At the Edge of Uncertainty, Michael Brooks PhD
At the Edge of Uncertainty, Michael Brooks PhD
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At the Edge of Uncertainty
11 Discoveries Taking Science by Surprise

Author: Michael Brooks PhD

Narrator: Sean Runnette

Unabridged: 9 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/12/2015

Categories: Nonfiction, Science

Synopsis

The bestselling author of Free Radicals takes readers on a whirlwind tour of the most controversial areas of modern scienceThe atom, the big bang, DNA, natural selection—all are ideas that have revolutionized science; and all were dismissed out of hand when they first appeared. The surprises haven't stopped in recent years, and in At the Edge of Uncertainty, bestselling author Michael Brooks investigates the new wave of radical insights that are shaping the future of scientific discovery.Brooks takes us to the extreme frontiers of what we understand about the world. He journeys from the observations that might rewrite our story of how the cosmos came to be, through the novel biology behind our will to live, and on to the physiological root of consciousness. Along the way, he examines how it's time to redress the gender imbalance in clinical trials, explores how merging humans with other species might provide a solution to the shortage of organ donors, and finds out whether the universe really is like a computer or if the flow of time is a mere illusion.

About Michael Brooks PhD

Michael Brooks, who holds a PhD in physics, is an author, journalist, and broadcaster. He is a consultant at New Scientist, a magazine with over three quarters of a million readers worldwide, and writes a weekly column for the New Statesman. Brooks is the author of At the Edge of Uncertainty, The Secret Anarchy of Science and the bestselling nonfiction title 13 Things that Don’t Make Sense. His writing has also appeared in the London Observer, Guardian, and Independent, as well as many other newspapers and magazines. He lives in England.

About Sean Runnette

Sean Runnette, a multiple AudioFile Earphones Award winner, has produced several Audie Award-winning audiobooks. He is a member of the American Repertory Theater company and has toured internationally with Mabou Mines, an avant-garde theater company. Sean's television and film appearances include Two If by Sea, Copland, Sex and the City, Law & Order, Third Watch, and lots and lots of commercials, for which he apologizes.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Nicky on December 29, 2015

I picked this up after attending the New Scientist “instant expert” workshop on consciousness. Michael Brooks introduced the lecturers and such, and chaired the Q&A session, and it was mentioned one of his books mentions epigenetics. Well, that’s possibly even more my thing than a workshop on consci......more

Goodreads review by Beauregard on April 02, 2016

Zombies aren't real and they don't help in explaining consciousness, quantum computers and epigenetics are real (and cool), gender makes a difference in drug efficacy, entanglement is cool, time is not a part of physics, and the big bang theory doesn't explain everything and has some problems. All t......more

Goodreads review by Cav on December 16, 2023

"The beauty of human beings, though, is that we are fierce and indefatigable. We have shown ourselves determined to grapple with the universe around us until it surrenders its secrets to our inquiries..." At the Edge of Uncertainty was an interesting book. I was not sure what to expect of it going in......more

Goodreads review by Donald on September 02, 2015

Don't pick up this book until you have had your morning cup of Joe. Physicist Michael Brooks talks about cutting edge science like consciousness, anomalies in the universe, quantum phenomena in biological kingdoms, the illusion of time and even will power. My favorite section was the area on informa......more

Goodreads review by Charlene on January 04, 2016

Like his previous two books, this new book focuses on the latest and most exciting discoveries in science. And, just as with his previous book, I personally enjoy his discussions of physics more than I do his discussions of the biological sciences. In particular, he did a great job summarizing infor......more

Quotes

“Brooks, a consultant at New Scientist, highlights numerous areas of research that give pause to many scientists and throw lay readers into confusion in this challenging and mind-bending work…His goal isn’t always to make sense of things, as some scientific work has only reached the stage of pointing out the problems in previously held theories. Perhaps he sums his work up best when he writes ‘common sense is not a useful guide to reality.’” Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“New Statesman columnist Brooks details research being conducted on the extreme frontiers of science…The edgy edge of scientific investigation presented with verve.” Kirkus Reviews

“Physicist and writer Michael Brooks wants readers to take a new look at things we think we already understand, and he has an engaging way of making his point…His book touches on advanced computing, essential differences between men and women, the power of the will to live, mysteries of the cosmos, and more…He hopes that you, like the ever-questing scientists he applauds, will want to know more.” Washington Post

“Sean Runnette proves an excellent choice for listeners to follow the disruptions to the fundamentals of science. With a clear and emphatic voice, he provides an aural spotlight to help listeners navigate through complex ideas such as the environmental influence on genes, the inconsistency of time, and how the universe operates as a computer. Runnette is comfortable with the material and careful with his tone; it’s clear he doesn’t want to lose listeners. His attitude seems reassuring, which is helpful for an intellectually demanding book like this.” AudioFile

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