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    The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True
    The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True
    The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True
    Audiobook6 hours

    The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True

    Written by Richard Dawkins

    Narrated by Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    An elegant, text-only edition of the New York Times bestseller that’s been hailed as the definitive authority on…everything.

    Richard Dawkins, bestselling author and the world’s most celebrated evolutionary biologist, has spent his career elucidating the many wonders of science. Here, he takes a broader approach and uses his unrivaled explanatory powers to illuminate the ways in which the world really works.

    Filled with clever thought experiments and jaw-dropping facts, The Magic of Reality explains a stunningly wide range of natural phenomena: How old is the universe? Why do the continents look like disconnected pieces of a jigsaw puzzle? What causes tsunamis? Why are there so many kinds of plants and animals? Who was the first man, or woman?

    Starting with the magical, mythical explanations for the wonders of nature, Dawkins reveals the exhilarating scientific truths behind these occurrences. This is a page-turning detective story that not only mines all the sciences for its clues but primes the reader to think like a scientist as well.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateOct 4, 2011
    ISBN9781442341777
    Author

    Richard Dawkins

    Richard Dawkins is a Fellow of the Royal Society and was the inaugural holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair of Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. He is the acclaimed author of many books including The Selfish Gene, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, The Ancestor’s Tale, The God Delusion, and The Greatest Show on Earth. Visit him at RichardDawkins.net.

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    Reviews for The Magic of Reality

    4.5/5

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    • 4/5
      The Magic of Reality is a science book for children. In this book, Richard Dawkins claims that the scientific world is full of what he calls ?poetic magic'. He defines this as something ?deeply moving, exhilarating: something that gives us goose bumps, something that makes us feel more fully alive.? Each chapter of the book focuses on a different area of science and begins with a question such as, ?What are things made of?? or ?Who was the first person?? or ?When and how did everything begin?? Dawkins does an excellent job illustrating this magic in the world. From the tiniest subatomic particles right before my eyes, to galaxies unfathomable distances away, this book left me in awe of just about everything. The sheer magnitude of the universe, evolution, the structure of atoms?all of it is absolutely mind blowing. There were times I had to put the book down because contemplating the universe became too much. The book is also accompanied by beautiful illustrations weaving their way in and out of the text.

      This book is its unapologetic attempt to convert children to atheism. Dawkins?s attitude towards those with religious beliefs is often arrogant and condescending. I would have enjoyed the book more if he had focused on his scientific arguments and refrained from belittling the opposition to prove his point.
    • 5/5
      One of the best rational, sophisticated, scientific and contemplative books to read.
      It would surely make you think back to this world, to beliefs, to your existence, to magic, to miracles, to folk tales, to good and bad omens, to luck, to life, to the creator, and answers it all in a very simple elegant way. ???salutes to Sir Richard Dawkins....
    • 5/5
      Excellent explanations of common scientific theories well written for the intended audience (8-14 year olds). As an adult with a decent understanding of science I sometimes found it a little over-explained and occasionally Dawkins repeats himself to make a point stick. Even so I found a great deal of value in the book and definitely took note of several sections which would help to explain scientific theories to others. The section on evolution was particularly well explained.
    • 5/5
      Amazing science book that really raised my interest in science even more and has inspired me to not fall for the bunk that is being promoted in society
    • 5/5
      This is the fourth book of Richard Dawkins that I have read - God Delusion, Blind Watchmaker, Selfish Gene and now Magic of Reality.There is one thing common in all these four books (something tells me you can include other books to this list as well) - he encourages an attitude to think on your own.Coming to this book, there were some parts of the book that I felt were obvious and not new while I read through it. But that probably is because I have read quite a few books on Evolution, Universe and other Science-related issues. Though they were a repetition for me, I definitely liked the way the author put them in words. A few years ago I picked up the book The Energy of Life - Guy Brown just for general reading purposes, but it in turn spawned an insatiable interest in me to know the how/what/why of things. This book has the potential to do the same.There are many chapters of the book that I like, but the one that stands out for me was the part where they talk about how the Immune system works and it's impact on the body.I recommend this book for anyone.
    • 4/5
      Good book. Entertaining listen this was. Couple of concepts could have had a simpler detail.
    • 1/5
      I didn’t like the patronising tone. Also the science was basic. I was probably expecting more from this author- something like an insight that would tie everything together. Unfortunately it never appeared even though I listened to the end.
    • 5/5
      This book may have its flaws, but it breaks new ground. It is written for mature children and addresses the question of why to believe the scientific facts that we have been taught. There are interesting thought experiments, like the one where we put the photographs of our ancestors on an enormous bookshelf.It is overt in its anti-religiosity. This makes it fit very well with Richard Dawins' previous efforts and I appreciate that he has chosen to reach out to children in this way. I believe that I would have found even greater value in this book as a child than I have as an adult.In some places it is very English as in the discussions of Christmas pantomime or the play "Where the Rainbow Ends". I enjoy cultural differences and enjoyed them as a child, so this statement is not a criticism.The reading by Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward is quite pleasant.
    • 5/5
      Ricky Gervais says of The Magic of Reality: ?I wanted to write this book but I wasn?t clever enough. Now I?ve read it, I am.? I've found that Dawkins gets more readable the more he writes. Simpler than Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" (simpler, of course, because this was written for children and young adults, but I venture to say that a considerable percentage of the American voting population could learn something from this book), Dawkins does a wonderful job addressing myths and reality in a rational, non-confrontational way - atypical for the Dawkins of late...the non-confrontational, that is.

      Recommended. Even for adults. Especially for children.
    • 4/5
      Richard Dawkins is a biologist, but he also loves writing books about evolution, science and atheism. In this case, he's writing in a lighter style, obviously targetted at a younger audience. He gives religion equal treatment to other myths and legends and, while this might be upsetting to some people, I think he does a good job at not being too pushy. He takes popular myths, gives a bit of background about them, especially rationalizing why people tended to believe in them and then explains the phenomena and why they are just myths and not reality. The science is good, although sometimes his explanations are a bit convoluted (especially because he's trying to keep it simple and not use too many complicated terms or notions) - which is ok for me as a grown-up. I have a feeling certain parts of the book would bore a young reader or confuse them, but this book is ideally read by a parent together with the kids so that things can be explained when they get too confusing.Overall a great read and highly recommended for those wanting a "lighter" Dawkins experience. (I'm still slowly working through his [The Selfish Gene] book on genetics).
    • 5/5
      Very Very good book!I'm happy I found it!Thank you for it!
    • 4/5
      A year or so ago; right-wing nutjob Bill O'Reilly, amidst one of his bizarre tirades, pretty much admitted to being utterly clueless as to the state of science and assumed his followers were as clueless as he. And judging by the imbeciles his party has trotted forth since Bush Sr. became a one-termer; probably few of them have notice. Meanwhile, the rest of us got a great laugh at his expense. When he claimed that the tides were unknowable, even children who know better must have been rolling on the floor in laughter.The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins seems like it was written for the likes of Bill O'Reilly. By and large, modern scientists have reacted to the rise of right-wing sponsored ignorance by ignoring it...and just ask NASA....that's not working too well for us. And us is a growing collective -- it's not just American anti-intellectual fundamentalists gaining ground, but to a lesser extent, those in Great Britain and Europe as well. Between growing fundamentalist influence and a corresponding lack of science education, millions are functionally illiterate when it comes to science. And that has grown to a dangerous number, jeopardizing the future of humanity in the process.Dawkins suggests that scientifically vetted theories and truths are every bit as "magical" as mystical explanations offered by Creationists and other loony anti-intellectuals. He appeals to the romance of science, of the wonder of discovering truths, or at least viable theories that fit truths as we now know them. Sometimes he ventures beyond his particular areas of expertise -- admitting that he doesn't fully understand what he is about to relate. This is in the rarefied air that is quantum physics; few truly understand and even those who attempt to popularize it (such as Stephan Hawking) don't often succeed. Fortunately, such mea culpas are few and far between -- Dawkins speaks from a position of strength throughout most of the book.Those familiar with Dawkins other work might not gain anything new from this book, but probably knows someone who ought to read it. And those of us inclined to take up the banner of science over fantasy might still find some persuasive arguments aimed at a more general audience (Dawkins last book on evolution was a little too intellectual to appeal to those who needed most to understand it, I think). For someone like myself who has been fighting the good fight, it's nice to have some weapons in the arsenal that are less polarizing from the get-go.
    • 4/5
      Overall a fascinating read on a fascinating subject. The book is formatted in like a coffee table book fashion with colorful graphics on each page. After reading the book I was a bit surprised that the book was recommended as a good read to introduce young people to science. Not being a young person myself I still got the message, the science is explained in generally simplistic terms.The point of the book is to try an enlighten on how superstition and oops, religious myth has shaped beliefs on matters to this day that science can and does explain readily. Blasphemous to true believers of course. As is all too apparent belief systems trump reality in many instances. So the book reinforces those who choose to see reality for what it is and believers in myth and fantasy to continue to do so despite the evidence. And life goes on.
    • 4/5
      This book had beautiful, absolutely amazing illustrations and good explanations for a variety of scientific and natural phenomena. I loved reading it.
    • 3/5
      An ok book aimed at teenagers. No great depth, but an ok read.
    • 4/5
      Dawkins uses several simple questions, such as "Why are there so many different kinds of animals?", as starting points for providing simple, clearly reasoned discussions of evolution, the creation of the universe, and other scientific "magic". He starts out most chapters by discussing some of the myths that have grown up to explain things, then shows how the scientific method has revealed far more accurate--and to Dawkins, more magical--explanations. In discussing these myths, he makes no differentiation between those of the ancients and those of currently popular world religions. Jesus is described only as "a Jewish preacher." I'm sure Dawkins smiled every time he wrote that phrase. I'm a nonbeliever myself, so none of this bothers me, but I do think Dawson at times displays a misunderstanding of faith in general. He debunks the Miracle of Fatima, for instance, by saying that if the sun had actually zoomed down closer to the earth, everyone would have been incinerated. But for the faithful, that is beside the point. If their god could make the sun do that, then their god could also make it happen without harming anyone or without the sun appearing to move for anyone not at Fatima! Still, Dawkins is a patient teacher, reiterating the advantages of the scientific method in each chapter and making the essential point that scientists are always seeking the truth, and if that means dispensing with an old theory when a better one takes its place, so be it. My biggest annoyance with the book, and what keeps it from earning five stars, are the times when Dawkins cites some sort of exception or special case to what he is talking about, but says it would take too long to explain it, then moves on without even a brief aside that would at least point readers in the right direction to find out more information. I would recommend this book mainly for middle schoolers. I read it to see if it would be suitable as the next science book for my 12-year old homeschooled daughter to read. It passed the test.BTW, I read the trade paperback edition. It has only black and white illustrations for each chapter. I believe there is an edition with better, more numerous color illustrations. I would highly recommend purchasing that version for a few dollars more. There were a few times reading then when I wished for a clear illustration to help illuminate the point Dawkins was making.
    • 3/5
      A different kind of Dawkins book.. This was popular science aimed at the younger person. I found it ok, It reminded me of Asimov's science popularization's which I've read widely. Dawkins describes our current understanding of the natural world in a rational way, while contrasting individual topics with their associated myths and mythologies from the past. In This I believe he hopes to convey the value of rational thought and the scientific method over unsupported beliefs.
    • 3/5
      The intended audience of this book is teenagers with some grounding in science. Dawkins considers a range of basic scientific issues - the Big Bang, rainbows etc. For each topic he starts with the legends, myths or religious stories that provide an "explanation" for the issue, and then follows with the actual scientific explanation. In each case he is at pains to highlight the "magic" of the real story, and how it outshines, in every sense, the myths and half-truths of religious teaching. Well done. Read January 2012.
    • 4/5
      Lots of big color pictures and graphs. I'm not sure who the target audience is.
    • 5/5
      The perfect introduction to not just science, but also the scientific method. Also contains perhaps the best, simplest explanation of why bad things happen, which I can paraphrase here: bad things happen because things happen, and the things that happen don't know for themselves whether they are bad or not.
    • 5/5
      a great book to introduce kids to the love of science
    • 4/5
      Famous evolutionary biologist Dawkins teams up with well-known illustrator Dave McKean to examine many of the most fundamental questions in science including why the seasons occur, whether life on other planets is possible, what are the building blocks of matter, and how evolution really works. Dawkins presents many of these ideas from a religious or mythological perspective first before delving into the real science. His writing is straightforward enough for most pre-teens or teens to grasp the concepts he?s presenting, but not so simplistic that average adults will feel that Dawkins is talking down to them. McKean?s illustrations, beautiful and complex as always, do a wonderful job of both explicating the concepts Dawkins is presenting and also demonstrating Dawkins? central theme: that scientific truth is beautiful and magical enough on its own without any need for mythical or supernatural trappings.
    • 4/5
      Good points, clear explanation, but man he can be condescending. I get it Richard, science is really all we need, now please stop talking to me like I'm four!
    • 3/5
      I'm not entirely sure why I still read Dawkins' work. I think he's an extremely intelligent person, of course, and I've enjoyed reading books that focus on science by him -- I love The Ancestor's Tale, for example. But I hate the way that he cannot stop poking at religion, and I expected to hate it even more in a book called The Magic of Reality.

      Actually, he's more respectful than usual. It all seems rather toned down, since it's aimed at a younger audience than his other books (which is somewhat insulting in itself; I read and understood The Ancestor's Tale perfectly at the age of thirteen, and this book is aimed at 'ages twelve and up', I'm told). It can come across as condescending, though I rather appreciated the parts where he admits he doesn't know everything. It is accessible, for people of any age and any level of knowledge about science, covering basic topics like why we have seasons and what earthquakes are. It's quite enjoyable to read even though I don't think I learnt anything new, because it clarified things and connected ideas.

      He is, of course, scathing about religion and dismissive of any belief in the supernatural, but if you're planning to read Dawkins, you probably know that already.