Hitting the Books: How 20th century science unmade Newton's universe

Science is the reason you aren't reading this by firelight nestled cozily under a rock somewhere however, its practice significantly predates its formalization by Galileo in the 16th century. Among its earliest adherents — even before pioneering efforts of Aristotle — was Animaxander, the Greek philosopher credited with first arguing that the Earth exists within a void, not atop a giant turtle shell. His other revolutionary notions include, "hey, maybe animals evolved from other, earlier animals?" and "the gods aren't angry, that's just thunder."While Animaxander isn't often mentioned alongside the later greats of Greek philosophy, his influence on the scientific method cannot be denied, argues NYT bestselling author, Carlo Rovelli, in his latest book, Animaxander and the Birth of Science, out now from Riverhead Books. In in, Rovelli celebrates Animaxander, not necessarily for his scientific acumen but for his radical scientific thinking — specifically his talent for shrugging off conventional notion to glimpse at the physical underpinnings of the natural world. In the excerpt below, Rovelli, whom astute readers will remember from last year's There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important than Kindness, illustrates how even the works of intellectual titans like Einstein and Heisenberg can and inevitably are found lacking in their explanation of natural phenomena — in just the same way that those works themselves decimated the collective understanding of... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2023-03-12 14:30:52 UTC ]
News tagged with: #technological advances #penguin random house

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Hitting the Books: How 20th century science unmade Newton's universe'


The 15th-Century Wool Worker’s Son Who Made Books for Princes and Popes

“The Bookseller of Florence,” by Ross King, tells the history of Renaissance bookmaking through the story of Vespasiano da Bisticci, who rose from humble roots to dominate the trade. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-04-13 09:00:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookseller


Want a best-selling book or hit movie? You need this 1 key ingredient, says research

Blockbuster projects share one common trait. Do you dream of opening that blockbuster restaurant, writing a New York Times best-selling book, or releasing a chart-topping album? A new study out of Northwestern University suggests a pivotal ingredient.Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-04-09 16:21:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hit movie #best-selling book


21 Books for the 21st Century: The Longlist, by The Editors of WLT

Lit Lists Earlier this spring, the editors of WLT invited twenty-one writers to nominate one book, published since the year 2000, that has had a major influence on their own work, along with a brief statement explaining their choice. Now it’s your turn... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2021-03-31 20:04:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dominican republic #latin america #verso #book written #memoir #short stories #book based


Columbia, Howard University to Launch Black Studies Book Series, Diversity Program

Columbia University Press, in collaboration with Howard University and Columbia University, is launching a new Black studies book series, with plans to also recruit and train students for the book industry. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-03-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #columbia university #book industry


8 Great Queer Science Fiction Books

Find some immersive, out-of-this-world stories featuring LGBTQ+ characters in these excellent queer science fiction books. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-02-02 11:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #science fiction


Amazon Hit with E-book Price Fixing Suit

The law firm that successfully sued Apple and five major publishers for colluding to fix e-book prices in 2011 has filed a class action against Amazon, accusing the company of colluding with the Big Five publishers to eliminate price competition from the e-book market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #major publishers #law firm #class action #e-book market #e-book #e-book price


Let’s talk about fantasy and science fiction books that have fallen off the radar

“Vellum” by Hal Duncan, “Mockingbird,” by Walter Tevis, the works of Tanith Lee and more. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-01-13 14:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #walter tevis #tanith lee #science fiction


10 Under-the-Radar Fantasy and Science Fiction Books From 2020

From talking tigers to automaton dragons and UFOs, find some of the best 2020 under the radar SFF books you may have missed, including Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-12-21 11:37:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #science fiction


Sheikh Zayed Book Award Announces Arabic Conference With Columbia University

‘The Foundations and Transformations of Arabic Literary Theory' will examine Arabic literary theoretical frameworks, in June and October. The post Sheikh Zayed Book Award Announces Arabic Conference With Columbia University appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-12-09 17:04:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #columbia university #zayed book


A gift guide for the fans of science fiction, fantasy and horror books in your life

Anthologies like “The Big Book of Modern Fantasy” cover a lot of ground. Illustrated books like “Flyway” offer something special. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-12-07 14:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #science fiction #horror books #illustrated books #big book


Best science fiction, fantasy and horror books of 2020

Dystopias, adventures and new worlds in books by Stephen Graham Jones, Zen Cho and more. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-11-19 13:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #horror books #science fiction


Here’s every winner of the National Book Award for Fiction and Nonfiction during the 21st century.

Dust off your formal wear and break out the bubbly because the National Book Awards (a.k.a. the Oscars of the book world) are nearly upon us. Yes, in just a few short hours, five dumbstruck authors will be fêted, garlanded, and welcomed into the American literary pantheon. For those of you... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-18 17:04:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #21st century #book world #literary hub #national book award


Pang wins Royal Society Science Book Prize with 'instruction manual for humans'

Dr Camilla Pang has won the £25,000 Royal Society Science Book Prize for her debut Explaining Humans (Viking), written as an instruction manual for a world she had difficulty understanding due to her Autism Spectrum Disorder. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-03 02:40:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book prize


Hitting the Books: Widespread DNA testing could intensify American racism

In the modern digital media landscape, we are not the customers — or even the audience — we are the product. Every time we log on, our personal data including where we go, what we search for, who we interact with and what we buy is scraped, siphoned,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2020-10-24 15:00:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital media


Hitting the Books: The latest 'Little Brother' is a stark cybersecurity thriller

Back in 2008, New York Times best-selling author and Boing Boing alum, Cory Doctorow introduced Markus “w1n5t0n” Yallow to the world in the original Little Brother (which you can still read for free right here). The story follows the talented teenage... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2020-10-17 15:30:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling author


How One Afro-Latina Comic Book Artist Is Changing The Marvel Universe

Natacha Bustos didn't see Black or brown characters in the comic books she read growing up. Now, she's the one creating powerful superheroes like "Moon Girl" in hopes of inspiring young girls of color. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2020-09-28 12:49:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #marvel universe #comic books #comic book


Spanish-speaking writers are producing ambitious science fiction and fantasy. Let these books be your introduction.

As diverse as Spanish genre fiction is, most of it is hidden from the English-language world. Thankfully, enthusiasts and small publishers are filling the void. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-09-21 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #small publishers #science fiction


Al Murray takes a look at the 20th century with Quercus

Quercus will publish Al Murray's look at 20th-century British history, The Last 100 Years (Give or Take) And All That. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-13 18:04:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #20th century


Soft Science Fiction: 15 Classic and Contemporary Must Read Books

Soft science fiction focuses on the social sciences, is more philosophical in approach, and explores the important social issues of our time. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-08-21 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read books #social sciences #science fiction


A Road Trip With One of the 20th Century’s Greatest Writers

“Borges and Me,” a memoir by Jay Parini, recounts a young poet’s travels with Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentine master. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-08-18 09:00:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #road trip #20th century #greatest writers #memoir