The Gift of Science

I have finally published the second book of essays based on my blog! The book is organized around several unifying themes, one of which is what I call “the gift of science”. When people hear this, they probably think of medical advances or technology useful for everyday life, but the gift of science goes way beyond that. As I explain in this book, this gift is something much more fundamental, something that is necessary for all of us to truly be free, and something, in fact, that most people take for granted and don’t really think about much. Also, sadly, the gift of science is something that numerous individuals reject. Be it global warming and COVID-19 severity deniers, creationists, antivaxxers, flat Earthers, or Qanon, in today’s polarized and confrontational environment, evidence, facts, and reason have been replaced by feelings and beliefs. Healthy skepticism has been replaced by a rabid irrational skepticism mired in ignorance, misinformation, and adherence to conspiracy theories. And confidence in those who have been trained to observe and discover reality has been replaced by a deep-seated mistrust fueled by all sorts of grievances. With this book, I hope to push back against all this and help as many as I can to once again accept the gift of science.
 
This book also addresses a number of specific questions and issues ranging from the serious to the humorous. Among them are: What happens when scientists dream? Is it true that nothing is impossible? What are the best Big Bang Theory nerd themes? In science is it enough to be right? Who created life, the mad scientist or the scientist? Can science operate in a vacuum? Can believers and skeptics agree on anything when it comes to the supernatural? Will there be a gospel for the age of space exploration? What are the applications of evolution? Is the summit of the tallest mountain also the closest to outer space? Is there a fine line separating the sublime from the ridiculous? Do we really want to be in harmony with nature? Are scientists speaking mumbo jumbo? Why are some genes known as the “Halloween Genes”? What is a cation afraid of? And, if a scientist wins a Nobel Prize, does he/she still have IT?
 
As in my previous books, Science Can Be Right Because It Can Be Wrong, this book is structured into several sections dealing with the nature of science, how science works and how it doesn’t, and what is and isn’t science. There also are stories about science and scientists, a section addressing how you relate to science, as well as sections dealing with issues that are fun and of interest. Finally, I also include some bad science jokes and puns, and all-purpose whimsy.

If you have enjoyed reading my posts over the past few years and have benefited from them, then purchasing this book (or my books of short stories) is an excellent way to support my work. The book is available on Amazon as an ebook. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can read it with a Kindle App on your phone or tablet, or you can read it directly on the cloud section of your Amazon account using Amazon’s inbuilt e-reader. If you read my book, I would appreciate if you can please leave a review on its Amazon page.
 
I hope you like my book. Science on!
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