To boldly go where no book has gone before

A., J. O'Neill, Luk

£22.00

In our muddled era of conspiracy theories, fake news and groupthink, science’s only goal is truth. Like all human pursuits it can go wrong, but it has the great strength of being self-correcting. At its best, what lasts – after much deliberation, rigour and sweat – is the truth. The story of science is how we get there. Standing on the shoulders of giants, world-renowned immunologist Luke O’Neill (aka the People’s Immunologist) tells the zigzag story of how we got to this moment in human history, and what the future might hold: from figuring out how the mind really works, space travel (for the sheer fun of it), and the discovery of extra-terrestrial life. With incredible wit and a talent for cutting through the noise, Luke O’Neill tackles some of the great questions of our age, from Artificial Intelligence to the climate catastrophe, with a keen eye on what science might discover next.

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Publish Date: 05/10/2023
ISBN: 9780241542422 Category: Tags: ,

Description

*The Irish Times Top 10 Bestseller*

‘A lively, gossipy, story-filled delight, filled with fascinating factoids’ – SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

‘Even the scientifically illiterate, like myself, could get it and have a whole new understanding of all kinds of things’ – BRENDAN O’CONNOR

Science is a serious business, right? Wrong.

Scientists have been participants in the best reality show of all time, with all the highs, lows, bust-ups, and strange personalities of any show on telly today. From Luke O’Neill – the science teacher you wish you’d had – this hugely accessible history of science reveals the human stories behind the biggest discoveries.

For example, we meet Charles Darwin as he weighs up the pros and cons of marrying his cousin: ‘constant companion’ vs ‘less money for books’. Tough call.

To Boldly Go Where No Book Has Gone Before covers everything from space travel and evolution to alchemy and AI. Written by one of our leading scientists, this is an insider’s account that celebrates the joy of science. It is filled with all the juicy bits that other histories leave out.

‘If science and medicine were a theme park, Luke O’Neill is the best company on the wildest rides . . . serious and fun . . . expansive and detailed . . . a disruptive professor in his own class’ – BONO

‘Luke’s brilliant wit and infectious passion makes for a fascinating and hugely entertaining read…a timely reminder of just why science and the scientists who have shaped our lives matter’ – LIZ BONNIN

Additional information

Weight 592 g
Dimensions 240 × 162 × 34 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Hardback

Pages

vii, 360

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

509 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K