WHAT THE HELL IS SCIENCE?

In this debut nonfiction work, Dr.M enthusiastically breaks down stereotypes about science and scientists.

The author, a professional “creative faculty scientist and teacher,” asserts that “most adults nowadays feel totally separated from science and have never talked to a real living scientist.” In this book, he aims to counteract what he sees as inaccurate ideas from Hollywood films and elsewhere. After briefly defining what science is (“Science seeks to find evidence for exactly what is true!”), he discusses the research process as a whole and an individual researcher’s typical daily schedule. He compares academic and industrial research, pointing out their high costs and laying out their funding methods (such as company profits or government grants). In the book’s second half, Dr.M explores other topics, comparing “Big Science” and “Little Science,” outlining the process of winning a Nobel Prize, providing biographical snippets of famous scientists and inventors, and offering examples of scientific dishonesty and criminality. Finally, he explains how readers can stay informed about modern science and technology, and even get involved with research. His concluding chapter provides several examples of how one may use scientific knowledge to solve everyday problems. A brief flip through the book reveals its quirky elements, such as an excessively long subtitle; odd, digitally drawn illustrations; and excessive exclamation points, which give it an unprofessional feel. However, the content itself is surprisingly informative and intriguing. Dr.M’s excitement for his topic brings a certain energy to the book, and his choice of subjects is comprehensive and pertinent. Also, the chapters have a straightforward question-answer rhythm that makes them easy to follow. Overall, the author makes his subject accessible, exciting, and entertaining.

Lively and instructive, if readers can look past its eccentricities.