A Feast of Science

Intriguing Morsels from the Science of Everyday Life

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 22 May 2018 | Archive Date 01 Mar 2018

Talking about this book? Use #AfeastOfScience #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

An entertaining and digestible volume that demystifies science, from the author of 16 bestselling popular science books

Crave answers? A Feast of Science demystifies the chemistry of everyday life, serving up practical knowledge to both inform and entertain. Guaranteed to satiate your hunger for palatable and relevant scientific information, Dr. Joe Schwarcz proves that “chemical” is not necessarily synonymous with “toxic.” Are there fish genes in tomatoes? Can snail-slime cream and bone broth really make your wrinkles disappear? What’s the problem with sugar, resistant starch, hops in beer, microbeads, and “secret” cancer cures? Are “natural” products the key to good health? And what is “fake news” all about? Dr. Joe answers these questions and more. Cutting through the fat of story, suggestion, and social-media speculation, A Feast of Science gets to the meat of the chemical reactions that make up our daily lives.

An entertaining and digestible volume that demystifies science, from the author of 16 bestselling popular science books

Crave answers? A Feast of Science demystifies the chemistry of everyday life...


A Note From the Publisher

Dr. Joe Schwarcz is the director of the Office for Science and Society at McGill University in Montreal. He hosts a popular radio show, has made hundreds of television appearances, is a longtime columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and is the author of 16 bestsellers. Well known for his informative and entertaining lectures on topics ranging from the chemistry of love to the science of aging, Dr. Joe has received numerous awards for teaching and deciphering science for the public.

Dr. Joe Schwarcz is the director of the Office for Science and Society at McGill University in Montreal. He hosts a popular radio show, has made hundreds of television appearances, is a longtime...


Advance Praise

Praise for Monkeys, Myths, and Molecules (2015): 

"Ultimately, the author successfully demonstrates how claims should be queried and analyzed before they are accepted . . . Recommended for readers of health, nutrition, and popular science." — Library Journal

"The book is chock-full of captivating anecdotes . . . The author engages readers with his wit and wisdom." — The Canadian Jewish News


Praise for Is That A Fact? (2014)

"The author's entertaining writing style and clear, precise explanations make the book a joy to read, and his choice of subjects is so wide-ranging that there is really something for everyone here." —Booklist

“Written with a light touch and refreshing humor, this book provides a solid, authoritative starting point for anyone beginning to look at the world with a skeptical eye and a refresher for those further along that path.” — Library Journal

Praise for Monkeys, Myths, and Molecules (2015): 

"Ultimately, the author successfully demonstrates how claims should be queried and analyzed before they are accepted . . . Recommended for readers of...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781770411920
PRICE $17.95 (USD)
PAGES 240

Average rating from 7 members


Featured Reviews

I like the premise of the book. He's taking science issues that are part of everyday life and really breaking them down to be understood and properly digested...as opposed to some of the news media and 'science' gurus who take the same issues, extract the pieces that suit their purpose, and repackage them in a distorted way. While I must admit that there were a few places where I disagreed with the author, I am willing to concede the possibility of placebo effect being a potential cause. This is not a book for uber-alternative health people...though maybe it should be read by them. I'm into alternative health, and learning multiple ways of approaching health, but try to do so with an open mind. And then there were just some stories that fascinated me....like the McDonald's coffee....I had NO IDEA that was the true story. None.

Was this review helpful?

As both a tea blogger and someone with physical disabilities, I am constantly bombarded with outlandish claims on how everything is either a miracle drug or is going to kill me gruesomely, with very little (or a gross misunderstanding of) science involved in these claims. It drives me more than a little crazy. This book brings the science to combat various claims (my favorite, of course, was the guy who was convinced fish genes were in tomatoes) that fear-monger.

This book reads very easily, with a casual tone similar to a personal blog, my only complaint stems from that. If you are reading a (well constructed) blog they usually have a way of navigating the content, and sadly this book is very unorganized. I loved the tone and subject matter but the lack of consistent organization made my eye twitch. Even with that complaint I definitely recommend reading this book, if you are a person who thinks Dr Oz is a miracle worker or want to scream every time someone tells you tea will cure cancer, this book will either educate you or feel more than a little refreshing.

Was this review helpful?

4 stars
Why didn't I know about Dr. Schwarcz before? I love the no nonsense approach to scientific or not so scientific claims from this fellow Canadian! This book offers very interesting tidbits on a variety of subjects, most of them health related, that all link back to chemistry.

The book wasn't organized into sections - it just jumped from one subject to the next, with each new piece prefaced by a title. I can't say I minded the format as each topic was quite interesting and well delivered. You can tell that this is not the author's first book. It is very well written and unlike other popular science books I've read lately, it inserts some humour without being awkward. It was very informative and confirmed I had the right ideas about food and unnecessary scares and concerns.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: