This is a book that is rich in the poetry of scientific language. ... Not only does [Scharf] know more about the universe than you or I do, he knows how to transmit his knowledge by deft use of analogy.

Scharf makes vivid the mind-boggling nature of the universe. . . [There are] bright beams of knowledge coming from this excellent book

A virtuosic history of the universe... [Scharf] serves as an appealing tour guide to the eerie, infinite corridors of the cosmos in which we reside

This heady story of astronomical endeavour and cosmic conjecture prompts a happy mix of marvels

A wonderfully detailed tapestry of what modern astronomy is all about . . . Using rich language and a brilliant command of metaphor, [Scharf] takes on some of the most intricate topics in . . . astronomical research

Caleb Scharf is a lively and eloquent writer as well as a fine scientist. Gravity's Engines is particularly welcome because it presents topics at the frontiers of our understanding which have not hitherto been presented so clearly to a general readership

In Gravity's Engines, Caleb Scharf tells the mind-blowing story of 'supermassive' black holes, the true masters of the Universe. Black holes are smaller than the Solar System yet project their power across the cosmos, sculpting entire galaxies of stars. They might appear esoteric and remote, but as Scharf explains, life on Earth may have been utterly impossible without them

The characters are fondly drawn - particularly little Philip.

An astute portrait of the realities of 'a simple life' and rich with detail and full of heart.

A sweet-natured memoir... Ross is excellent at conveying her desire to conform...Hippy Dinners deftly conveys the child's sense of powerlessness and confusion in a world she - and worse even the adults around her - can't control.

Made me laugh out loud

Disquieting but riveting . . . fascinating . . . Schlosser's readers (and he deserves a great many) will be struck by how frequently the people he cites attribute the absence of accidental explosions and nuclear war to divine intervention or sheer luck rather than to human wisdom and skill. Whatever was responsible, we will clearly need many more of it in the years to come

Easily the most unsettling work of nonfiction I've ever read, Schlosser's six-year investigation of America's 'broken arrows' (nuclear weapons mishaps) is by and large historical-this stuff is top secret, after all-but the book is beyond relevant. It's critical reading in a nation with thousands of nukes still on hair-trigger alert . . . Command and Control reads like a character-driven thriller as Schlosser draws on his deep reporting, extensive interviews, and documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act to demonstrate how human error, computer glitches, dilution of authority, poor communications, occasional incompetence, and the routine hoarding of crucial information have nearly brought about our worst nightmare on numerous occasions

A powerful mix of history, politics, and technology, told with impressive authority

Eric Schlosser brings the investigative rigour of his big hit Fast Food Nation to this overview of our global nuclear arsenal

Local history raised by water power to the status of allegorical memoir... In searching for the Wye, the author is also looking for something that is 'far more deeply interfused'

The author has a fine eye for the telling detail, and an even finer ear; the human noise which drowns out the gentler sounds of nature has seldom been anatomised better

This is an intimate exploration of the interaction between humans and landscape down the ages

A compelling read

A fascinating and fun read

The Knowledge impresses as a condensed history of scientific progress, and will pique curiosity among readers who regret daydreaming throughout school chemistry lessons. Like this reviewer, some will be troubled by their ignorance of the basics, and how useless that could render them if the lights do go out

A hymn to human ingenuity… Essential reading

If the world ends with a bang or a whimper make sure you have a copy of this book to hand, or you won’t have a clue how to survive or kick-start the new civilisation

An engaging and wide-ranging discussion of the scientific discoveries and technological innovations that underpin our lives… Littered with fascinating facts and an infectious enthusiasm for science and technology shines through in the accessible and lively writing… An absorbing thought experiment which celebrates the insight and ingenuity which has made this habitable planet into a civilized world

There is no better guide to the basic science and engineering that underlies our everyday life than this clear and fascinating book

A great idea for a book… Excellent and intriguing

The conceit that this is a handbook for rebooting modern civilization is really just a cute way of framing what turns out to be a terrifically engrossing history of science and technology

There is great depth and insight in The Knowledge, which is brilliantly imaginative and thorough in its study of science and technology

This book should be on everyone’s bookshelf, just in case the worst happens… The one guide you need to rebuild civilisation

an eye-opening dose of fantastical reality