Beginnings
by Isaac Asimov
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Description
Provides an account of the evolution of the earth and of life.Tags
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Asimov works backwards in short chapters from a very recent beginning, human flight, to the beginning of the universe. Clear and direct and unusually funny. I like best Asimov's work that was originally organized around a coherent theme, much better than collections, even thematic ones, of his standalone essays. Given that he wrote so much, sticking with books that have coherent themes seems like the right idea.
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Detailed Review:
Introduction:
Asimov points out that the world is now able to agree on dates, so that's one less detail to manage.
1. Human Flight
Asimov points out that, although everyone thinks first of the Wright brothers' successful flight at Kitty Hawk, the actual facts are far more nuanced. What show more about gliders, dirigibles, balloons, etc. What about a dirigible that ran on steam so didn't really work? show less
================================
Detailed Review:
Introduction:
Asimov points out that the world is now able to agree on dates, so that's one less detail to manage.
1. Human Flight
Asimov points out that, although everyone thinks first of the Wright brothers' successful flight at Kitty Hawk, the actual facts are far more nuanced. What show more about gliders, dirigibles, balloons, etc. What about a dirigible that ran on steam so didn't really work? show less
Why Science Fiction?
Because like all truly excellent science fiction, everything here started out in somebody's imagination. After all, truly good science fiction in time becomes science fact.
This is basically a collection of short essays, so even those who have trouble with any kind of textbook (which is what, for all intents and purposes, this is) should be able to enjoy and learn.
Because like all truly excellent science fiction, everything here started out in somebody's imagination. After all, truly good science fiction in time becomes science fact.
This is basically a collection of short essays, so even those who have trouble with any kind of textbook (which is what, for all intents and purposes, this is) should be able to enjoy and learn.
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Author Information
2,389+ Works 292,571 Members
Isaac Asimov was born in Petrovichi, Russia, on January 2, 1920. His family emigrated to the United States in 1923 and settled in Brooklyn, New York, where they owned and operated a candy store. Asimov became a naturalized U.S. citizen at the age of eight. As a youngster he discovered his talent for writing, producing his first original fiction at show more the age of eleven. He went on to become one of the world's most prolific writers, publishing nearly 500 books in his lifetime. Asimov was not only a writer; he also was a biochemist and an educator. He studied chemistry at Columbia University, earning a B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. In 1951, Asimov accepted a position as an instructor of biochemistry at Boston University's School of Medicine even though he had no practical experience in the field. His exceptional intelligence enabled him to master new systems rapidly, and he soon became a successful and distinguished professor at Columbia and even co-authored a biochemistry textbook within a few years. Asimov won numerous awards and honors for his books and stories, and he is considered to be a leading writer of the Golden Age of science fiction. While he did not invent science fiction, he helped to legitimize it by adding the narrative structure that had been missing from the traditional science fiction books of the period. He also introduced several innovative concepts, including the thematic concern for technological progress and its impact on humanity. Asimov is probably best known for his Foundation series, which includes Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation. In 1966, this trilogy won the Hugo award for best all-time science fiction series. In 1983, Asimov wrote an additional Foundation novel, Foundation's Edge, which won the Hugo for best novel of that year. Asimov also wrote a series of robot books that included I, Robot, and eventually he tied the two series together. He won three additional Hugos, including one awarded posthumously for the best non-fiction book of 1995, I. Asimov. "Nightfall" was chosen the best science fiction story of all time by the Science Fiction Writers of America. In 1979, Asimov wrote his autobiography, In Memory Yet Green. He continued writing until just a few years before his death from heart and kidney failure on April 6, 1992. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Beginnings
- Original title
- Beginnings - The Story of Origins - of Mankind, Life, The Earth, the Universe
- Original publication date
- 1987
- Dedication
- To the Smiley family
For making us happy at Mohonk
The author wishes to knowledge the assistance of Sandra Kitt in preparation of the diagrams - First words
- In writing a book about beginnings, I start with one enormous advantage. All the governments of the world agree on the manner of measuring time.
[I know, a bit long, but I wanted to include what the advantage was, sin... (show all)ce it's only the Foreword]
In a large city, such as New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, one can look up at any hour of the day or night and see one or more airplanes (or, at might, their lights) moving across the sky. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And with that, the business of this book is done.
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- Members
- 301
- Popularity
- 106,233
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.24)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 6
