Unweaving the rainbow : science, delusion, and the appetite for wonder

Did Newton "unweave the rainbow" by reducing it to its prismatic colors, as Keats contended' Did he, in other words, diminish beauty' Far from it, says acclaimed scientist Richard Dawkins; Newton's unweaving is the key to much of modern astronomy and to the breathtaking poetry of modern cosmology. Mysteries don't lose their poetry because they are solved: the solution often is more beautiful than the puzzle, uncovering deeper mysteries. With the wit, insight, and spellbinding prose that have made him a best-selling author, Dawkins takes up the most important and compelling topics in modern science, from astronomy and genetics to language and virtual reality, combining them in a landmark statement of the human appetite for wonder. This is the book Richard Dawkins was meant to write: a brilliant assessment of what science is (and isn't), a tribute to science not because it is useful but because it is uplifting. Read more... Abstract: Did Newton "unweave the rainbow" by reducing it to its prismatic colors, as Keats contended' Did he, in other words, diminish beauty' Far from it, says acclaimed scientist Richard Dawkins; Newton's unweaving is the key to much of modern astronomy and to the breathtaking poetry of modern cosmology. Mysteries don't lose their poetry because they are solved: the solution often is more beautiful than the puzzle, uncovering deeper mysteries. With the wit, insight, and spellbinding prose that have made him a best-selling author, Dawkins takes up the most important and compelling topics in modern science, from astronomy and genetics to language and virtual reality, combining them in a landmark statement of the human appetite for wonder. This is the book Richard Dawkins was meant to write: a brilliant assessment of what science is (and isn't), a tribute to science not because it is useful but because it is uplifting From the New York Times#8211; bestselling author of Science in the Soul . "If any recent writing about science is poetic, it is this" ( The Wall Street Journal ). Did Sir Isaac Newton "unweave the rainbow" by reducing it to its prismatic colors, as John Keats contended? Did he, in other words, diminish beauty? Far from it, says acclaimed scientist Richard Dawkins; Newton's unweaving is the key too much of modern astronomy and to the breathtaking poetry of modern cosmology. Mysteries don't lose their poetry because they are solved: the solution often is more beautiful than the puzzle, uncovering deeper mysteries. With the wit, insight, and spellbinding prose that have made him a bestselling author, Dawkins takes up the most important and compelling topics in modern science, from astronomy and genetics to language and virtual reality, combining them in a landmark statement of the human appetite for wonder. This is the book Dawkins was meant to write: A brilliant assessment of what science is (and isn't), a tribute to science not because it is useful but because it is uplifting. "A love letter to science, an attempt to counter the perception that science is cold and devoid of aesthetic sensibility . . . Rich with metaphor, passionate arguments, wry humor, colorful examples, and unexpected connections, Dawkins' prose can be mesmerizing." #8212; San Francisco Chronicle "Brilliance and wit." #8212; The New Yorker

Did Newton "unweave the rainbow" by reducing it to its prismatic colors, as Keats contended? Did he, in other words, diminish beauty? Far from it, says acclaimed scientist Richard Dawkins; Newton's unweaving is the key to much of modern astronomy and to the breathtaking poetry of modern cosmology. Mysteries don't lose their poetry because they are solved: the solution often is more beautiful than the puzzle, uncovering deeper mysteries. With the wit, insight, and spellbinding prose that have made him a best-selling author, Dawkins takes up the most important and compelling topics in modern science, from astronomy and genetics to language and virtual reality, combining them in a landmark statement of the human appetite for wonder.
This is the book Richard Dawkins was meant to write: a brilliant assessment of what science is (and isn't), a tribute to science not because it is useful but because it is uplifting.

"Like an extended stay on a brain health-farm . . .You come out feeling lean, tuned and enormously more intelligent."

Did Newton "unweave the rainbow" by reducing it to its prismatic colors, as Keats contended? Did he, in other words, diminish beauty? Far from it, says Richard Dawkins--Newton's unweaving is the key to much of modern astronomy and to the breathtaking poetry of modern cosmology. Mysteries don't lose their poetry because they are solved; the solution is often more beautiful than the puzzle, uncovering deeper mystery. With wit and insight, Dawkins takes up the most important and compelling topics in modern science, from astronomy and genetics to language and virtual reality, and combines them in a landmark statement of the human appetite for wonder. This is the book that Dawkins was meant to write: a brilliant assessment of what science is (and what it isn't), a tribute to science not because it is useful but because it is uplifting, in the same way that the best poetry is uplifting.--From publisher description Did Newton "unweave the rainbow" by reducing it to its prismatic colors, as Keats contended? Did he, in other words, diminish beauty? Far from it, says the author. Newton's unweaving is the key to much of modern astronomy and to the breathtaking poetry of modern cosmology. Mysteries don't lose their poetry because they are solved; the solution is often more beautiful than the puzzle, uncovering deeper mystery. With wit and insight, the author takes up the most important and compelling topics in modern science, from astronomy and genetics to language and virtual reality, and combines them in a landmark statement of the human appetite for wonder. This book offers an assessment of what science is (and what it isn't) and serves as a tribute to science not because it is useful, but because it is uplifting in the same way that the best poetry is uplifting. -- From publisher's description Keats accused Newton of destroying the poetry of the rainbow by explaining the origin of its colours. In this illuminating and provocative book, Richard Dawkins argues that Keats could not have been more mistaken, and shows how an understanding of science enhances our wonder of the world. He argues that mysteries do not lose their poetry because they are solved: the solution is often more beautiful than the puzzle, uncovering even deeper mysteries. Dawkins takes up the most important and compelling topics in modern science, from astronomy and genetics to language and virtual reality, combining them in a landmark statement on the human appetite for wonder. Did Newton "unweave the rainbow" by reducing it to its prismatic colors, as Keats contended? Did he, in other words, diminish beauty? Far from it, says Dawkins - Newton's unweaving is the key to much of modern astronomy and to the breathtaking poetry of modern cosmology. Mysteries don't lose their poetry because they are solved; the solution is often more beautiful than the puzzle, uncovering deeper mystery. Dawkins takes up the most important and compelling topics in modern science, from astronomy and genetics to language and virtual reality, and combines them in a landmark statement of the human appetite for wonder. Content: ch. 1. Anaesthetic of familiarity -- ch. 2. Drawing room of dukes -- ch. 3. Barcodes in the stars -- ch. 4. Barcodes on the air -- ch. 5. Barcodes at the bar -- ch. 6. Hoodwink'd with faery fancy -- ch. 7. Unweaving the uncanny -- ch. 8. Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance -- ch. 9. Selfish cooperator -- ch. 10. Genetic book of the dead -- ch. 11. Reweaving the world -- ch. 12. Balloon of the mind. PREFACE THE ANAESTHETIC OF FAMILIARITY DRAWING ROOM OF DUKES BARCODES IN THE STARS BARCODES ON THE AIR BARCODES AT THE BAR HOODWINK’D WITH FAERY FANCY UNWEAVING THE UNCANNY HUGE CLOUDY SYMBOLS OF A HIGH ROMANCE THE SELFISH COOPERATOR THE GENETIC BOOK OF THE DEAD REWEAVING THE WORLD THE BALLOON OF THE MIND SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY "Dawkins takes up the most important and compelling topics in modern science, from astronomy and genetics to language and virtual reality, and combines them in a landmark statement of the human appetite for wonder."--Jacket Offers an assessment of what science is, how it feeds the human appetite for wonder, and how "unweaving" the mysteries of science can be even more beautiful than the mystery itself