Understanding the Present: An Alternative History of Science (Tauris Parke Paperbacks)

This is an important work, which demands that we sit up and take notice of the ever-increasing effects of science on the way we live our lives. In this thrilling and compelling exploration of the human condition, Brian Appleyard exposes the central role of science in shaping our lives and our beliefs, tracing the history of science from Copernicus, Newton, and Descartes to Einstein, Feynman, and Hawking. He argues that the birth of environmentalism and the diminished importance of religion and philosophy in today’s society are direct results of science’s 400 year assault on our view of ourselves and the universe.