Tim Radford‘s new book, The Address Book begins by analyzing the address of his home. It then moves jauntily ever outwards and upwards (as well as inwards and downwards) to describe and relate, well, everything in the universe. Here’s a tiny taste, which you’ll find about 2/3 of the way into the book:
“I am fond of thinking of the origin of life as a murder mystery in reverse. A body came to life in a locked library and released itself, before destroying the key and demolishing the library. thereafter, all subsequent life forms trampled over the fragile evidence of this non-crime, probably destroying forever any hope of forensic evidence, and probably making sure that such a creative deed could never happen again, leaving the planet occupied by myriad life forms all of which share only one lineage.”
Tim is the former science editor (and also the former arts editor, the former literary editor, and the former letters editor, of The Guardian newspaper. He’s a good friend, and he’s a wonder—in the sense that he makes many of us wonder “How does a person get the ability to explain so very many difficult, complicated things in such clear, simple enjoyable ways?”
This book is like a fine long evening at the most comfy pub in existence, with distilled Tim Radford on tap, cheerily dispensed in ever more surprising and pleasing drafts. The substance flowing from Radford to reader is that fine, delicious stuff: human curiosity.
BONUS: If you’ve never had the pleasure of reading Radford, start with this book. Then go dip into the depths of The Guardian‘s online archives.