Category Archives: Book Review

The Hunters

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Stephen

I had never heard of James Salter till I read a profile of him in the Observer a couple of weeks ago, on the occasion of the publication of his latest book, his first in a long time. Salter is … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Scientific Life | 2 Comments

Booked

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Stephen

Everyone of a certain pretension likes to think they have a book inside them. I know I do. But I’ve looked and I can’t find it. Maybe it’s in there somewhere but at too early a stage of germination to … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review | Tagged | 19 Comments

“You can’t read this book” but you should

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Stephen

Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games spread a warm glow through liberal hearts. His imaginative sweep over British history and culture, which managed to be both reverent and irreverent, was filled with a human chaos that constituted a nicely … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Libel Reform, Science & Politics | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

The Young Atheist’s Handbook by Alom Shaha

Posted on July 14, 2012 by Stephen

Don’t be misled by the title: this is a book about love. Love for life, love for family and love for curiosity, which leads — circularly — to a love affair with books. Don’t be misled by the title: this … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Open Access by Peter Suber

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Stephen

There has been a fairly torrid debate over open access over the last six months (even longer for aficionados). For people who look in only occasionally it must seem like a storm that swirls around the same arguments time and … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Open Access | Tagged , | 19 Comments

The Lady in the Room

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Stephen

She’s here. She’s in the room. I’ve not noticed her before — not in previous years — but every now and then her presence is unmistakeable. I am sitting in a lecture theatre in St Andrews University in Scotland, attending … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Scientific Life | 18 Comments

Light work of a heavy matter

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Stephen

Ian Sample’s _Massive – The Hunt for the God Particle_ is a fast-paced account of the quest for the Higgs boson, an elusive particle that is purported to solve the mystery of mass. If you were unaware that the question … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review | Tagged | 7 Comments

Beachbooks 3: Uncommon science and danger

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Stephen

I am determined to finish the third and final installment of the posts about my vacation reading before the holiday season comes to an end — which I think is tonight. I want to tell you about the biography of … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

Beachbooks 2: Dagnificent Messolation

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Stephen

For my second holiday read I gave in to the excitement surrounding the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and splashed out on Buzz Aldrin’s Magnificent Desolation. The book (co-written with Ken Abraham) tells of the aftermath of … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Beachbooks 1: Trick or Treatment

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Stephen

Just before heading off on holiday I gave notice of my intended reading matter. Pedalo-duty permitting, I hoped to get through all four books. The wind and currents of the French Atlantic coast precluded any pedalo action so the kids … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Uncategorized | 28 Comments