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Brian L. Silver
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The Ascent of Science Paperback – 6 April 2000

by Brian L. Silver (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
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From the revolutionary discoveries of Galileo and Newton to the mind-bending theories of Einstein and Heisenberg, from plate tectonics to particle physics, from the origin of life to universal entropy, and from biology to cosmology, here is a sweeping, readable, and dynamic account of the whole of Western science.In the approachable manner and method of Stephen Jay Gould and Carl Sagan, the late Brian L. Silver translates our most important, and often most obscure, scientific developments into a vernacular that is not only accessible and illuminating but also enjoyable. Silver makes his comprehensive case with much clarity and insight; his book aptly locates science as the apex of human reason, and reason as our best path to the truth. For all readers curious about--or else perhaps intimidated by--what Silver calls "the scientific campaign up to now" in his Preface, The Ascent of Science will be fresh, vivid, and fascinating reading.
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  1. Print length
    552 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  4. Publication date
    6 April 2000
  5. Dimensions
    3.81 x 24.64 x 17.02 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0195134273
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0195134278
  8. Lexile measure
    1220L
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Product description

Review

"Like a good tour book, [this volume] takes us to all the principle locations in the realm and shows us not only what's to be found there, but also its history, its effect on history, philosophy, technology and society, and vignettes about local heroes....A comprehensive, balanced, informative and charming book....For [those] curious to know what science is really all about, this book makes very good one-stop shopping."--The New York Times Book Review

"For anyone interested in but intimidated by the scientific enterprise, The Ascent of Science provides an inviting assessment of the discipline. That it does so without diminishing either the complexity or the awe-inspiring power of science is a major accomplishment, one that opens the door to humanity's greatest intellectual adventure and reveals the many ways in which science has altered the way we see the world and ourselves."--Research and Innovation

"Confident but not arrogant, comprehensive, thought-provoking, and very well written. Silver has given us one of the most stimulating overviews of science in recent years."--Kirkus Reviews

"Considering the in-depth, comprehensive character of this overview of the scientific enterprise, the accessibility of Silver's narrative is remarkable."--Booklist

"Silver does more than explain scientific achievements with wit and grace: For him, science is fun. In this spirit, he leads a whirlwind tour through the wondrous worlds of molecular biology, animal evolution, quantum mechanics, and relativity."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A book commendable for its breadth, depth, and vision, conveying effectively the intellectual majesty and cold-blooded rational rigor of science, with erudition and sensitivity. Highly recommended to all undergraduate science students."--Science & Technology

"Silver shows the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of the scientist's quest for knowledge. His writing style is nothing less than charming."--Ben Bova, Courant

Review

"Like a good tour book, [this volume] takes us to all the principle locations in the realm and shows us not only what's to be found there, but also its history, its effect on history, philosophy, technology and society, and vignettes about local heroes....A comprehensive, balanced, informative and charming book....For [those] curious to know what science is really all about, this book makes very good one-stop shopping."--The New York Times Book Review "For anyone interested in but intimidated by the scientific enterprise, The Ascent of Science provides an inviting assessment of the discipline. That it does so without diminishing either the complexity or the awe-inspiring power of science is a major accomplishment, one that opens the door to humanity's greatest intellectual adventure and reveals the many ways in which science has altered the way we see the world and ourselves."--Research and Innovation "Confident but not arrogant, comprehensive, thought-provoking, and very well written. Silver has given us one of the most stimulating overviews of science in recent years."--Kirkus Reviews "Considering the in-depth, comprehensive character of this overview of the scientific enterprise, the accessibility of Silver's narrative is remarkable."--Booklist "Silver does more than explain scientific achievements with wit and grace: For him, science is fun. In this spirit, he leads a whirlwind tour through the wondrous worlds of molecular biology, animal evolution, quantum mechanics, and relativity."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A book commendable for its breadth, depth, and vision, conveying effectively the intellectual majesty and cold-blooded rational rigor of science, with erudition and sensitivity. Highly recommended to all undergraduate science students."--Science & Technology "Silver shows the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of the scientist's quest for knowledge. His writing style is nothing less than charming."--Ben Bova, Courant

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; Revised ed. edition (6 April 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 552 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0195134273
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0195134278
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 3.81 x 24.64 x 17.02 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

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Brian L. Silver

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4.5 out of 5 stars
17 global ratings

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Top reviews from Australia

  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Journey
    Reviewed in Australia on 27 October 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I love the way that Professor Silver blends his narrative on the science and discoveries that led the Ascent of Science. He also considers how these interact with the prevailing beliefs and philosophy of the times, illustrating the way in which the human mind can sometimes struggle to come to terms with challenging or provocative concepts. His style tends to wander from serious to frivolous but is always engaging, primarily because there is an enthusiasm about his unveiling of each new discovery. While some may disparage the way in which he only scratches the surface of his topics, seldom delving deep into the subjects considered, this is only to be expected when the stated objective is to reveal the path that science took in its ascendency. It also ensures that the lay reader doesn’t become mired in struggles with atomic processes or quantum concepts that undergraduate students can wrestle with for years.
    As a text which explores the evolution of science from its mystic origins to becoming the predominant force in the world today the Ascent of Science helps provide a foundation level of knowledge and serves to interest and stimulate the reader to search for more information on the topics explored. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it took me ten times longer to read as I searched the web for more detail of the people and discoveries mentioned.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • JIP
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fine account of the scientific worldview
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 October 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This must be one of the best accounts of the scientific world view in print. It covers most areas in a very acessible style, with flashes of humour.
    Sadly the author died just before publication in 1997, so there will be no more from his pen. This also means that some areas, such as particle physics and cosmology, where there have been significant discoveries since publication, are now out of date. However there are many more recent publications which cover these areas, and as long as the reader is aware of this, the quality of the book makes it an enjoyable and informative read.
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  • D. Bagwell
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever read
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2022
    Verified Purchase
    As my title suggests, to me this is one of the best books I've ever come across. I first read it 25 years ago when I came across a hard copy edition at my mother-in-law's. Why she had it, I do not know, but I am grateful she did as I was hooked from the first page through the last. It has weighty scientific things discussed, but the discussion is never so dense as to be inaccessible. Indeed, the opposite is true: the scientific discussions are offered in so accessible a way that things I'd heard of but never understood became clearer upon my reading.

    This is a book that tracks the development of science *and* philosophy from about the 1600s to the present day, which was the late 1990s when the book was published. Philosophy is important because it shapes the worldview (the set of underlying assumptions that shape how other things are viewed, and the framework in which broader understandings are developed). To blend these two into a single book is brilliant.

    As another commenter noted, the book is wonderful, but the e-book formatting is quite bad. It's readable, but at times just barely. I have to often close the book and restart the Kindle app to get the formatting to go back to normal. I have found that highlighting will appear to be moved from the text I actually highlighted, and following footnotes will take you away, but not give a path back, so be sure to bookmark the page so you can return to your bookmark after reading the footnote.
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  • Mark
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing. For the scientist that never was
    Reviewed in the United States on 18 January 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book about 10 years ago as a softcover, and have either been re-reading it or meaning to re-read it ever since. It is the best book I've ever read. It blows me away still with the amount of knowledge it throws at me in one page, and I often have to put it down every couple of minutes just to compute what it says, but that's a testament to how well it's written that eveything he wants to say is absorbed and doesnt go over my head like some other 'science books for beginners'. I find when I watch documentaries about theoretical physics etc aimed at the 'common man', I get bored and wish they would 'get to the good stuff', which still gives me a kick, it's great. Of course he doesn't just address physics, he addresses all the sciences, which gives a good well rounded education for the 'very curious about science' amongst us. Also he has a good sense of humour, and with illustrations, helps keep the book fresh as you read. All in all, this guy is extremely intelligent, accross a wide range of subjects (and he also had help of course), he is an excellent writer, has a great way of explaining things and obviously loved writing this book. It's a must read.
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  • Winston Edwards
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent book for anyone interested in Science
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  • Alan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book.
    Report