BALLANTINE GROUP Isaac Asimov's Guide to Earth and Space

Isaac is always good, and this book does not disappoint.

very good

Isaac Asimov assembles 111 of his short, non-fiction essays into a question-and-answer book that teaches us about the Earth and its neighborhood. These answers are accessible to older children as well as adults. They are written in Asimov's conversational style that makes science seem so straightforward. A warning label is appropriate to remind us that some of these answers no longer represent current thinking. But most have aged well.My favorites include:- How old is the Earth?- Is the Earth hollow?- Is there life on Mars?- How fast does light travel?- What is the Galaxy?- Does anything reach us from the stars besides light?- What is in interstellar dust clouds?These short essays are a good reminder of the science we learned in middle school. And it's nice to hear the Good Doctor's voice again. Readers may also enjoy  Asimov's Guide to the Bible  and  Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare . Asimov's Guide to the BibleAsimov's Guide to Shakespeare

This is a very well-written book, suitable for all ages. Asimov is an entertaining teacher of the basic facts about Earth and space (e.g., the Earth is round, it rotates about its own axis, it revolves around the Sun). But, what is even more important, he is a master at describing the thought processes of the various philosophers and scientists who established these facts in the face of traditional beliefs (e.g., the Earth is flat, it is unmoving, the Sun goes round the Earth).It is thus a wonderful book for anyone who would like to learn how to determine the truth in this age of fundamentalism and conflicting claims posted on the Web and propagated by e-mails. The desire and the ability to think clearly and logically have always been rare commodities -- and have become even more uncommon today, even in technologically advanced communities such as the USA.The book costs less than $7, which makes it a great stocking stuffer. But it is worth more than $70, or even $700.

With Isaac Asimov, you know what you are going to get- good solid science, delivered in a readable and interesting manner.Now, let me be clear- science marches on. So, sometimes the science here is a little outdated. Thus- before you go using this as research material, check it on some other source.But if you just want to read, learn and enjoy- these are great books.This one is a little bit on the basic side, compared to some of his others.