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It's Not Rocket Science
- Narrated by: Ben Miller
- Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science & Engineering, Science
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Summary
Black holes. DNA. The Large Hadron Collider. Ever had that sneaking feeling that you are missing out on some truly spectacular science? You do? Well fear not, for help is at hand.
Ben Miller was working on his Physics PhD at Cambridge when he accidentally became a comedian. But first love runs deep, and he has returned to his roots, to share with you all his favourite bits of science. This is the stuff that you really need to know, not only because it matters, but because it will quite simply amaze and delight you.
"Let me show you another, perhaps less familiar side of Science; her beauty, her seductiveness and her passion. And let's do it quickly, while Maths isn't looking." (Ben Miller)
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What listeners say about It's Not Rocket Science
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Iain
- 09-11-16
Simply excellent
A great listen full of amazing facts but easy on the brain. Miller's narration of his own work is terrific.
4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 23-12-12
Science for Every-one
Ben Miller, the dead-pan funny guy on TV, puts his personnal passion into reading his own book.
Mixed with funny ancedotes from his own school, university and show-biz life, he illustratres the plain and simple facts, suppositions and assumptions of the science of the universe, the world and human evolution.
And finally some-one has explained the point and aims of that Large Hadron Colider thing-y in Switzerland, it really isn't rocket science, Hurrah!
A highly entertaining education...
3 people found this helpful
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- nb
- 12-04-17
Brilliant!
Perfect blend of entertainment and science. Ben Miller's enthusiasm and knowledge shine through. When's the next one out.
2 people found this helpful
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- Craig
- 18-02-14
Fantastic Fun
What did you like most about It's Not Rocket Science?
The books treats some very highbrow issues in as light a manner as possible, whilst never appearing condescending.
Any additional comments?
Really well worth the listen. Highly entertaining!
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 27-04-20
Showing its age now
A couple of date references and references to the Higgs Bozon show the age of the book, but has little impact upon relevance. A good foundation level book
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 29-08-17
Basic science well presented
For those with an interest in science, the topics are basic. But very well presented. Funny anecdotes too.
1 person found this helpful
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- MR ADRIAN BERGER
- 23-01-17
Entertaining education!
This book is a great introduction to the world of the physical sciences and a bonus as it is read by the author who conveys an abundance of enthusiasm.
1 person found this helpful
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- kleo
- 20-09-16
Really interesting overall, though in need of updating
Enjoyed every minute of this but realised some of the information is now outdated for a few years now. Other than that it's a wonderful book whether for someone in science looking for a bigger picture overview (as we tend to only focus on the fields we're in) or for a complete science newbie looking for an easy and fun place to start
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 30-11-14
Good Science, well presented!
This book is both interesting and entertaining. Ben Miller's passion and interest in the science chosen is obvious and makes it engaging and accessible. His comedy credentials help with the story telling but it is his skill as a science communicator that make this book great. Not research material for particle physicists, but great for anyone with a passing interest!
1 person found this helpful
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- c
- 13-04-13
Great way to learn about science
A fantastic way to learn about all things science. Ben Miller mixes his background of science and comedy in a way that makes you wish you paid more attention at school. For some reason the cake story resides in my mind although it hasn't helped my ability to bake! I love the way you hear his passion for this subject coming through his words. The low, steady timbre of his voice has kept me going through many long car journeys. I would recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys the scientific workings of the world, but gets boggled by detailed facts.
1 person found this helpful
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- Ingwe
- 03-04-13
Entertaining
Any additional comments?
Quick and entertaining, especially for a science book. Only hits a few subjects & with no new revelations, but Ben Miller's wit (whom I'm a fan of from his British comedy work) definitely makes it a worthwhile and enjoyable read.
9 people found this helpful
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- Brendan Bevan
- 09-06-16
entertaining, witty, intelligent
it is always nice when a very bright science geek is entertaining as well. word
1 person found this helpful
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- Max
- 20-07-13
Similar to "A Short History of Nearly Everything"
If you enjoyed "A Short History of Nearly Everything", you'll love "It's Not Rocket Science"! The author is also a comedian so the facts he presents are often accompanied with a laugh. He has some very interesting tid-bits of information that are thrilling to both scientists and non scientists alike. In my opinion, a British accent makes any audiobook more enjoyable and Ben Miller has a fantastic voice. Overall and excellent book and well worth the time and money! 5 stars
3 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 13-08-12
Nice Survey
What made the experience of listening to It's Not Rocket Science the most enjoyable?
The humour and foundations that the author demonstrates are very nice. While I might dispute some of his "indisputable" assumptions, it was an entertaining listen.
Any additional comments?
errata - He cites that Einstein published General Relativity in 1905. He actually published Special Relativity that year; it took 21 more years to produce GR.
1 person found this helpful
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- mike
- 25-04-19
Baking cakes?
If I wanted to listen to someone rave on and on about baking sponge cake I would get a book on baking sponge cake...or buy this. Not my cuppa tea.
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- Natural Vision Photography
- 07-08-17
Best one yet!
I'm really interested in space and science but I'm by no means a scientist. This book was the best yet of science books I've tried. I really enjoyed the content and the the humor sprinkled in made it a fun listen. I highly recommend this book.
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- Brent Dilger
- 06-08-16
An entertaining overall story of science
Ben Miller tackles some complicated subjects of science like DNA with simplicity and humor. This approach helps one understand and retain the information.
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- Atira
- 05-05-16
High School students should be REQUIRED to read
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
This book does a great job at "dumbing down" the complexities of science while also keeping it entertaining. As a science lover myself, I find it hard to get the people around me to understand and enjoy science the way I do. There's this common belief that it's only interesting and fun to me because I have a science degree but in reality it can and should be interesting and fun to all. Science literacy is the key to human advancement and I feel as of late that many people are relying on media and public opinion for science understanding and that is a recipe for disaster. In this book Ben Miller uses comedy and easily relatable metaphors to describe the foundations of many areas of science. These very important principles play a huge part in an individual's understanding and opinion on popular science issues. I also love the way he remains neutral throughout the book, never giving the impression that he is trying to force an agenda (which is a big issue these days as many people in the public believe science and the government are working together to screw us all) while also providing enough information for individuals to dive into research further any topics they are interesting in learning more about. I believe this book should not only be a recommendation but a requirement for everyone.
What did you like best about this story?
The comedic way he leaves out the "boring details" and gets right to the fun stuff
What about Ben Miller’s performance did you like?
The upbeat tempo of the book. I read a lot of science books and often times they can get boring and dry and this book had the fun vibe that you get from popular science figures such as Bill Nye.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
If science was a 3 course meal, we're skipping straight to the dessert.
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- chemprof
- 20-02-16
great overview, accurate, fun!
really enjoyed this book, a charming tour through modern physics through the eyes of a Cambridge PhD student turned comedy sketch artist. I particularly enjoyed the overview which goes to the heart of so many mysteries of modern physics!
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- Richard
- 12-07-15
Delightful and Filled With Meaning
Would you listen to It's Not Rocket Science again? Why?
I plan to revisit this book just for the humor embedded in the author's unique manner of presenting a select set of scientific frontiers to his audience in such a delightful way. It was amazing that he covered such a wide range of topics, from genetics to evolution to aerospace in just one volume. Common Ben, let's have another.
What did you like best about this story?
A nearly lettered (and clearly accomplished) PhD-Physicist abandoning his career close to the finish line to become a comedian/scientific communicator shows extreme vision in thinking free of the customary boundaries envelope. I hold a doctorate degree in a scientific field but this delightful piece jolted me out of the cognition box I've been stuck with in such a memorable manner. Bravo!
What about Ben Miller’s performance did you like?
His ability to clarify, synthesize and humorize.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Definitely. And I did.
Any additional comments?
Wow, what a narration! This is the only audio book I know of in which the author-as-narrator combo worked out just great. Usually that doesn't click. It's rare that a gifted writer can also score a perfect A Plus as a narrator. His jaunty British accent, to my American ear, was delightful instead of distractive. We Statesiders have much to learn about the colorful and comical nuances of our mother language as spoken in the epicenter of its birth.