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Uncertain Science ... Uncertain World
Scientific uncertainty puzzles many people. The confusion arises when scientists have more than one answer, and disagree among themselves. By acquainting readers with the ways that uncertainty arises in science, how scientists accommodate and make use of uncertainty, and how they reach conclusions in the face of uncertainty, this book enables them to confidently evaluate uncertainty from their own perspectives, in terms of their experiences. Henry N. Pollack is a professor of Geology in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Michigan. He has published extensively in the field of geophysics. This is his first popular science book.
- GenresScience
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
27 people want to read
About the author
Henry N. Pollack
2 books3 followersHENRY N. POLLACK, PhD
Professor of Geophysics, Emeritus
Department of Geological Sciences
The University of Michigan
Finalist, Royal Society Prize for best science book of 2010
Silver Medal, Living Now 2010 Book Awards
Professor of Geophysics, Emeritus
Department of Geological Sciences
The University of Michigan
Finalist, Royal Society Prize for best science book of 2010
Silver Medal, Living Now 2010 Book Awards
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 7, 2014
He might not be the most . . . . to the point author, but he seems to get A! point across. The points he does make don't seem to me to fit in with what his original thesis of each chapter was; he seems to have a little ADD . . . SQUIRREL!!! CHASE CHASE CHASE CHASE gotcha!!! ohhhh gee this squirrel has an interesting toe which happens to bring me to my next point.
Nonetheless I am enjoyed the book very very much despite his sightly unorganized style. I'll say that if I could write his book for him I would only change the order of some sentences here and some paragraphs there or maybe a section moved to a different chapter. I would not change the order of any of the actual words. So I guess I don't like the editor because it kind of seems like the book is in its first draft.
**Spoiler** if there are spoilers in lay scientific books
Overall, I thought his main point (as deduced from the first chapter or so) would be how main stream media and most lay people think that science is a load because of its uncertainty, but in reality science's strength comes from its uncertainty. That is a very good point for most people to know (i.e. R_________s). Instead he seems to go down a different path. It seems the book is just about global climate change.
Don't get me wrong, he has some very good points on climate change and brings together a lot of the info in a concise manner. Its just that I wasn't expecting a book on climate change. The "issue" of climate change does illustrate the public's views on scientific uncertainty very well and is relevant to his main point. Its just, again, I wasn't expecting that.
My Main Point:
Good layman's science book. Very good. Read it if you want to know more about climate change. Read it if you want to know about scientific uncertainty (obviously). I would suggest, read it.
Nonetheless I am enjoyed the book very very much despite his sightly unorganized style. I'll say that if I could write his book for him I would only change the order of some sentences here and some paragraphs there or maybe a section moved to a different chapter. I would not change the order of any of the actual words. So I guess I don't like the editor because it kind of seems like the book is in its first draft.
**Spoiler** if there are spoilers in lay scientific books
Overall, I thought his main point (as deduced from the first chapter or so) would be how main stream media and most lay people think that science is a load because of its uncertainty, but in reality science's strength comes from its uncertainty. That is a very good point for most people to know (i.e. R_________s). Instead he seems to go down a different path. It seems the book is just about global climate change.
Don't get me wrong, he has some very good points on climate change and brings together a lot of the info in a concise manner. Its just that I wasn't expecting a book on climate change. The "issue" of climate change does illustrate the public's views on scientific uncertainty very well and is relevant to his main point. Its just, again, I wasn't expecting that.
My Main Point:
Good layman's science book. Very good. Read it if you want to know more about climate change. Read it if you want to know about scientific uncertainty (obviously). I would suggest, read it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review