Science: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness
Year: 2017
Author: Zach Weinersmith
Length: 60 pages
Another in Zach Weinersmith’s “Abridged” series, Science: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness is another tongue-in-cheek examination of topics that require much more than a few witty summations to understand completely. Unfortunately, much like his Nerd Disses book, only those who have extensively studied all of these scientific disciplines will understand every joke. As an engineer, I could understand a lot of the humor here, but even I was ignorant of some of the more obscure (or more social) sciences. That being said, he nailed the abridged version of engineering, which makes me think the other sciences received the same treatment.
While not nearly as borderline sacrilegious as The Holy Bible: Abridged, Science: Abridged does get its cheap shots in where it can. I’m sure those who extensively study these sciences will laugh at the sardonic tidbits contained in this book, understanding how ridiculous their chosen field may appear at times. Others might groan with how “close to home” some of the jabs come to exposing the weaknesses in their particular areas of study. I’m sure it’s all written in good fun and without any malice intended toward its audience.
Even though this is a short book that I’d assume would be best suited as a decorative item on a coffee table, end table, or toilet tank, I would have appreciated an appendix or “further reading” section for those people who happened to have their interest piqued with the brief summations of these scientific studies. Of course, having an extensive bibliography would somewhat defeat the purpose of a book that touts its abridgment cuts the source material down to mere uselessness.
A funny book for those who know what’s funny about it, I give Science: Abridged 3.0 stars out of 5.
