Product Description
Not too long ago, in earth time, no one thought the universe had a history. The scientific and religious experts believed that the world had been created as it is today and that nothing had changed. Those experts did their best but they were wrong--really wrong. The Story of Science: Aristotle Leads the Way tells the amazing but true story of the quest to answer an important question: What is this universe of ours all about? From the lost city of Alexandria with its gigantic lighthouse and steam-powered vehicles, to faraway lands where Hindu and Arab mathematicians invented the number zero, Hakim invites readers of all ages to meet the forefathers of modern science and experience their greatest discoveries in astronomy, math, and physics. Along the way, readers learn the answers to questions like: What can a baboon bone tell us about calendars? Why can't we feel the earth moving? How did math contribute to Archimedes' death? A science book unlike any other, Aristotle Leads the Way pairs a gripping narrative style with quirky sidebars; hundreds of charts, maps, and diagrams; experiments to do at home; suggestions for further reading; and excerpts from the writings of great scientists.
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 A truly outstanding text ( dege335 )
As a teacher and curriculum writer, I have to say that this is just a superb book from many, many angles. Joy Hakim is warm, compassionate, and passionately interested in her subject, and in making it attractive and accessible not only to younger readers but to adults as well. I should really say "subject(s)" because she weaves history, mythology, science, math, philosophy and religion together in a way that was fascinating enough to keep this long-in-the-tooth reader fully engrossed throughout.
I was more than a little surprised to find that her overall rating here was only 4 stars--how could anyone rate it as less than 5? I read some of the less positive reviews, though, and was able to see their point.
One 3-star review complained of anti-Christian bias and actually had some reasonable points to consider, most of which would be of interest mainly to those of a more fundamentalist slant--but also as a fruitful source of legitimate discussion for those of us who are religious, but not necessarily Christian or fundamentalist. I do get very tired of adolescent PC material that comes dripping with antagonism towards any and all religious belief. Personally, though, I found Ms. Hakim's text remarkably even-handed on the issue of faith vs. religion, and felt that she succeeded admirably in making the point that one does not preclude the other.
Then I read a 1-star review asserting that her 6th-grader complained that the text was confusing and difficult to follow. Surprisingly, I could see that reviewer's point also: 6th grade is too young for this book, and even at 8th or 9th grade, it would be read far more fruitfully in the context of a supervised seminar where the teacher went to some pains to be sure students understood all of the terms, were able to follow all of the math that was covered, did any additional research necessary to get more reality on areas not fully assimilated, and got whatever assistance they needed to do the various hands-on experiments and demonstrations (of which there are many, glory be!). Though this text is a wonderful tool, it's only a text: it's the individual teacher who needs to create the value-added portion here.
All of that aside, I strongly recommend this book for any human from 13 to 103. (I'm about to buy her other two science texts.) If you're at all interested in life and ideas, it's hard to see how you could go wrong. At my school we also use Joy Hakim's History of US series, but I've never read them. Be sure that now I will!
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 History of science with anti-Christian bias
Could have been a "Worth my time" (4 stars) save the subtle and not-so-subtle anti-Christian elements, the more frustrating because the book is in a textbook format targeted at a high-school audience..
Hakim spends (rightly so) most of the book talking about the Greek philosophers and their contributions to the philosophy of science. The contributions of the Greek philosophers are foundational pillars of Western civilization, but they were the mere pinnacles of a society where the great majority of the population lived mean and desperate lives, about which nothing is said.
However, says Hakim, when the Christians arrived, "since most ordinary people were illiterate, they had to believe what others told them"--apparently a symptom of the Dark Ages which the Christians brought with them. But Hakim never talked about "ordinary people" in the Greek and Roman eras, who were also mostly illiterate and "had to" believe what others told them, and Hakim certainly does not show any statistics of the relative literacy rates before and during the Dark Ages.
Says Hakim: "Question asking just for the sake of learning--the Greeks' great gift to all of us--began to seem pointless." But that attitude of questioning is a gift to US from the Greeks THROUGH the prism of Western civilization, founded in part on the Greek philosophers and in part on Christian ideas of the individual worth of man and the mind to "reason out" salvation. It was not a gift to "all of them"--both the great mass of Greek and later "barbarian" or Christian populations living during the Greco-Roman and Dark Ages.
In fact, it is more accurate to say that Christianity is the portal through which the world came to discover the great Greek philosophers, without which they would have been and would even today remain largely unknown and forgotten in a truly Dark Age.
Hakim also misstates Christian theology by saying "Baptism, to a Christian, is the washing away of sins." Neither Jesus nor any other New Testament writer ever makes that claim. She also claims that Christians believed in the "Flat Earth" theory because "the Bible's stories seemed to make it [round Earth] an impossibility." However, she neglects to point out that nearly everyone at the time, Christian and non-Christian, literate or illiterate, believed in the flat earth. Her statement blatantly ignores several scripture references which point to a round earth:
--Job 26:7 explains that the earth is suspended in space, the obvious comparison being with the spherical sun and moon.
--A literal translation of Job 26:10 is "He described a circle upon the face of the waters, until the day and night come to an end."
--A spherical earth is also described in Isaiah 40:21-22 - "the circle of the earth."
But whatever they believed, Hakim places the blame for the Dark Ages squarely on the shoulders of Christians: "Rome had permitted Christianity since 313, and many of the barbarians were now Christians." Every dog in this fight was a Christian, so it must be their fault!
After all this, however, the book is still worthwhile reading because it does stir one to consider the roots of culture, learning, art, and religion that Western civilization is based on, and makes one want to study more. For that, if nothing else, this book is worth reading.
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 Hope grandchildren like it as much as I did
I read several other reviews before buying. Another reviewer who insists book is written for 5th graders must be talking about NYC kids, because with my college and grad studies, I thought text was more challenging. Since I am not in teaching or a book reviewer, can't speak for how it compares with similar texts. I read it front to back, found good subject matter presentation with unsurpassed photographic illustrations. Was so impressed have already purchased other two books in series and will give to grandchildren when I finished them. Recommend as an ideal gift.
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 Confusing Science
My daughter is using this book in her 6th grade science class. She complained that it was very confusing and difficult to follow. I began reading the book and absolutley agree! The author weaves and rambles through several different paths before arriving at her point. Along the way there are several side bars, barely related facts, and discussions centered on topics which only minimally correpsond to the material, all which confuse and complicate matters. I have never encountered a more wordy and overwhelming book. Note to Teachers: if you want your students to like and understand science, don't use this book.
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Great in so many ways... ( johnmaki )
I will organize my review into 4 parts: 1. What I was looking for, 2. The ideal audience for this book (just my opinion), 3. Strengths and weaknesses of this book, 4. Who could benefit by owning this book.
1. People of a certain age may remember the Time-Life series of science books. I especially loved the volumes devoted to physical science and math. Those books were written for kids in the upper grades but, in fact, the text was at an adult level. Even today, I enjoy actually reading them, not merely browsing, as the text is sophisticated enough to "pull me in". The photo essays were also magnificent: dramatic, human, entertaining and adult. I was looking for something like those, but of more recent vintage, when I came across "The Story of Science". Did I find it? No, not exactly. But I bought the book anyway. Read on.
2. This book is written for 5th-graders. Period. End of story. I will not negotiate that point. The evidence: words such as "ratio" and "circumnavigate" are defined for the reader. I clearly remember "ratio" being introduced in 5th grade. The other words which are defined are of similar level. Also, the book, while not thin, is built for small hands in terms of height and width. Finally, there is a general lack of sophisticated vocabulary and a peppering of the text with leading questions, meant to induce thinking. These are all hallmarks of a book written for children who are still rather small. The constant interruption of the narrative by questions would be annoying to an older child or adult. If your 7th-grader is still reading this book, you need to push her to move on; she will fall behind in reading skills. Trust me on this; I have taught alot of kids.
3. Weaknesses: None. This book is superb in every way.
Strengths: The text is well-written, lively, questioning, just like the topic it explores.
Words are defined, pronunciation is indicated.
There are numerous side-bars to explain even off-topic issues which have been briefly touched upon.
Example: the King James Bible is quoted at the beginning of chapter 1 (as are other mythological texts; this is not a narrow-minded book). Will a Junior High School student know who King James was? I hope so! An adult? Uh, if you have to ask.... But, normally, a 5th-grader will not. So, Ms. Hakim explains a bit about him in a side-bar. Very nice! It is this, "no stone left unturned" approach that makes this book so excellent.
The graphics are great to look at, informative, and add a delightful dimension. They are sophisticated enough to give this book an adult feel. Only the text, really, clues us in to the target audience.
4. Anyone can benefit by owning this book. I find the text too simple, and too frequently interrupted by simple-minded, kid-type questions, to be really engaging. It doesn't pull me in the way the Time-Life books still can. But, the text is certainly "browsable": read a bit, and then pore over the great, informative graphics and side-bars and, in general, just delight in the lively, colorful presentation of the material.
So, finally, I am still looking for those elusive updated versions of the Time-Life books. But, this book is great on its own level. Give it to a 10- or 11-year old and watch her take off! But, be wise. Unless your kid is remedial, snatch it away when they enter Junior High. Replace it with what? Well, you can always get the Time-Life books at an online auction. They will complete your child's science and literacy development to the intelligent High School level.
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