Would recommend: Sadly, no

It pains me so much to write this review, because I loved the beginning of this book so much! The introduction and first five chapters were just lovely. I even chuckled my way through the physics portion, so I had high hopes for the rest of it. Of course, the chemistry chapter warmed my heart.

Then I got punched in the face by evolutionary biology, whose friends, molecular biology, geology, and astronomy came to finish the job. I barely skimmed the last chapter from my sheer drive to return the darn thing so I wouldn't have to renew it. I think only the parts I naturally liked (with the exception of physics, shudder) resonated strongly with me, and the rest was like an assignment.

Also, judging from the subtitle, "a whirligig tour of the beautiful basics of science," I assumed that this book would be a lot more ... fun. It was ridiculously dense. May I suggest some section headings, editors, so as to make poor readers feel like they accomplished something a little more often? Ugh. I wish I had liked this book more. It's so disappointing.