eBook The Science of Discworld III: Darwin's Watch download

I am generally a fan of Terry Pratchett's work and loved the preceding merging of a Discworld story with basic scientific explanations. Sadly, as interesting as elements of the science chapters were, they became horribly tedious, rambling, and repetitive even before they got to the section on Judaism.

Like many assimilated Jews, they regard Judaism with an intense and deeply irrational paranoia. Before I continue, I should point out that I am in not way related to Jews or an adherent to Judaism. I just think that many Jews fail to understand Judaism in its intellectual and historical context.

As fascinating as a short story about a scientist using logic circuits to evolve a more advanced means of replicating a signal, the section on Pan Narrans deviated from a discussion of humans advancing by telling stories (an idea I am intrigued by as a student of History) and into a lengthy and frequently absurd complaint against Judaism. I think much if has to do with Mr. Cohen. I seriously doubt any similar complaints would be issued against Bhaal, Marduk, or Jupiter. The general gist of the complaints were that Judaism:"stiffled creativity", repressed people's spirits, was horribly legalistic, and led to religious wars. Given that the authors, like Mr. Pratchett, are atheists, these are likely key elements of their generalized view of all religion.

As a student of History (as I do not have a PhD or a specialized job, I cannot call myself a historian), I know that the various religions in the past (not to mention present) were very different. Not least of these differences was human sacrifice. Almost every society in human history has practiced human sacrifice as a legitimate means of honoring or bartering with the "gods". Judaism (and the Romans for different reasons) was radically different. People have supposed that Abraham was confused why God told him to sacrifice his son. He couldn't have been because that was NORMAL procedure among neighboring peoples. Given that Judaism prohibited human sacrifice, prostitution, and sexual slavery, I consider Judaism to have been a most favorable development in human history.

Nonetheless, Mr. Cohen seemed infuriated when an Israeli asked what it must have been like to be a descendant of the Cohens (an ancient religious caste in Hebrew society that still provided most of the rabbis and religious leaders even in the 1800's). Mr. Cohen's response was one of great shame at what his ancestors must have done in condemning other people and generally being repressive. The only real grounds I can find for such a view exist not in classical history (when the Cohens really existed as a religious office) but in the sometimes insular world of the polish shtetl where some Jewish communities were dominated by charismatic rabbis with more influence that sense. Even still, others shtetles had more reasonable rabbis who did not threaten to cast people out for disagreeing. I suspect that Mr. Cohen is unreasonably conflating the two periods in his mind and fails to understand the moral philosophy of Judaism. One of the excellent points made in the book (or is it the earlier book?) is that under polytheism, you needed a theopsychologist to understand the weather. Monotheists just needed a regular observation of the weather because they assumed some continuity in natural laws.

There are wonderful elements in the book. The idea of Pan Narrans is interesting (although like many people excited by their ideas, they go too far and assume it explains everything) and is worth considering. Many smaller lessons such as the process of evolution and the nature of life is portrayed in a wonderfully simple and easy to understand manner. The book outside of Pan Narrans and Mr. Cohen's rant is a good and worthwhile read. I would have given it four stars had it not been for the repetitiveness of their Pan Narrans idea and the historically absurd accusations against Judaism.

I enjoyed reading the science parts of all three books, although the first, the "Science of Discworld" and the third, this one, did not enlighten me much. The second, the "Globe" was better for me in terms of popular science, because I found things that filled in the gaps in my knowledge very nicely.

If you are looking for another Discworld novel that you missed, make sure that you get the first two Science of Discworld books and read the story from the beginning. Combination of the fantasy portions of the three books make up a complete novel. Another fun to read Discworld novel, with a great deal of irreverent and intelligent humour.

The scientists, Stewart and Cohen do their best within the confines and limitations of the Discworld novel. They changed the format in the Darwin's Watch, mixing the science with the story line raher than as separate chapters as in the frst two books.

I preferred the original format which actually allowed me to use the books as reference volumes for simple science that I could explain to the less educationally endowed in my immediate environment.

If you are looking for a treatise on evolution, pro or con, this is not the book for you. If you are searching for evidence to back up your beliefs either way, do not bother to buy this book.

Buy the book because you like Terry Pratchett's humor, because you are curious, because these are interesting examples of a different approach to literary science (rather than popular science), because you also like to read books which do not require to be read at one sitting.

Keep the book at your bed-side to read a chapter or two before going to sleep, or at your desk to check for something interesting or something funny or something you do not remember which relates to the world and its people and nature.

And, please, do not take it down the rabbit hole. The wizards of the Unseen University are the last people anyone would wish to consider as "intelligent" interventionists.

I am probably biased. I adore and admire intelligent and informative writing which tackles complex subjects in a form that the uninitiated can readily comprehend... Messrs. Pratchett, Stewart and Cohen are masters at this rather obscure area of current literature.

The concept of humans requiring 'narrativium' (or a story-structure into which they can fit the wilder excesses of their ambitions) had long been a subliminal conviction for me and here I found it artfully described. If you happen to have an unshakably conventional world-view then perhaps this book won't have the same impact.

Some readers might find the discussion of faith topics sacrilegious; all I can say to this is that I am sure your god (or gods) will probably commend your curiosity and might take your enhanced sense of wonder at the universe into mitigation.

Buy the entire 'Science of Discworld' series. Read them, think about them, read them again. Ask questions... Never stop asking questions.

I read 'Thud' first then within 30 day read in what I thought was the correct order every other Terry Pratchett Discworld book. This was before Christmas 2010 and my kindle so I have a complete collection. Not entirely true. Forgot about the UK. exclusive editions. I'm happy that I read Lawrence Watt-Evans, 'The Turtle Moves', Discworld summary. I found out about the Science of Discworld there and had to have them. Also , my order for reading series was very similar to Mr. Watt-Evans's.
Ordering a used book for the second time with less anxiety I was thrilled to receive a very good hard cover edition.
I'm a big fan of both authors and will get the third Science of Discworld book somehow. If you have a copy ...:)