Book Review: The One Thing You Need to Know, Marcus Chown
Nonfiction: The One Thing You Need to Know, Marcus Chown
Blog Tour February 3, 2023
As an American adult in his 50s, probably nothing has distressed me more in the Internet era than the daily confirmation that my fellow citizens do not know science. I am distressed at the general ignorance of other things as well: civics, politics, history, and basic decency come to mind as well. At least from my own experience I can’t blame science teachers. (OK, maybe a couple of them.) The last several years, though, the dearth of science knowledge in these United States has been painfully obvious. Sadly, the pain is primarily born by others. The scientifically oblivious are incapable of recognizing their own lack of knowledge.
Thus, we have people denying global warming, people denying the efficacy of vaccines, people convinced that COVID is a hoax, people believing that wolves will eat their children. What we really need is someone to write a book that let’s people focus on the one thing, just one thing, that they need to know to grasp the most basic scientific principles. What is the one thing you need to know about global warming? What is the one thing you need to know about black holes? What is the one thing you need to know about why the sun is hot?
Charging bravely to meet the forces of ignorance is Marcus Chown with his latest book, The One Thing You Need to Know. Through 21 short and interesting chapters he distills scientific concepts down to the single most basic concept behind them. Why is the sun hot? Because it’s big. Why is our planet warming? Because we are filling it with carbon dioxide. No, the chapters are not quite that short. But they are not overwhelming in either length or verbiage. Chown is an interesting writer, engaging, funny, charming, able to explain difficult principles in everyday language.
This talent is tested in explaining things like quantum computing and the “big bang,” but he does not let the difficulty of the task prevent him from trying. The One Thing You Need to Know is not going to single-handedly overcome the willful scientific illiteracy of our time, but for those who are interested in nodding at the appropriate times while chatting with your local professor (a serious consideration when you live, as we do, in a town with a major research university) this book is an invaluable asset.
Unfortunately, the people I most want to read it will never touch it. But one can always hope.
Our thanks to Kelly Lacey from Love Books Tours for inviting us on this blog tour to celebrate The One Thing You Need to Know. The opinions here are solely those of Scintilla. For other perspectives on this book, check out the other bloggers on this tour.
Book Review: The One Thing You Need to Know, Marcus Chown