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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 570
EAN num: 9781932857870
ISBN number: 1932857877
Label: The Disinformation Company
Manufacturer: The Disinformation Company
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 240
Printing Date: October 01, 2007
Publishing house: The Disinformation Company
Sale Popularity Level: 558511
Studio: The Disinformation Company
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Product Description:
Mark Pilkington charts some of the more curious byways, scenic detours, and inspired failures of scientists, inventors, and, yes, crackpots, over the past few hundred years.
From the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis to zero-point energy, via the Hieronymous Machine and Phlogiston, Far Out tells the stories that are all too often ignored, lost, or simply forgotten by conventional science books. Some of them are perhaps best left languishing in the margins of history, but others may yet change our future. Entries cover physics, chemistry, biology, archaeology, parapsychology, psychology, and other areas yet to be inducted into mainstream science, including radionics, keranography, erotoxin, and remote viewing.
Written in a succinct and engaging style, each piece provides a useful, self-contained introduction to its topic, and provides enough information to allow readers to discover more if they so desire.
Far Out is the latest in the unique CD-sized book format from Disinformation, following the best-selling 50 Things You're Not Supposed To Know series by Russ Kick. Once again, the book is printed in two colors, with the entries arranged into sections, many with appropriate illustrations, diagrams, or photographs.
Mark Pilkington is a freelance journalist, writer, and editor. As well as writing the 'Far Out' column for the Guardian on which this book is based, he has also written for The London Times, Fortean Times, Arthur, and The Wire, among others. He also edits the highly praised anthology of cultural marginalia, Strange Attractor, and runs Strange Attractor Press.
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Rated by buyers -
For two years, Mark Pilkington wrote the "Far Out" column for the "Guardian's" science section. These columns have now been collected and annotated in this beautifully printed little book. Illustrations, diagrams, and photographs enhance the text. Anyone who loves scientific inquiry will enjoy roaming through some really crackpot ideas.
Some of the geniuses here belong in the pseudo-scientific or even on the fraudulent fringes of science. But, every once in awhile we learn about an idea from a "real" scientist. For example, Nikola Tesla, who pioneered the use of AC electricity, also claimed to have invented a death ray. (The passage reminded me of the wonderful movie The Prestige and Tesla's teleportation machine created on order of a London magician.)
Each short entry tackles a single report: electronic voice phenomena, The Cerebrophone, the memory of water, Skinner's Box, plant sentience, the Aether, pets predicting earthquakes, etc. Many entries belong in the margins of history, but you'll wonder how many might yet change our future.
I was really sorry when I finished this book, but by Googling I learned that Mark Pilkington is the "Fortean" behind the "Strange Attractor Journal" . He also runs the Strange Attractor Press. His writings, thank goodness, are still available online.
The "New Scientist" concluded that this book "is not a record of failure, though, more a celebration of science's dreamers." These are dreams that enchanted me, and I'm sure they will enchant you as well.
Robert C. Ross
Rated by buyers -
OK, so I'm not exactly unbiased on this one because I loved the articles that author Mark Pilkington wrote for The Guardian newspaper in England and spent about three years convincing him to compile them in book form. But that said, the book is so much better than reading the articles in the paper because now they're expanded, illustrated and best of all ordered in a hilarious and informative way.
You also have to check out the incredible design. The neon purple second colour used in the book is a beautiful thing!
Oh, and it's under 10 bucks!
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