It's Not Rocket Science

By: Ben Miller

Narrated by: Ben Miller

Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Black holes. DNA. The Large Hadron Collider. Ever had that sneaking feeling that you are missing out on some truly spectacular science? You do? Well fear not, for help is at hand.

Ben Miller was working on his Physics PhD at Cambridge when he accidentally became a comedian. But first love runs deep, and he has returned to his roots, to share with you all his favourite bits of science. This is the stuff that you really need to know, not only because it matters, but because it will quite simply amaze and delight you.

"Let me show you another, perhaps less familiar side of Science; her beauty, her seductiveness and her passion. And let's do it quickly, while Maths isn't looking." (Ben Miller)

©2012 Ben Miller (P)2012 Hachette Digital

High School students should be REQUIRED to read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book does a great job at "dumbing down" the complexities of science while also keeping it entertaining. As a science lover myself, I find it hard to get the people around me to understand and enjoy science the way I do. There's this common belief that it's only interesting and fun to me because I have a science degree but in reality it can and should be interesting and fun to all. Science literacy is the key to human advancement and I feel as of late that many people are relying on media and public opinion for science understanding and that is a recipe for disaster. In this book Ben Miller uses comedy and easily relatable metaphors to describe the foundations of many areas of science. These very important principles play a huge part in an individual's understanding and opinion on popular science issues. I also love the way he remains neutral throughout the book, never giving the impression that he is trying to force an agenda (which is a big issue these days as many people in the public believe science and the government are working together to screw us all) while also providing enough information for individuals to dive into research further any topics they are interesting in learning more about. I believe this book should not only be a recommendation but a requirement for everyone.

What did you like best about this story?

The comedic way he leaves out the "boring details" and gets right to the fun stuff

What about Ben Miller’s performance did you like?

The upbeat tempo of the book. I read a lot of science books and often times they can get boring and dry and this book had the fun vibe that you get from popular science figures such as Bill Nye.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

If science was a 3 course meal, we're skipping straight to the dessert.

entertaining, witty, intelligent

it is always nice when a very bright science geek is entertaining as well. word

Best one yet!

I'm really interested in space and science but I'm by no means a scientist. This book was the best yet of science books I've tried. I really enjoyed the content and the the humor sprinkled in made it a fun listen. I highly recommend this book.

great overview, accurate, fun!

really enjoyed this book, a charming tour through modern physics through the eyes of a Cambridge PhD student turned comedy sketch artist. I particularly enjoyed the overview which goes to the heart of so many mysteries of modern physics!

An entertaining overall story of science

Ben Miller tackles some complicated subjects of science like DNA with simplicity and humor. This approach helps one understand and retain the information.

Entertaining

Any additional comments?

Quick and entertaining, especially for a science book. Only hits a few subjects & with no new revelations, but Ben Miller's wit (whom I'm a fan of from his British comedy work) definitely makes it a worthwhile and enjoyable read.

Delightful and Filled With Meaning

Would you listen to It's Not Rocket Science again? Why?

I plan to revisit this book just for the humor embedded in the author's unique manner of presenting a select set of scientific frontiers to his audience in such a delightful way. It was amazing that he covered such a wide range of topics, from genetics to evolution to aerospace in just one volume. Common Ben, let's have another.

What did you like best about this story?

A nearly lettered (and clearly accomplished) PhD-Physicist abandoning his career close to the finish line to become a comedian/scientific communicator shows extreme vision in thinking free of the customary boundaries envelope. I hold a doctorate degree in a scientific field but this delightful piece jolted me out of the cognition box I've been stuck with in such a memorable manner. Bravo!

What about Ben Miller’s performance did you like?

His ability to clarify, synthesize and humorize.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely. And I did.

Any additional comments?

Wow, what a narration! This is the only audio book I know of in which the author-as-narrator combo worked out just great. Usually that doesn't click. It's rare that a gifted writer can also score a perfect A Plus as a narrator. His jaunty British accent, to my American ear, was delightful instead of distractive. We Statesiders have much to learn about the colorful and comical nuances of our mother language as spoken in the epicenter of its birth.

Similar to "A Short History of Nearly Everything"

If you enjoyed "A Short History of Nearly Everything", you'll love "It's Not Rocket Science"! The author is also a comedian so the facts he presents are often accompanied with a laugh. He has some very interesting tid-bits of information that are thrilling to both scientists and non scientists alike. In my opinion, a British accent makes any audiobook more enjoyable and Ben Miller has a fantastic voice. Overall and excellent book and well worth the time and money! 5 stars

Nice Survey

What made the experience of listening to It's Not Rocket Science the most enjoyable?

The humour and foundations that the author demonstrates are very nice. While I might dispute some of his "indisputable" assumptions, it was an entertaining listen.

Any additional comments?

errata - He cites that Einstein published General Relativity in 1905. He actually published Special Relativity that year; it took 21 more years to produce GR.

Baking cakes?

If I wanted to listen to someone rave on and on about baking sponge cake I would get a book on baking sponge cake...or buy this. Not my cuppa tea.