Why Don’t Things Fall Up?
‘I have learnt (and remembered) so much, and so easily. It’s the mango ice cream of science books. ’ – Hilary McKay
‘Alom Shaha is the science teacher many people will wish they had but didn’t. Patient, clear, never patronizing, and constantly warm and humane, Why Don’t Things Fall Up? presents the key concepts of science with infectious energy and enthusiasm. If you never got on with science, you’ve nothing to fear here, and everything to gain.’ – Philip Ball
‘Why Don’t Things Fall Up? brings together science and storytelling in a joyful guide to life’s big answers. With warmth, humour and humanity, Alom Shaha takes complex concepts and distils them into simple language. Fun, clever and accessible, it’s a vital corrective for anyone who has ever struggled with science.’ – Kia Abdullah
‘A book of quiet wonder.’ –Ian Dunt
Has a child – or anyone else – ever asked you why the sky is blue? Could you explain why ice cream melts? Have you forgotten why scientists think the universe started with a Big Bang, and do you understand the difference between respiration and breathing? Why Don’t Things Fall Up? will gently remind you of everything you may have learnt once upon a time, but have somehow forgotten along the way. If you’ve ever changed the subject when a child has asked for homework help, or if you have the curiosity of a seven year old yourself, or if you know everything but have forgotten the basics or don’t want to know anything except the basics – then this is the book for you.
Using questions asked by children as a starting point, Alom Shaha (who has spent over two decades trying to help people of all ages understand this stuff) takes us on a tour of the “big ideas” of science from his unique perspective. His experience as a dad, a teacher and science communicator means he knows exactly what people don’t know -and especially the misconceptions and other intellectual hurdles which prevent us from grasping key ideas. Combining his proven skill for explaining science with storytelling and flashbacks to school experiments, Why Don’t Things Fall Up? reminds us that science is not just for scientists – it’s a human endeavour that enriches all our lives.