No Wonder You Wonder!

This book explores and explains scientific mysteries and principles, leavened with tongue-in-cheek humor and an abundance of illustrations. Chapters are short, but give an understanding of technology and science not available elsewhere. Questions include:§- What holds a satellite up while it goes around the Earth?§- Why is the sky (made out of clear air!) blue instead of green, or just black as night like the sky that high altitude jumper Felix Baumgartner saw?§- How is laser light different from "normal" light?§- Did Columbus really discover that the Earth is round?§- Which one invention will assuredly survive our civilization?§- Why can't you travel back in time?§§If you often feel embarrassed because you don't have a clue about lasers, the difference between volts, amps and watts, or how jet planes really work - but you want to be able to explain these concepts to your kids, or vote knowledgably on a nuclear power plant - this book is for you!§To understand the basics of quantum mechanics, or of protons, neutrons and electrons, you don't need algebra, calculus, or a lot of equations or technical buzzwords. Too many people have been soured on science by science teachers who have made simple concepts seem complex (perhaps because he didn't understand it well!). This book is the antidote: you will understand science in a whole new way, and may even want to learn more about things you used to find boring!§§Advance praise for No Wonder You Wonder! :§§"Claude Phipps takes us on a whirlwind tour of the science and technology behind the perennial question, "How does that work?" We learn how science has shaped society from ancient China to the modern day. Phipps emphasizes understanding and working with numbers as a central theme, but in a delightfully conversational tone that teaches and entertains. This whimsically illustrated book is written by one of science's most creative minds whose joy in wondering about the world around him shines through every page." - Mick Shaw, Formerly Director, Krypton Fluoride Laser Programme, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK§§"Claude Phipps in No Wonder You Wonder is a modern Plinius the elder summarizing human knowledge up to his time. His book examines math and science in an informative and entertaining way to both those who love math and science and those who don't. You don't know what you didn't know until you've read this book." - Mary Sisk, Retired Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Engineer§§"Claude Phipps has written a book that makes science learning fun. He is fascinated and excited by the subject, and it shows in his writing. While exploring a variety of science subjects, he inserts his colorful opinions and anecdotes while properly labeling them as such. He is very careful to avoid burdening the reader with a lot of difficult material, but the reader cannot just breeze through the contents like a novel. It takes time to go over the science and check out the underlying explanations. I recommend this book both for youth and for adults. It is an eye-opener and a mind-opener." - David K. Reynolds, Ph.D., Constructive Living§