Zapped, Bob Berman
Zapped, Bob Berman
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Zapped
From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light

Author: Bob Berman

Narrator: Peter Ganim

Unabridged: 8 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/08/2017


Synopsis

How much do you know about the radiation all around you?

Your electronic devices swarm with it; the sun bathes you in it. It's zooming at you from cell towers, microwave ovens, CT scans, mammogram machines, nuclear power plants, deep space, even the walls of your basement. You cannot see, hear, smell or feel it, but there is never a single second when it is not flying through your body. Too much of it will kill you, but without it you wouldn't live a year.

From beloved popular science writer Bob Berman, Zapped tells the story of all the light we cannot see, tracing infrared, microwaves, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays, radio waves and other forms of radiation from their historic, world-altering discoveries in the 19th century to their central role in our modern way of life, setting the record straight on health costs (and benefits) and exploring the consequences of our newest technologies.

Lively, informative, and packed with fun facts and "eureka moments," Zapped will delight anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of our world.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jim on December 22, 2019

A really interesting primer on the electromagnetic spectrum & related energies. Not only does Berman explain each well, but he describes the people & historical significance of the discoveries including how they've changed society. While much of it was familiar to me, I was never bored & there was s......more

Goodreads review by Tim on March 13, 2023

I found a factual error in the second chapter (red light does not have twice the wavelength of green), and no doubt there are several more. Nevertheless, it is a good read and a useful summary of the electromagnetic spectrum.......more

Goodreads review by Kee Onn on February 10, 2018

I am a big fan of Bob Berman's book "The Sun's Heartbeat", which tells various stories about the Sun and how it affects everything on Earth. This new book delivers science in the same gist and attitude, albeit a little too similar as I have read lines in the book that is exactly the same as what he......more

Goodreads review by Stephen on July 31, 2017

This is a good solid science book that I found approachable. The run-down of which scientists discovered which forms of invisible light and when was quite informative. The history of how invisible light (such as x-rays) has been used for quackery was very freaky. The chapter about total eclipses was......more

Goodreads review by Cav on March 08, 2021

Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays was an excellent book. Author Bob Berman is an American astronomer, author, and science popularizer. He runs Overlook Observatory in Woodstock, New York, USA. This is my second from Berman, after his 2014 book, Zoom: How Everything Moves: From Atoms and Galaxies to Bli......more


Quotes

"An enthusiastic account of all the light we cannot see from a science popularizer with a knack for presenting hard facts clearly and stylishly. . . . A guide for laymen written with gusto and assurance."—Kirkus

"The narrative is briskly conversational: We're on the porch, shooting the breeze with a knowledgeable neighbor. Mr. Berman's avowed goal in writing this book, he says, was 'to open a window onto the enormous universe of omnipresent energies.' Once that window is thrown open, it is hard to look at the world the same way." Wall Street Journal

"Nimbly busts common myths ... Erudite but never stuffy, Berman writes with enthusiasm and clarity, making this an informative and digestible read for the science-curious."—Booklist

"[Berman's] an unfailingly congenial explainer, always ready with the kinds of fascinating facts his readers might have missed in school."—Christian Science Monitor

"Captivating ... fear not the long-winded scientific discourse: Berman zings through historical and scientific adventures."—American Scholar

"Astronomy writer Berman runs through a fascinating history of the rainbow's invisible bands in this breezy, accessible read... In the style of a favorite professor, Berman injects bits of odd humor and captivating tangents into this complex but familiar topic."—Publishers Weekly

"[Berman] excels at making complex concepts accessible for lay readers...this is a great option for those curious about history, theories, and function of everyday things."—Library Journal

"Explaining light using anecdotal history and colloquial explication, Zapped makes entertaining sense out of what could be dry math and physics."Shelf Awareness

PRAISE FOR ZOOM:

"Entertainingly kinetic.... [Berman] transmits science geekery in vivid prose stuffed with unexpected insights and arresting observations.... Absorbing."
--- Michael Benson, New York Times

"Vastly entertaining.... Zoom is invaluable for everyone who once knew Newton's three laws and would like a refresher, but it is more fun than that.... Bob Berman knows how to make science accessible."
--- Kate Tuttle, Boston Globe