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The Simple Beauty of the Unexpected - A Natural Philosopher's Quest for Trout and the Meaning of Everything

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( 175 ratings, 25 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Simple Beauty of the Unexpected - A Natural Philosopher's Quest for Trout and the Meaning of Everything, Marcelo Gleiser embarks on a journey of self-discovery and philosophical inquiry, blending his passion for fly-fishing with reflections on nature, science, and the universe. Through these contemplative experiences, he explores profound questions about the meaning of life and the interconnectedness of all things, inviting readers to ponder the beauty found in life's uncertainties.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate the blend of science, philosophy, and personal journey, as it explores the connection between the natural world and profound life questions. This engaging narrative combines a reflective quest for understanding with the author's passion for fly-fishing, providing an insightful look at how unexpected beauty can reveal deeper meanings in life.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

"Personal and engaging, The Simple Beauty of the Unexpected is a scientist's tribute to nature, an affirmation of humanity's deep connection with and debt to Earth, and an exploration of the meaning of existence, from atom to trout to cosmos"--

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A personal and engaging tribute to nature from a world-famous theoretical physicist.

Marcelo Gleiser has had a passion for science and fishing since he was a boy growing up on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. As a world-famous theoretical physicist with hundreds of scientific articles and several books of popular science to his credit, he felt it was time to once again connect with nature in less theoretical ways. After seeing a fly-fishing class on the Dartmouth College green, he decided to learn to fly-fish, a hobby, he says, that teaches humility.

In The Simple Beauty of the Unexpected, Gleiser travels the world to scientific conferences, fishing wherever he goes. At each stop, he ponders the myriad ways physics informs the act of fishing; how, in its turn, fishing serves as a lens into nature’s inner workings; and how science engages with questions of meaning and spirituality, inspiring a sense of mystery and awe of the not yet known.

Personal and engaging, The Simple Beauty of the Unexpected is a scientist’s tribute to nature, an affirmation of humanity’s deep connection with and debt to Earth, and an exploration of the meaning of existence, from atom to trout to cosmos.

This softcover edition features a new essay by Gleiser on how we need a profound change of worldview if we are to have a vibrant future for our species in this fragile environment. He describes how this book was an incubator for his current thinking.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Marcelo Gleiser's The Simple Beauty of the Unexpected is celebrated as an elegantly written and introspective narrative that encourages a deeper connection with nature. It serves as both a meditation on curiosity about the universe and an exploration of the human and scientific perspectives on life. While it doesn't provide practical flying fishing advice, it inspires potential interest in the sport and personal spiritual journeys.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781684581085

Publisher: Brandeis University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 February 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Brandeis University Press

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 5.0mm

Height: 8.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Marcelo Gleiser, winner of the Templeton Prize, is the Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy and professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a recipient of the Presidential Faculty Fellows Award from the White House and National Science Foundation. He is the author of several books of popular science, including A Tear at the Edge of Creation, The Dancing Universe, and The Island of Knowledge. Gleiser is cofounder of and a regular contributor to the NPR science blog 13.7 Cosmos and Culture.

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