William Hartston

Loved it. Almost as much as I love sloths (which is a lot). OK, seriously, it's incredibly well researched which is unusual for any publication about sloths, is well written, funny and about as comprehensive as one can wish for.

Drunken Goldfish is a hilarious compendium of scientific research (did I just say that?) by international chess master and scientific journal fan William Hartston. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, Hartston takes the reader on a tour of some of the lesser-known scientific research gathering dust in the academic sections of college libraries everywhere. Organizing the research in categories from liquids to humans, Hartston ties all of the less than glorious research data into a flowing show more examination of everything science has asked that it maybe shouldn't have, all with an attention to detail that is never ponderous and always entertaining. The last third of the book - Section Two: Knowledge at a Glance - is a delightful dumping ground for the additional interesting tidbits that didn't make it into the previous chapters, from Abdominal Hairs to Yeast, and also serves as an index for the rest of the book. I guarantee, this will be one of the few indexes that you will ever read from beginning to end. Whether you're just looking for some random trivia or are interested in the underbelly of scientific investigation, Drunken Goldfish will definitely not disappoint. show less

Fine, funny survey of the beast I consider my spirit animal. Not academically rigorous by any means, just a good fun read that blows away a lot of myths about this much maligned mammal.

Remember, in (almost) the word of the great Ze Frank, 'If you're having a stressful day, consider the Sloth. It hasn't done anything for 20 million years and it isn't extinct'.

William Hartston has directed this book at those mystified by mathematics, or at least that is what the subheading says. And the book is full of accounts of why the world would be a better place if politicians better understood logic, lawyers knew probability and journalists could grasp statistics. Unfortunately, it seems as though none of these professions are likely to pick up this book. Instead, it will be numerate nerds who will read it, tut-tutting at the foolishness of these innumerate show more elites. show less