The Science of Discworld
#2256 of 2,654 all-time
The Science of Discworld
Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen
3 people recommended it in 3 threads, 2015–2024.
What people on Hacker News said
It is accessible, engaging, and makes you really think and question why things are the way they are.
The key point: much that's true only on Discworld (eg that suns orbit planets and not vice-versa) was once believed on Earth and the wizards' comic misunderstandings echo the history of real science...Unusually, Pratchett's story is split into chapters and in between his chapters Stewart and Cohen wittily discuss the concepts underlying the fiction, from the Big Bang through stellar formation to life and evolution.
The Science of Discworld series of books are surprisingly good for things that sound, on first hearing of them them, like a quick cash in.
Both the science writing and the Discworld content is pretty great and well integrated together.
It isn't a group of heady physics textbooks, but they do seem to unlock interest and understanding in the fields they address for a layperson.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What's the best book you've read so far in 2024? 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book can attract anyone towards your field of study? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Steven Weinberg: Science books for the general reader 2015 · 1 recommendation