and genetic code
Eighteen: Evolution
All forms of life evolved by natural selection
Nineteen: Ecosystems
All life is connected
Epilogue
The role of science
Index
Written by Robert M. Hazen and James Trefil
ISBN 978-0-307-45458-4
Book design by R. Bull
Introduction
Scientific Literacy: What it is, why it is important and why we don't have it.
One: Knowing
The universe is regular and predictable
Two: Energy
Energy is conserved and always goes from more useful to less useful form
Three: Electricity and Magnetism
Electricity and magnetism are two aspects of the same force
Four: The Atom
All matter is made of atoms
Five: The world of the Quantum
Everything comes is discrete units and you can't measure anything without changing it.
Sex: Chemical Bonding
Atoms are bound by electron glue
Seven: Atomic Architecture
The way material behaves depends on how its atoms are arranged
Eight: Nuclear Physics
Nuclear energy comes from the conversion of mass
Nine: The fundamental structure of matter
All matter is really made of quarks and leptons
Ten: Astronomy
Stars experience a cycle of births and deaths
Eleven: The Cosmos
The universe was born on a specific time in the past, and has been expanding ever since.
Twelve: Relativity
Every observer sees the same laws of nature
Thirteen: The restless Earth
Earth's surface is constantly changing, and no feature on Earth is permanent
Fourteen: Earth Cycles
Earth operates in cycles
Ffteen: The ladder of life
All living things are made from cells, the chemical factories of life
Sixteen: The code of Life
All life is based on the same genetic code
Seventeen: Biotechnology
All life is based on the same chemistry and genetic code
Eighteen: Evolution
All forms of life evolved by natural selection
Nineteen: Ecosystems
All life is connected
Epilogue
The role of science
Index
April 30, 2020
This is a book that is about scientific literacy. It’s intended audience is people who are involved in setting curricula. What is the minimum that everyone should know about science. I was told that every time that you put an equation in a book, you cut the potential audience by half. More that four equations, you have yourself a textbook. He put in E=mc**2 and F=ma. If my statement about math is correct, this is where we all lose the audience. His point is that you don’t need math to be literate in science. The chapters illustrate this point. As someone who made a living in technology, science and teaching, I think that he has a point. I hear people talk on various mainstream news outlets and I am appalled that they know so little and screw up so much.
The point of the book is that we have to up our game and this is a proposed game plan.
I’m with him.
The point of the book is that we have to up our game and this is a proposed game plan.
I’m with him.
September 14, 2025
I’ve been slowly reading this book over the past year - year and a half. It definitely picks it up by the end, but I’m biased towards the biochemical topics. I enjoyed touching up on my physics through this book specifically advancing my understanding of electricity and magnesium, relativity, and quantum mechanics. I also enjoyed the chapter on evolution. Great book for understanding a broad depth of scientific topics - although a section on material sciences/engineering could’ve been interesting. Just like the book predicted, the 21st century (so far) has turned to be the time of biological technology. Therefore, it’s a little out of date with some of the topics. However, this did not take away from the overall value of the book, as science doesn’t change overnight.
February 14, 2019
I learned more from this little book than I did in 12 years of science classes in California public schools. Though that is probably due to the fact I just didn't have much interest in the subject at the time. Then again, if I had had teachers as good as Hazen and Trefil, maybe I would've chosen to study the natural sciences.
I recommend this book to anyone wishing to brush up on basic scientific knowledge. In fact, given the role technology plays in modern life, this book should be essential reading in our democratic republic. How can we be expected to make informed decisions when we don't understand the basic science behind the technologies controlling our lives?
I recommend this book to anyone wishing to brush up on basic scientific knowledge. In fact, given the role technology plays in modern life, this book should be essential reading in our democratic republic. How can we be expected to make informed decisions when we don't understand the basic science behind the technologies controlling our lives?
July 7, 2020
This book was a really nice summary of a lot of scientific concepts that you might have forgotten since school, or maybe never even learned. I definitely agree that it is important to be scientifically literate so that we can form solid opinions about new scientific breakthroughs or controversies in the news, and this book is a great starting point. There is a chapter on evolution which is very dismissive of young-Earth creationism and intelligent design, but I think that we as Christians should have at least a basic understanding of evolutionary concepts so that we can know where people are coming from.
February 28, 2024
I read this to solidify more scientific knowledge as a homeschool mom. I never took chemistry or physics in high school or college, and that was fairly obvious as I was reading through those chapters and feeling a little lost with how much was presented.
Yet, the goal of the book is greater scientific literacy, and I do believe that goal was achieved. If someone is coming to this without having covered the material in the past, it might not be a good option as it doesn’t spend enough time on complex concepts. But as a review to refresh old knowledge, it’s quite good.
Yet, the goal of the book is greater scientific literacy, and I do believe that goal was achieved. If someone is coming to this without having covered the material in the past, it might not be a good option as it doesn’t spend enough time on complex concepts. But as a review to refresh old knowledge, it’s quite good.
January 6, 2023
So much information to absorb. I understood much more during the second half of the book than the first which dealt with physics and atoms and quantums. I found it fascinating that atoms and cells and solar systems and galaxies have similar structures with a nucleus in the center with things orbiting round and this pattern is everywhere! Pretty neat.
Also cool to think about the elements and how everything on earth is recycled and just flows and changes.
Also cool to think about the elements and how everything on earth is recycled and just flows and changes.
July 23, 2017
This book is terrific overview of of the many fields of science. Hazen gives a sufficient and fascinating overview of each science topic. The discussion is fast-paced and thoroughly engages the reader.
This book covers physics, biology, evolution, climate change, astronomy, chemistry and many other topics.
Look forward to reading more books by Robert M. Hazen
This book covers physics, biology, evolution, climate change, astronomy, chemistry and many other topics.
Look forward to reading more books by Robert M. Hazen
January 18, 2019
Reading to learn may not be the most thrilling thing in the world but this book was pretty easy to follow. Many things are basic knowledge but there were some things that I did not know and many things that I had learned and forgotten since my days of school. A nice guide for brushing up on scientific education.
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