Join Alok Jha and his guests as they discuss the significance of science books, including 'The Periodic Table' by Primo Levi and 'Madame Curie' by Ève Curie. They explore the blending of art and storytelling with science, the importance of collective knowledge, and the shift to a gene-centered view of evolution.
Science books blend art and storytelling with scientific knowledge, making complex concepts accessible and fueling curiosity.
'Why Fish Don't Exist' challenges fixed categories and encourages reevaluation of boundaries and labels in the natural world and our lives.
Deep dives
The Power of Science Books in Communicating Ideas
Science books play a crucial role in making complex concepts accessible to a wider audience. They distill scientific knowledge into understandable and even beautiful narratives, allowing readers to explore and understand topics like physics and evolution. Books provide a platform for scientists and science writers to break free from traditional writing styles and blend science with art, storytelling, and creativity. By embracing this storytelling instinct, science books can captivate readers and ignite their curiosity, encouraging them to further explore and understand the world around them.
The Intricacies of Categorization and Boundaries
The book 'Why Fish Don't Exist' by Lulu Miller explores the complexity of categorization and labels. It delves into the idea that humans often create boundaries and categories to make sense of the world, but closer examination reveals the arbitrary nature of these divisions. The author challenges the notion of fixed categories, using the example of fish and the intricate web of relationships within this classification. This book encourages readers to question and reevaluate the boundaries and labels we impose on the natural world and in our own lives.
Understanding Life Through the Lens of Sea Creatures
In 'How Far the Light Reaches' by Sabrina Imbler, the author takes readers on a journey through ten different sea creatures, relating each creature to personal experiences and emotions. The book combines biography, memoir, philosophy, and science to illuminate the interconnectedness of the natural world and human existence. It highlights the infinite complexity and mystery of seemingly mundane objects and categories we often take for granted. Imbler's lyrical prose and ability to find wonder in the world around her make this book a captivating and thought-provoking read.
The Blend of Science and Philosophy in Evolutionary Theory
Edward Wilson's 'Sociobiology' and Richard Dawkins' 'The Selfish Gene' introduced a gene-centered perspective in understanding evolution. These seminal works revolutionized the study of animal behavior and emphasized the importance of genes in shaping species' traits. They sparked a shift in evolutionary biology, exploring the concept of cultural evolution and how ideas, behaviors, and beliefs are transmitted and evolve within societies. These books challenged conventional thinking, encouraging readers to consider how genes and culture interact to drive human and animal evolution.
Books are the original medium for communicating science to the masses. In a holiday special, producer Kunal Patel asks Babbage’s family of correspondents about the books that have inspired them in their careers as science journalists.
Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Contributors: Rachel Dobbs, The Economist’s climate correspondent; Kenneth Cukier, our deputy executive editor; The Economist’s Emilie Steinmark; Geoff Carr, our senior editor for science and technology; and Abby Bertics, The Economist’s science correspondent.
Reading list: “The Periodic Table” by Primo Levi; “When We Cease to Understand the World” by Benjamín Labatut; “A Theory of Everyone” by Michael Muthukrishna; “Madame Curie” by Ève Curie; “Sociobiology” by E. O. Wilson; “The Selfish Gene” by Richard Dawkins; “Why Fish Don't Exist” by Lulu Miller; and “How Far the Light Reaches” by Sabrina Imbler.
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