Recommend works to improve scientific literacy

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- Haris Bukhari
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Recommend works to improve scientific literacy
OP - December 01, 2015, 04:45 PM

Please recommend works to improve scientific literacy for a humanities graduate who has studied no more science since GCSE . The medium in order of preference is: 1. books 2. online texts 3. YouTube videos.

I feel an understanding of science is necessary to test claims by theists and atheists alike.

Your help is much appreciated.
- dagon
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Recommend works to improve scientific literacy
Reply #1 - December 01, 2015, 07:39 PM

I loved A Short History of Nearly Everything
It touches upon some of the corner stories that creationists tries, and fails miserably, to grasp such as, Big Bang and the age of the earth.
- SCM
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Reply #2 - December 01, 2015, 09:35 PM

For the natural world you might like
http://eowilsonfoundation.org/e-o-wilson-s-life-on-earth/
a free digital textbook available from iBooks. It has amazing animations illustrating things like how DNA works

"To create Life on Earth, the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation brought together a team consisting of educators, writers, multimedia artists, 3D animators trained in science and cinema, and textbook professionals, led by naturalist Edward O. Wilson. The editorial team, headed by Morgan Ryan, worked in full partnership with the Boston-based scientific graphics company Digizyme, Inc, headed by Gaël McGill, PhD, with the goal of creating a cultural landmark—a portal that will introduce students to the grandest story there is, the story of life on Earth, from molecules to ecosystems, from the origin of life to the modern awareness that we control the environment we live in."
- toor
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Reply #3 - December 01, 2015, 09:36 PM

I found these two interesting: Bad Science, by Ben Goldacre and How to Lie with Statistics, by Darrell Huff. While Goldacre's specialisation is dubious medical claims, the book's worth checking out, as are older posts on his blog if you're into that sort of thing.

Before it gets too late, you will find escape.
- David
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Reply #4 - December 02, 2015, 06:08 AM

Quote from: dagon on December 01, 2015, 07:39 PM
I loved A Short History of Nearly Everything
It touches upon some of the corner stories that creationists tries, and fails miserably, to grasp such as, Big Bang and the age of the earth.

Seconded. I'm another science dunce, and I hung on its every word.

I'd love Bill Bryson to do an updated edition that took in recent developments.
- Quod Sum Eris
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Reply #5 - December 02, 2015, 07:08 AM

The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins. Go for the illustrated version.

`But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.'
`How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
`You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'
- zeca
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Reply #6 - December 02, 2015, 12:08 PM

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond for a biologist's take on the development of human societies around the world before the arrival of written history.

pdf: http://www.ahshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/GUNS-GERMS-AND-STEEL.pdf

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=36BQW1SuHQ8
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UsKBFXe7biQ
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QwZ4s8Fsv94

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- yeezevee
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Reply #7 - December 02, 2015, 01:46 PM

Quote from: Haris Bukhari on December 01, 2015, 04:45 PM
Please recommend works to improve scientific literacy for a humanities graduate who has studied no more science since GCSE . The medium in order of preference is: 1. books 2. online texts 3. YouTube videos.

I feel an understanding of science is necessary to test claims by theists and atheists alike.

Your help is much appreciated.

So Haris Bukhari joins the forum and gives great suggestion and asking questions honestly.. ..

Hello Haris_B I am glad you joined the forum and i read all of your three posts. CEMB Den has plenty of dishes that discusses science but what the forum does NOT talk/discuss about is your post at "Hi!" - asking questions you say there
Quote
I wish everyone well in their journeys for truth and justice.

Those words are hard to deal with and they are often brutal & life threatening., but the question are

Truth about what?
Justice With reference to what?

Please continue to explore that subject.. and welcome to CEMB Den..

with best wishes
yeezevee

Do not let silence become your legacy.. Question everything
I renounced my faith to become a kafir,
the beloved betrayed me and turned in to a Muslim
- yeezevee
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Recommend works to improve scientific literacy
Reply #8 - December 02, 2015, 02:24 PM

Quote from: dagon on December 01, 2015, 07:39 PM
I loved A Short History of Nearly Everything
It touches upon some of the corner stories...................

that is a good book to read .. please download pdf file by clicking the picture..

Quote from: zeca on December 02, 2015, 12:08 PM
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond for a biologist's take on the development of human societies around the world before the arrival of written history.

pdf: http://www.ahshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/GUNS-GERMS-AND-STEEL.pdf

thanks for that pdf link zeca., another good book on to that kindle..

click the pic and download the book

Do not let silence become your legacy.. Question everything
I renounced my faith to become a kafir,
the beloved betrayed me and turned in to a Muslim
- Haris Bukhari
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Recommend works to improve scientific literacy
Reply #9 - December 12, 2015, 08:44 PM

Thank you for your suggestions.

Goldacre's Bad Science I've read.

I have also read Julian Baggini's The Duck That Won the Lottery: And 99 Other Bad Arguments. Would there be suggestions of this variety too i.e. friendly introductions to logic and rational thinking?

I would like to know of works on the philosophy of science too, particularly friendly introductions of the Duck variety above. A graded reading list would be especially welcome.
- Rob
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Reply #10 - December 12, 2015, 08:59 PM

Why does E=mc2 by by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/oct/18/einstein-relativity-science-book-review

"Getting to grips with Einstein's famous equation can be a bit of an assault course for the novice, but, says Alok Jha, the reader is in supremely capable hands with Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw "

https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/book-prizes/winton-book-prize/
- infinite_del
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Recommend works to improve scientific literacy
Reply #11 - December 15, 2015, 12:22 PM

Demon haunted world by Carl Sagan.
- yeezevee
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Reply #12 - December 15, 2015, 01:08 PM

Quote from: infinite_del on December 15, 2015, 12:22 PM
Demon haunted world by Carl Sagan.

Don.. infinite_del .. what happened?

some people are immortals and one of them is Carl Sagan... Give the people to read his books free.. they should be as free as any religious books such Quran....OT..NT.. ...GT..HT..IT... whatever....

So down the load that book by clicking that picture..

And..and please do not misread or misunderstand that Carl Sagan's quote.. And do not read SPIRITUALITY AS ~~"RELIGION"~~

Do not let silence become your legacy.. Question everything
I renounced my faith to become a kafir,
the beloved betrayed me and turned in to a Muslim
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