The Book Building
bcohen | July 30, 2006I just posted an entry on Darwin's status as a scientist, and wanted to tag on this brief run-down on some biography. (Although I'll say right off that I'm *not* a historical Darwin scholar, and a lot of brilliant people are.)
First, Darwin is the most biographed scientist. Second, that means there are tons of good bios of him; and a whole lot more that are just awful. Third, they've changed focus over the years -- so you can study the Darwin Bio industry itself as a site of research. His character is portrayed differently in the late 19th century, at the height of Victorian sensibility…
worldsfair | July 24, 2006The question posed this time:
Are there any children's books that are dear to you, either as a child or a parent, and especially ones that perhaps strike a chord with those from a science sensibility? Just curious really. And it doesn't have to be a picture book, doesn't even have to be a children's book - just a book that, for whatever reason, worked for you.
- SCIENCEBLOGGER ANSWERS -
Dave, World's Fair
So, today is the last day of the Children's book workshop, and it's been a nice change of pace for sure. The instructor, Susan Juby, was excellent and the content generally helpful and did…
worldsfair | July 14, 2006So, today is the last day of the Children's book workshop, and it's been a nice change of pace for sure. The instructor, Susan Juby, was excellent and the content generally helpful and did I say, nice change of pace? I also picked up a few great quotes about children in general, and in children's lit specifically.
Two of my favourites have been:
"We know nothing of childhood, and with our mistaken notions the further we advance the further we go astray. The wisest writers devote themselves to what a man ought to know, without asking what a child is capable of learning. They are always…
worldsfair | July 14, 2006
Mr. Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are is easily one of the best loved children's book on our planet, but it may surprise you to know that his first published illustrations were done in the name of science. Of course, you'll need a big wallet to get those illustrations, or get the book rather. Here is a current ad below:
(Sendak, Maurice) Maxwell Eidenoff and Hyman Ruchlis. ATOMICS FOR THE MILLIONS. New York: Whittlesey House (1947). First edition. First issue with the patterned endpapers, $3.50 price on both flaps of dustjacket, and statement of paper quality on copyright page. Small gift…
bcohen | July 7, 2006I'm following Dave's lead here, who was following Nick Hornby's lead, who could probably be made aware of our lead following and then wax poetic on the flourishing of his format. Except I'm sure he's busy. Lunching with Cusack. Unless Cusack is lunching with Anjelica Huston, like in The Player. Damn, Robert Altman's good. Can we talk about McCabe and Mrs. Miller?
Did I get sidetracked?
These are the books on my nightstand, and beside my desk at my office. They shift frequently, but this is where things stand today. As of now, early July, the first ten are nightstand-based, the last…
worldsfair | July 6, 2006One of the monthly columns in The Believer, is written by none other than Nick Hornby, and is called "Stuff I've Been Reading: A Monthly Column." In it, he presents a list of books bought and a list of books read, and although I am nowhere near as voracious a reader, I thought it might be nice to follow suite (also some of my friends told me that that is what blogs are kind of for). Anyway, for clarity, here are the books I managed to get through these past two months.
"A Short History of Progress" by Ronald Wright (finished, reread actually - once a book club book)
"Saturday" by Ian McEwan (…
worldsfair | June 29, 2006Since thursday is no longer must see TV, here is a round up of some interesting pieces that relate (although sometimes weakly) to the sciences.
Let's first begin with this great open letter at the venerable McSweeney's. The title says it all really: "Open Letter to Keith Richard's Immune System." (by Litsa).
Chris regularly makes me laugh out loud, and I think there's a lot of value in that sort of thing. Read his "Trash Talkin' at the Science Museum." Also, since Star Jones seems to be in the news a lot lately, read his "I'm your biggest fan" piece - bonus points if you can work in some…
worldsfair | June 12, 2006I thought it would be kind of interesting to try and showcase a few links from the types of journals and publications that take less than academic stabs at science writing. It's the sort of stuff that interests me to no end, because if you read through "Public Understanding of Science" type studies (a really misfortune label since this causes the acronym PUS to be flitted around), you hear some negative stuff about how the scientific literacy of countries like the UK and USA generally hover around 20% or so.
Now granted, defining scientific literacy is a weighted chore, and maybe something I…