Comments on: Reader survey – would you buy a Not Exactly Rocket Science book?

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:51:32 +0000

Totally. I love the blog but haven’t read many (my sister just told me about it a few weeks ago). I’d buy it for myself. And maybe for the aforementioned sister… =)

By: Ag

Ag — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:20:13 +0000

Yep if reasonably priced. I like reading real books no matter I have read the same things on the Internet or not. May buy for a friend or two coz not many of my friends appreciate the beauty of science (or of English).

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:46:31 +0000

I like your blog, but I probably wouldn’t buy a book.

By: rbroberg

rbroberg — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:03:43 +0000

Sad to say, Probably not.
The science books I buy combine a narrative about something outside of science with the inner workings of the science itself. Snowball Earth was a great example. Some others could be Evolution -v- Creationism/ID. Climate Change and social policy. Peak oil and technical solutions. The drama outside of the science itself is what will lure me to plunk down some dollars.

By: Jon D

Jon D — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:02:38 +0000

I think its a good idea, but would we get the great pics you have accompanying your posts in the paper format? lots of pics would greatly increase the printing costs I would imagine.
If it was reasonably priced, I’d happily buy one for my coffee table, even though I’ve read the lions share of your posts, especially from 2008.

By: Johan

Johan — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:29:03 +0000

Honestly, no. I don’t buy books with blog posts I’ve already read, and the few people I would want to give a book like this to wouldn’t read it in English anyway.
//JJ

By: Matt Davies

Matt Davies — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:26:03 +0000

As for David Brayton, but for a slightly different reason. I do think you could easily fill a book with interesting material. Also your writing style is clear and concise and your choice of articles relatively wide. However journal articles are more interesting when relatively current. Books by their nature are static in time, some of your future posts may be based on previously published material, indicating an evolution in our understanding. There are few ‘blockbuster’ articles published that never date as research continues.

By: David C. Brayton

David C. Brayton — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:05:39 +0000

No, I wouldn’t buy it. Why? The same reason I wouldn’t buy a compilation of articles from SciAm or New Scientist. Magazine articles cover news, usually briefly. Books are for things that are more permanent and need more detail.
I do enjoy your blog. Lots of interesting stuff

By: Tiffany Hilman

Tiffany Hilman — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:45:48 +0000

I think that’s a great idea. I have been enjoying perusing the archives and have often thought that particular friends/family would enjoy your topics. I would buy your book if it was relatively easy to get here in Canada (or online without massive shipping fees attached) Good luck!

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:15:34 +0000

So basically, nagging works? Of course I’d buy, and for others as well. Hope to see it. Good luck.