Comments | acanti: (без темы)

acanti

(Untitled)

Sep 23, 2010 00:42

another thing: as much as I love the arts and social sciences, I wish I didn't hate the sciences so much. or at least, I wish I didn't have such an instinctive aversion towards them. I wish I understood it better, in technical terms and general grasping of concepts. I definitely tended towards the social sciences from a young age, but I don't think ( Read more... )

Comments 5

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disconance September 24 2010, 02:03:32 UTC

hahahhaha hi faith
i just wanted to say hi
HIII
hiiiii~~~

sorry charissa :p

acanti September 24 2010, 13:47:03 UTC

OKAY! :) note taken!

ambientlight September 24 2010, 21:50:40 UTC

whenever i feel any regret for having decided to make a clean break with academic science in JC, i think about the facts that 1) good, accessible written-for-laymen science books exist - stephen jay gould comes to mind, and of course there are specialists within each area of science, and 2) an academic study of science can really leave you bogged down in details and calculation, i think. it is entirely possible to get a feel for the wonder and complexity of scientific endeavour without knowing it in as exhaustive detail as one would do when studying it; and bear in mind that one has to specialise as a scientist anyway.

acanti September 26 2010, 15:36:09 UTC

I like this; I like this a lot. thank you! it does make a lot of sense and yes, I think it's the wonder and complexity I am yearning for.

ambientlight September 26 2010, 16:40:06 UTC

♥

re-reading my comment now, it comes across as maybe a bit robotic - sorry if it seemed that way! >_< also, here are some recommendations, if you'd like them:

Stephen Jay Gould, mainly biology i think?

Oliver Sacks, very readable neuroscience

Richard Feynman - Six Easy Pieces (physics, and a classic; i read this in secondary school and it might well be dated now, but still a good read)

Colin Tudge - The Secret Life of Trees (i've only read a little, but it's been fascinating even for a non-botanist)

Richard Dawkins - The Selfish Gene (i sped-read this while travelling, so it's hazy in my mind, but it seemed readable and intriguing and does not contain religion-bashing)

The Science Of Discworld books; i think there are three out there.