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Forces of Nature cover art

Forces of Nature

By: Professor Brian Cox,Andrew Cohen
Narrated by: Samuel West
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Summary

A Sunday Times best seller.

A breathtaking and beautiful exploration of our planet, this groundbreaking audiobook accompanies the BBC One TV series, providing the deepest answers to the simplest questions.

'What is motion?'

'Why is every snowflake different?'

'Why is life symmetrical?'

To answer these and many other questions, Professor Brian Cox uncovers some of the most extraordinary natural events on Earth and in the universe and beyond.

From the immensity of the universe and the roundness of Earth to the form of every single snowflake, the forces of nature shape everything we see. Pushed to extremes, the results are astonishing. In seeking to understand the everyday world, the colours, structure, behaviour and history of our home, we develop the knowledge and techniques necessary to step beyond the everyday and approach the universe beyond.

Forces of Nature takes you to the great plains of the Serengeti, the volcanoes of Indonesia and the precipitous cliffs in Nepal to the humpback whales of the Caribbean and the northern lights of the Arctic. Brian will answer questions on Earth that will illuminate our understanding of the universe.

Think you know our planet?

Think again.

©2017 Professor Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"In this book of the acclaimed BBC2 TV series, Professor Cox shows us the cosmos as we have never seen it before - a place full of the most bizarre and powerful natural phenomena." ( Sunday Express)
"Engaging, ambitious and creative." ( Guardian)
"Cox's romantic, lyrical approach to astrophysics all adds up to an experience that feels less like homework and more like having a story told to you. A really good story, too." ( Guardian)

What listeners say about Forces of Nature

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Diagrams are the Death of Audiobooks

It was near junction 26 of the M1 that I realised this book's worst problem. A book written by a Professor of life, the universe and everything within it usually contains several happy little diagrams that make it possible for 'normal' people like me to understand the higher level of science that the book contains. Without the diagrams you're left swimming (drowning) in insane amounts of facts. Facts are great, but if you're after a book that you want to read and not think to hard about - this is not the book you are looking for.

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Supporting documents are needed

Would you listen to Forces of Nature again? Why?

I probably wouldn't listen to this book again, however some sections/chapters of this book were fascinating and would probably warrant a re-listen.

What other book might you compare Forces of Nature to, and why?

A short history of nearly anything by Bill Bryson. Although Bryson's book has the edge for me as Bryson was able to explain the physics without reference to a diagram. It was really annoying that in this book the narration was clearly referring to equations or diagrams that existed in the print version. So this audible was lacking supporting material.Some bits you can visualise in your mind what is being discussed which is fine. However. for some of the concepts being explained due to the technicality it's just not possible to follow without the supporting diagram or formula.

Have you listened to any of Samuel West’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Physics answers the questions to your questions on nature.

Any additional comments?

Although I had negative comments about the lack of supporting documents, I still think this is a very good work and worth listening to if you have interests in Physics. If you have no prior knowledge of physics probably no worth listening to just yet, Or might be worth listening to if you have seen the TV series.

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Engaging but difficult to follow

To listen to this you must have some kind of background in science otherwise it is near impossible to understand everything just by listening. I downloaded the book and read and listened at the same time and I have some scientific knowledge and a huge interest in the subject but still this is no easy piece. There are many diagrams, graphs and pictures in the book which are not available in the audiobook but which are essential. These could have been included here easily. So if you don’t have a lot of interest in science and some kind of scientific background I don’t think this book is for you. If you are interested, I would still not suggest the audiobook. the written book is much better. I can’t say anything bad about the narration though it was superb.

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Great!

Very informative and intriguing. It made me question my very inquisitive about our universe. 😁

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Addictive from start to finish

I'll not make this an overly long review as I'm no scientist and, therefor, not qualified to delve into this into too much detail. 

As I said, I am no scientist, but this book does not require you to be one. It simply requires that you have a curious mind as to how everything works and an urge to dive a tad deeper than simply being curious. The science in this book is accessible to anyone. There are, obviously, times when it does advance a tad, but for the most part it's kept at a level where anyone can pick it up and feel like they're along for the ride rather than simply nodding, smiling and waiting for the smart men with the big words to go away and leave you in peace.

The writing style is very witty and engaging, something that a lot of science books I've tried either attempt and don't do very well, fail at all together, or simply do not try. In the case of the latter, it's hardly their fault. Most scientists write for other scientists so assume all the big words and equations are understood (thankfully Cox and Cohen aren't solely of that school of thought).

I enjoyed this from start to finish and was thoroughly upset when it ended. I wanted there to be more, more, more. But, that's what these books are designed to do: give you a taste for the main course; a main course you need to track down and devour on your own, as opposed to being spoon fed here.

If you've the slightest curiosity about the world, solar system and universe around you, I'd highly recommend picking up this book (and others like it). Some of the things in here opened my eyes to different ways of seeing the world and I look forward to diving into more of their work to continue that journey.

Samuel West's narration is utterly brilliant. It makes the witty, far more so and adds to the enjoyability factor knowing he was the narrator who did the original show. If that man was reading me the instructions to a microwave oven I'd sit down, take note and expect to enjoy it.

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Too much physics

Not a book for the average Joe, seemed to vary alot in terms of level- some bits more accessible than other bits.

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Interesting and beautifully read

A really interesting book. Samuel West is a brilliant narrator. Would recommend to anyone with an interest in science.

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fantastic book

everyone should listen to this... it's great! a celebration of the beautiful patterns and principles that lie in wait to be discovered by the curious. To understand the rainbow is not to unweave its beauty but to appreciate it more fully.

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  • 02-08-17

Brilliant.

Beauriful, brilliant and awe inspiring. A accessible and magnificent read. Highly Recomend this to anyone, even if science doesn't interest you.

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great book

I really enjoyed this.

For all of us who still wonder how things work but we left physics and chemistry behind when we left secondary school this is a great book.

Enjoying also is the fact that Cox reminds us of his music background. so it's not just another anorak bleeting out endless theories and equations that Joe blogs can't fathom. He reminds us he's one of us.

might just listen again ! ! !

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