But I am not bitter. Anyone familiar with the New Scientist will be aware of its Last Word section, offering the scientific explanations to those questions that perturb and puzzle. And anyone who enjoys those far too brief words will rejoice at having a whole collection. My only personal issue is the scientific focus, not my own area of expertise, but then it would be churlish if not plain stupid to criticise the New Scientist for being focused on, well, science.

The writers are masters at rendering the complex comprehensible, and take those bedevilling questions and give rational and concise answers that make perfect sense. Even those with a less keen interest in science, like me, find a simple joy in the logic and rationality that makes the scientific world tick.

So if you are one of those people who takes a look at the world around you with a questioning eye, and wonders why the unexplainable have not yet been explained, this erudite and concise collection is for you. If you enjoy Mastermind, University Challenge or Who Wants to be a Millionaire, then again you will find joy here. If you are a viciously competitive pub quiz player then this is compulsory reading, because it is almost certain any question setter worth his salt will be delving in to the book to find devilishly hard questions.

This book is one of those rare finds – an occasional, dipping into read that is worthwhile. It is a perfect addition to a guest bathroom or bedside table. Something that entertains for a few pages, and can be picked up again at any time. In essence it does what it says on the cover – a collection of the columns. But they are such good columns, that the sum product is a worthwhile investment.

If you do enjoy this format, but find the science a little too focused, then you would probably also love the Guardian’s Notes and Queries publications. Both fine reads.


Very entertaining   January 23, 2006
 17 out of 24 found this review helpful

I am one of those insatiably curious types who is continually asking questions about everything and although I am creative, have a thirst to understand the why’s and how’s of life; so this book was ideal for me.

On the whole the book contains some really interesting and truly thought provoking questions, some which I have pondered myself. There is the odd silly one thrown in (I think as an attempt to prove that New Scientist readers really aren’t all nerdlingers and that they really can be as 'mad' and dare I say 'wacky' as the rest of us).

There were a handful of questions that I had never really thought of, and upon reading the question, promptly decided I never really wanted to know the answer to anyway, so a few I admit, I did skip past but on the whole the book was thoroughly entertaining and has led to me imparting generous, if somewhat random nuggets of information on my immediate family and indeed anyone who would care to listen.

A great book to keep you entertained on a short flight, also makes great toilet reading!! The book would be a great gift for anyone who is difficult to buy for and I heartily recommend it to anyone with more than an iota of curiosity.


Great   January 23, 2006
 14 out of 17 found this review helpful

Having been an avid reader of New Scientist for a number of years. I was delighted to receive this book as a present.

For those who don't know "The Last Word" column in New Scientist consists of people sending in Scientific questions and then someone else sending in the answers. All contributions are voluntary.

It's not the sort of book you just read. As the questions are followed by the answers you can just pick it up when you have few minutes spare and read a question and the answers.

Despite having a scientific background I was still fascinated by some answers.


Science meets Trivia! The result -- Trivience!   January 23, 2006
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

The Last Word column in New Scientist is based on the same idea as the Guardian's Notes and Queries -- readers write in with questions, other readers write in with answers. It's all very pre-Wikipedia but enjoyable. You'll discover that there is no such thing as cellulite; that the green stuff in potato skins that you were always told not to eat is solanine, a relative of deadly nightshade, and that washing them and storing them in sunlight at 16 C causes the solanine levels to quadruple every 24 hours; what would happen if you played bagpipes in a helium-filled room; and that many, many things do in fact eat wasps.

With my physicsy background and inability to tell apart terms ending in "yme" or "oze", I was most interested by the physics and behavioural sciences questions, such as the ongoing argument about whether why birds fly in a V is a physics or a behavioural science question. And I was startled that one respondent claimed that if the moon were to suddenly vanish it would cause "wild swings in the Earth's rotational axis, from a position almost perpendicular to the ecliptic plane to being almost parallel to it." How would that happen?

Anyway, another enjoyable read. Would definitely live on the bookcase in the toilet if we had one.


Great book   January 22, 2006
 2 out of 6 found this review helpful

One of those books you keep dipping into and suddenly find you've been through the whole thing. Can't wat for the sequel 'Does Anything that Eats Wasps Eat Wasps' perhaps.