Audible Non-Fiction: "The Science of Sci-Fi" and "A Grown Up Guide to Dinosaurs"

“The Science of Sci-Fi: From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel” by Erin Macdonald

First, a blurb from the publisher: “In the 10 lectures of The Science of Sci-Fi: From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel, Professor Erin Macdonald interweaves real science and the achievements of the imagination to reveal the truth that underlies favorite stories and sheds light on what the future may hold. From faster-than-light travel to journeys through time itself, science fiction makes humanity seem limitless. So, what scientific boundaries are people pushing against while seeking to fly among the stars?“

What Worked For Me:

The chapters are bite-sized (no longer than 30 minutes), making them easily digestible
The book as a whole is succinct, clocking in at about 3 hours
The book is at its strongest and most interesting when it compares and contrasts science and sci-fi. This includes how science influences sci-fi (e.g. how looking just beyond the cutting edge of science provides fodder for science fiction) and how sci-fi influences science (e.g. in the technologies we develop and the concepts we pursue).

What Didn’t Work For Me:

Some of the concepts discussed would’ve really benefited from a visual aid (or a way to conceptualize what was being discussed beyond a verbal explanation)
(nit-pick) To the work’s credit, it is more than a “fluff” piece and does an admirable job explaining difficult concepts in the realms of astrophysics, quantum mechanics, and more. With that being said, these concepts might be difficult to digest if this book is your first exposure.
(nit-pick) A few jokes are recycled in the first few chapters (e.g. the force in Star Wars vs force in physics)

Conclusion:

I had a good time with this one, and I think science and sci-fi lovers alike would also enjoy the work. It suffers a bit as an audiobook (see: cons), but there’s still plenty to like. In short, if the title / premise sounds interesting, this one is worth checking out.

Check it out here.

A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod

This work asks, “what’s your favorite dino?” It also provides a brief history of the dinosaur, from their rise to dominance to their eventual demise. It is brief at just shy of 3 hours, but packs in plenty of interviews, facts, and even a dash of controversy.

Pros:

I am not a “dinosaur fanatic,” but like any good book, this one pulled me in and made the topic interesting
The work covered the gamut of dino history, from their rise to their fall
I enjoyed the presenter’s speaking voice (and accent), as well as the sprinkles of dry humor throughout
The audio is reasonably well-recorded (i.e. there is not a huge difference between the “field” and “studio” recordings)
It was “free” (with an Audible membership)

Things That Didn’t Work For Me:

I am struggling to come up with anything particularly negative about this book. You could argue that it isn’t a deep-dive, but it doesn’t set out to be. You could argue that it would be better with pictures / reference material, but I think the book does an admirable job describing what needs to be described.

Conclusion:

I liked this audiobook; it was a fun, easy listen (even if it didn’t make me laugh, cry, or otherwise react in a major way). Also, I’m not sure how much of this info I’m actually going to retain (though this may say more about me than about the book). At the end of the day, if you were a dino lover as a kid and want to reconnect with that world, this is a great little audiobook.

Check it out here.