Sitting on the Shoulders of Giants

Sitting on the Shoulders of Giants turns 52 deceptively simple questions into surprising explorations of science, psychology, economics and human behaviour. Why do we fear sharks more than heart disease? Why does losing money hurt more than finding it feels good? And why might gravity not actually be a force at all? Beginning with familiar everyday observations, each chapter opens into a clear and entertaining explanation of the extraordinary ideas that shape how the world works. The book draws on the thinking of history’s great minds—including Aristotle, Newton, Einstein, Kahneman and Hawking—to make complex concepts understandable, relevant and enjoyable for general readers. Entertaining, thought-provoking, and endlessly browsable, Sitting on the Shoulders of Giants offers readers a fresh way to look at ordinary experiences through the lens of the world’s most powerful ideas.